Prayer for Security in Difficult Times
Thursday May 14, 2020
Can we trust God's care and His good presence with us duirng this time of the pandemic? Why does God allow all this trouble anyway? Can we trust His powerful love to get us through today and each day, one day at a time until we see better times? Let’s pray and ask for His help.
The Goodness of God – Bethel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIpb1igP0gU
One of the questions that always comes quickly in conversations during seasons such as the COVID-19 pandemic is “Does God care when life is difficult for us?” We wonder where God is when heartbreaking things happen either to people we see on the news, to folks in our circle of care, or even to ourselves. Without question the answer is "Yes". God sees our suffering and is aware of our pain, and with compassion and strength He is ready and willing to help us through our difficult times.
Why doesn’t He stop it right away? Why does God allow it? While we won’t likely have all of the answer for those kinds of questions until we reach heaven, we do know that God is good and is seeking to give us a full life. The devil is evil and is trying to kill, steal, and destroy God’s amazing creation – including us. God wanted loving relationship with people who would freely choose His love and that required the option that they might choose otherwise. God promises to work for good for those who love Him even during times of difficulty that sinful broken choices of humans down through time have brought about.
Just as a surgeon hurts a person when he cuts into their body to remove a cancerous tumor and makes them quite ill with chemotherapy drugs so, there is something better that God is bringing alive in us and in our world, even during this very difficult time of the pandemic, that in hindsight, at some point, we will recognize, than if God waved a magic wand. Can we trust His care? Can we trust His good presence with us? Can we trust His powerful love to get us through today and each day, one day at a time until we see better times? Let’s pray and ask for His help. We’ll begin with words from the book of Psalms in the Bible.
Lord, Look on my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law. Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise. Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out your decrees. Your compassion, Lord, is great; preserve my life according to your laws. Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from your statutes. I look on the faithless with loathing, for they do not obey your word. See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, Lord, in accordance with your love. All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. (Psalm 119:153-160 NIV)
Heavenly Father, just like the writer of these verses we often find ourselves in circumstances where we feel we need someone to stand up for us and defend our cause. Sometimes we feel like we've fought hard and long and still have taken a beating. Help us today Lord. We are tired and we need new energy and a fresh outlook. You have just what we need. No one cares for us like You do. The depth of Your love and compassion for us far exceeds that of the kindest individual we could ever meet.
Thank You God for giving us all we need today to do well even in challenging times - principles for life and clear directions, and the power of Your Holy Spirit that will take us forward one day at a time. Others around us may do whatever they choose to do but God we want to focus our journey on doing today with Him and not be distracted from that. We want to be responsible and simply with a focus to follow what You say and not be thrown off course by the bad opinions and words and actions of others we hear about or see on things like social media. As we keep focused on You, you will turn our thoughts from insignificant or even harmful things to our emotions and You will act on our behalf to preserve our life. Thank You for Your comfort that strengthen us today and gives us bright hope for tomorrow. Amen
Recently we’ve been singing the song, “The Goodness of God” and I thought I’d end our time today with some of the lyrics.
I love You, Lord For Your mercy never failed me
All my days, I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
I love Your voice. You have led me through the fire
And in darkest night You are close like no other
I've known You as a Father. I've known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah!
And all my life You have been faithful, oh
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God, yeah!
The Goodness of God – Bethel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIpb1igP0gU
One of the questions that always comes quickly in conversations during seasons such as the COVID-19 pandemic is “Does God care when life is difficult for us?” We wonder where God is when heartbreaking things happen either to people we see on the news, to folks in our circle of care, or even to ourselves. Without question the answer is "Yes". God sees our suffering and is aware of our pain, and with compassion and strength He is ready and willing to help us through our difficult times.
Why doesn’t He stop it right away? Why does God allow it? While we won’t likely have all of the answer for those kinds of questions until we reach heaven, we do know that God is good and is seeking to give us a full life. The devil is evil and is trying to kill, steal, and destroy God’s amazing creation – including us. God wanted loving relationship with people who would freely choose His love and that required the option that they might choose otherwise. God promises to work for good for those who love Him even during times of difficulty that sinful broken choices of humans down through time have brought about.
Just as a surgeon hurts a person when he cuts into their body to remove a cancerous tumor and makes them quite ill with chemotherapy drugs so, there is something better that God is bringing alive in us and in our world, even during this very difficult time of the pandemic, that in hindsight, at some point, we will recognize, than if God waved a magic wand. Can we trust His care? Can we trust His good presence with us? Can we trust His powerful love to get us through today and each day, one day at a time until we see better times? Let’s pray and ask for His help. We’ll begin with words from the book of Psalms in the Bible.
Lord, Look on my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law. Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise. Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out your decrees. Your compassion, Lord, is great; preserve my life according to your laws. Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from your statutes. I look on the faithless with loathing, for they do not obey your word. See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, Lord, in accordance with your love. All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. (Psalm 119:153-160 NIV)
Heavenly Father, just like the writer of these verses we often find ourselves in circumstances where we feel we need someone to stand up for us and defend our cause. Sometimes we feel like we've fought hard and long and still have taken a beating. Help us today Lord. We are tired and we need new energy and a fresh outlook. You have just what we need. No one cares for us like You do. The depth of Your love and compassion for us far exceeds that of the kindest individual we could ever meet.
Thank You God for giving us all we need today to do well even in challenging times - principles for life and clear directions, and the power of Your Holy Spirit that will take us forward one day at a time. Others around us may do whatever they choose to do but God we want to focus our journey on doing today with Him and not be distracted from that. We want to be responsible and simply with a focus to follow what You say and not be thrown off course by the bad opinions and words and actions of others we hear about or see on things like social media. As we keep focused on You, you will turn our thoughts from insignificant or even harmful things to our emotions and You will act on our behalf to preserve our life. Thank You for Your comfort that strengthen us today and gives us bright hope for tomorrow. Amen
Recently we’ve been singing the song, “The Goodness of God” and I thought I’d end our time today with some of the lyrics.
I love You, Lord For Your mercy never failed me
All my days, I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
I love Your voice. You have led me through the fire
And in darkest night You are close like no other
I've known You as a Father. I've known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah!
And all my life You have been faithful, oh
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God, yeah!
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