Prayer To Know What To Do Each Day

What To Do?

Lots of people are reflecting on unstable conditions around covid-19 virus spread and its impact on their daily activities going forward.  It seems unlikely that many places will have a full-scale lockdown again.  So much more is known now and so many more preparations are in place that targeted lockdowns seem to be what health authorities are looking to put into place. 

Our own Prime Minister suggested in an address to the nation the other day that we probably won’t be together with large family groups this Thanksgiving but we still have a shot at Christmas.  Since Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October that’s not very far away at all.  But who knows really what things are going to look like going forward?  We’re all praying that this latest surge in cases quiets down quickly.  That would be the best.

In the meantime, what are we to do?  One day when Jesus went to the church of His day He read these words:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”  Luke 4:18-19

And then we are told this:

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”  Luke 4:20-21

I’m so thankful that Jesus Christ has done everything necessary for the poor to hear good news, for the captives to be released, for the blind to be able to see, for the oppressed to be set free, and for people to experience the Lord’s favour.  And now, regardless of the season or the conditions around us, we can have focus and give ourselves to the task of following Jesus in His work. 

I remember a guy named John Wimber, the pastor who was behind the church growth movement called “the Vineyard.”  I probably don’t have the words quite right but he said that we should, “Find out what God is doing and join Him in it.”  “See where God is blessing and do more of it.”  Let’s pray to do that today, shall we?  We’ll all have our individual way of doing it, using the gifts and talents and opportunities that are before us but we just need to remember that the pandemic hasn’t stopped us from doing God’s work and joining God in blessing others.  The activities may look a wee bit different but they will be just as meaningful and satisfying if we will settle in with God and keep His Kingdom priorities in sight

Heavenly Father, we know that You are always wanting to bless those who are in need of blessing.  Across the globe and on our streets or down the hall of our apartment buildings are many people who are desperately in need of Good News.  We pray again today for wisdom and boldness to be those who share Good News as often as we can throughout our day even if it’s on the phone or in social medial rather than face to face.  Lord, we know that there are lots of folks who are burdened down with cares and we ask that You would use us to encourage and comfort today.  Give us words of hope and tenderness.  Show us ways and help us to take even small risks to reach out to assist others who might be in need. 

Forgive us for so often getting caught up in our own emotional struggles and focused on our own challenges when what is really important is loving You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbour as ourselves.  We think and plan too little about these kinds of things during these challenging times and we want to be drawn back to seeing things that matter to You and giving ourselves to them.

You are more than ready to fulfill these wonderful words in our day, with our colleagues, family, and neighbours.  You live in us and by the power of Your Holy Spirit You are longing to minister through us.  Help us not to look to someone else we think is more gifted than we are but to be the empowered people You have created us to be with everything we need to do good work in Your name. 

We look forward to this day because You are in it.  We look forward to changed lives because as we give ourselves to You, that’s what You will involve us in – that’s Your heart.  That’s Your work.

God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.  2 Corinthians 9:8

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”  Luke 4:18-19