A Prayer To Live Well In The Current "New Normal"

 I had a look back at where we were a year ago and what we posted then had to do with line-ups everywhere we go. That is certainly still the case.  

Plexi-glass barriers are everywhere. I still find it hard to hear often with the double barrier of masks and plastic, but we are getting by. They were beginning to use electronic line-ups for banking and labs etc. and that certainly has become my new normal as I “line up” before I leave home to walk the block to either of those places.  Many more stores – even the dollar stores have self-check out kiosks and I use them almost all the time. Restaurants are all on outdoor patio or take-out only.  That’s gone back and forth throughout the waves of infection rates.  Mask wearing is commonplace.  We even have colours and styles that can match the clothes we are wearing.

It’s a funny world we live in these days that has become our new normal, isn’t it? 

And so, in the middle of all this, I want to give thanks again today for how different the “new normal” is that we get to experience when we come into relationship with God through Jesus.  I’m so grateful that the old goes and the new comes when we welcome God into our lives.

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.  For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.  (2 Corinthians 5:17-19 NLT)

Heavenly Father, we are grateful that you have brought us to this day of the “new normal.”  We are so thankful that in many places the vaccination numbers are going up and the COVID-19 infection curve is bending.  We pray blessing on India and other countries that struggle with increasing case loads and stresses on medical systems due to variants with high infection rates.  Give wisdom and strength to those who treat the sick and healing strength to the sick to fight off this infection.

We continue to pray for those families for whom the “new normal” is life without a loved one.  Come alongside them and comfort them, we pray.  Support them.  Give them grace to seek and find your heart during this horribly new time.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.  Psalm 34:18

We pray for those who have no jobs to return to in this “new normal” and ask that you will help them make connections with industries that can use their skills and provide them with the money they need to take care of themselves and their families.  Help them to be flexible in the application of their skills and allow You to show them new environments where they can be useful.  Give them the willingness to study and be trained in a new field if that is what this new season is bringing.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;   establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.  Psalm 90:17

As we think about all these new normal things we want to give you thanks that life with you God, is the best new normal there could be.  You made us new people.  You brought us into loving relationship with you.  What a gift.  What a transformation of previously meaningless lives to lives now that are filled with purpose and hope.  Help us to be faithful even during this new season to hear what You are saying to us so we can do the work that you’ve prepared for each of us to do.

Thank you God that there’s no line-up and no waiting to approach you.  We don’t have to worry about getting anything bad from you or needing to be protected from You in any way.  You are the God who has grace and mercy for us today, whatever we need, whenever we need it.  We can come boldly to you, come right in and come right up close and personal.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.  (Hebrews 4:16 NLT)

And so today, in this new normal that we are all getting used to, we want to pause for just this moment and say thank you that we belong to You and no virus, no social isolation, no “new normal” can change that.  Amen