Prayer For Young And Old To Be Healthy and Spiritually Strong

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL

Early in this pandemic we had the overwhelming number of cases and deaths in elderly age groups.  Younger people, outside of at risk folks like health care workers, thought they were immune from perhaps not the disease but from strong effects – nothing more than flu symptoms.  Then as restrictions eased we had many young people under the age of 39 testing positive.  While it is true that many did not end up in hospitals or morgues, there are still far too many cases of those with severe and long lasting symptoms.  We don’t know what the long term impact on a person’s lungs and other organs are even with less symptoms now.  We do know that the behaviour of all of us matters because hospital rates have gone back up and the age rates of those being infected reflects the age of parents and grandparents of these many young people who have gotten infected. 

These days I’ve been reflecting on God’s word in 1 John 2 and today there are instructions for both those who are young, those who are mature.  Listen to these words:

I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.

I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.

I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one.

I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father.

I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.

I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one.

1 John 2:12-14

And so we pray today, Loving God as those who want to be strong in our faith and in our relationship with You, our Loving Heavenly Father.  We are grateful, whether we are young or more mature in age, that we are all Your children and therefore under Your care and guidance.  As children need training and guidance and correction so we acknowledge today that we need that from You.  Whether we’re just beginning our journey of faith with You are been studiers of Your word for many decades, we admit that our knowledge of how life works is very small in comparison with Your eternal wisdom and knowledge and the amount we know makes us vulnerable to getting things wrong and doing things that harm us or others.

I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.

I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.

I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one.

Thank you for the forgiveness of our sins that we have through Jesus. That makes all the difference every day.  Thank you for the many day so peace and blessing we’ve experienced as those of us who are more mature have walk with You.  For those who are just coming to faith and just now getting to know You we give thanks because You’ve shown us again, Lord Jesus, that You are stronger than all of the work of the evil one.  It is a battle to turn our hearts and minds to the way of truth in a post-truth culture but You are giving the strength today to all who turn to You for help in doing that by surrendering their will and their lives into Your care.

I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father.

I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.

I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one.

1 John 2:12-14

We’ve know the Fatherly care of our Heavenly Father in so many ways through the decades.  We can’t begin to remember all the times and ways but we give thanks once again today for Your consistent care for us.  We pray to live well in the light of that history of Your unfailing love for us.

We continue to pray for those who are young in the faith that they will be strong in their commitment to You.  We bless them today to fill their hearts and minds with Your word and then to use that word as they do battle with the evil one.  There is so much untruth that is circulating but You can give discernment and courage to young people, young believers, today so they become strong communicators of all that is right and true and raise up a new generation of those who will give their hearts and lives to the true and living God.

Help us all to live in Your love and truth today, we pray.  Amen