Prayer To See The Unseen Opportunities and Possibilities Around Us

SEEING THE UNSEEN

Over these months of the pandemic we often focus on the restrictions and challenges that seem to keep us from doing all we’d like to do.  As case numbers increase again – at least across a number of areas in Canada – we wonder how much longer conditions will remain as they have been.  Increasingly it has focused in my own heart to quit looking at what isn’t and to focus on what God is doing and what opportunities God is giving us each day.

John Wesley encouraged people to:  Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.

In the Bible we are encouraged to prioritize this viewing of the invisible over what we see around us, particularly during times of trouble.  Don’t you love these reminders from God’s Word:

We don’t give up. Our bodies are becoming weaker and weaker. But our spirits are being renewed day by day. Our troubles are small. They last only for a short time. But they are earning for us a glory that will last forever. It is greater than all our troubles. So we don’t spend all our time looking at what we can see. Instead, we look at what we can’t see. That’s because what can be seen lasts only a short time. But what can’t be seen will last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

And Heavenly Father, that’s exactly what we want to do today during these uncertain times.  We want to keep our eyes on You because You never change  Your plans and purposes are being carried forward through all sorts of seasons and that includes this season of the pandemic. 

We do see disease and hardship in many ways in the lives of lots of people but underneath that God, we want to focus on Your care and Your provision for all those who turn to You and trust in You.  Your word promises us:

God’s power has given us everything we need to lead a godly life. All of this has come to us because we know the God who chose us. He chose us because of his own glory and goodness.

2 Peter 1:3

We put our hope and our trust in what You are giving because You love us, You know us, and You’ve chosen us for Your loving purposes.  You’ve told us:

Don’t worry about anything. No matter what happens, tell God about everything. Ask and pray, and give thanks to him.

Philippians 4:6

And so today we are bringing ourselves, our loved ones, our governments and all the needs represented across our communities.  We don’t know what we really need.  Only You do.  Help us to not only work and support efforts for financial help for things like food and clothing and housing – as important as those things are – but help us to give our attention to the needs of our hearts to be drawn close to Your heart and our thoughts and perspectives to be lifted up to see what You are showing us and wanting to do through us today.  We know You are ready and willing to give us what we need in every aspect of life because:

God did not spare his own Son. He gave him up for us all. Then won’t he also freely give us everything else?

Romans 8:32

We pray to take today’s opportunity to get to know You better by taking time and paying attention to what Your Spirit is showing us. 

We pray that we will be wise, that we will carry out the things that You’ve given us to do in our families, with our friends, and with those who are vulnerable in the community.  Where we may not be sure how to safely reach out to some of these during this time we trust You to show us what to do so we can be there for one another in ways that use the gifts You have given us, and spread the love and respect and kindness that You have raised up in our hearts for one another. We even dare to ask You for new opportunities, new possibilities in these days that we’ve not had before.  Help us to really take this time to connect with You and with one another in ways that take us forward even stronger, even better, even more conscious of Your grace in the future than what we have been in the past.

We invite You to come close to us.  We are going to come close to You.   We thank You for Your kindness surrounding us, strengthening us, and lifting us up. Amen