Prayer For Persistence To Learn From Sound Advice

Learning From Sound Advice

We give a lot of attention these days to vaccines that are being approved and are being rolled out to various countries.  Canada’s stream of vaccines is supposed to dramatically increase this week as compared to the last little while.  We have such a long way to go in terms of getting people vaccinated.  I was heartened to see locally that where just weeks ago there were 50 outbreaks in care facilities in our province, now with most individuals in long term care vaccinated, there are now just 12 outbreaks ongoing and we expect that number to drop going forward.

It was with great joy last week that quarantine was lifted in the facility where my mom lives and for the first time in a couple of months she was able to get out of her room and just go to the dining room to meet with her friends and have their usual meals together.  It was a happy day for her and all of us!!

But, it’s also important to note that doctors and scientists are also learning new treatments for those who do get sick with covid-19, treatments that are keeping people from going from mild symptoms to severe or even to keep alive those who are very ill.  There have been great strides made with many drugs – some previously used for treatment of other conditions and some newly developed.

It is good that doctors and care givers are willing to listen and learn as we go forward in this pandemic and look for the day when we get past this constant vigilance and attention.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the many good things are in this world that are available to provide treatment and help for those who get ill – particularly those who get ill with covid-19.  Thank you for the lessons that have been learned with various treatments and the increasing number of patients with mild and severe illness who are now recovering.  We particularly bring the “long haulers” to you as they struggle even months after recovering from the virus but with lungs and systems that are severely compromised.  Give those who research and treat them helpful insights today, we pray, and help them to be generous with their colleagues so the most benefit can be experienced by the most people going forward.  Amen

This sharing of medical information around the world is a good model for all of us who want to grow and learn and live better every day in our life with God, successfully following God’s principles and finding the life our hearts have always longed for.

Wisdom is found on the lips of those who understand what is right.  But those who have no sense are punished.  Proverbs 10:13

Those who have walked a faith-filled and consistent spiritual journey will tell us of prayers that God answered when they felt like giving up.  They persisted in doing the next right thing and God made a way for them to be overcomers, even when they doubted there was a way forward.  In spite of hardship they continued and learned lessons we can benefit from if we will pay attention and apply those lessons to our daily living today.

Knowledge begins with fear and respect for the Lord, but stubborn fools hate wisdom and refuse to learn.  But now you know the true God. Really, though, it is God who knows you. So why do you turn back to the same kind of weak and useless rules you followed before? Do you want to be slaves to those things again?  Proverbs 1:7; Galatians 4:9

God wants to take us through to victory, but if we are unwilling to pay attention to His sound advice and put it into practice, we will forever be on the same old roundabout that ends up getting us nowhere.  God’s word, as recorded in the Bible, assures us that He will honour all the promises He has made.  Why not trust and obey what God says?  Why not be a person who gains wisdom?

Loving God, with both gratitude and humility we acknowledge again today that we only begin to know what we need to know when we admit that You and You alone are the source of all that is right and helpful.  You are the one true God who created us and who holds all of time and all circumstances in your hands.  You know us and You know what instructions we need today in order to thrive and be a help to others. 

You’ve shared gifts and wisdom among Your people and it’s always been Your plan that we would learn from Your Holy Spirit, Your written word, and from the example and experience of those who’ve walked with You.  There’s so much help available to us today.  We don’t want to waste it by not exploring the information that’s available to us nor by failing to make use of it as we adjust our way of thinking and living according to that wisdom.

So today, would you help us  to pay attention, listen and learn.  Please give us the will and desire to trust and obey Your word so that we may gain wisdom and walk in Your ways. Amen