A Prayer of Repentance
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
Father, You are all-seeing and all-knowing. COVID-19 has not taken You by surprise because You see the end from the beginning. We come before You in repentance and with humility to ask for Your forgiveness and for Your healing. You promised that You will hear from heaven and heal our land if we repent.
Forgive us Your Church, the Bride of Christ where we have not been who we are meant to be. All over the world we have turned our backs on You but now we have a crisis on our hands and we don’t know what to do. We ask that You have mercy upon us and stop this COVID-19 plague.
Father, You are true to Your word, have mercy upon us and remove this evil plague that is causing fear, death and whole economies to crumble. In Your wrath Lord, remember mercy because of the blood of Your dear Son, Jesus.
World Leaders
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
1 Timothy 2:1-2 NIV
“So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?’ ” Genesis 41:38 NIV
All authority is Yours Lord, but You have given authority to leaders to protect and guide us. Lord, it is you who has positioned them people as leaders. We specifically pray for the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, that You will heal and completely restore him. That he will encounter You during his time in hospital and come to know You as Lord.
We ask that you grant the our leaders wisdom beyond their own knowledge to contain this virus. And when it is all done let them acknowledge that You are the solution.
God of all wisdom, we pray for all our leaders including the World Health Organisation, national governments, local leaders, top medical officers and leading scientists across the globe. We ask that in addition to wisdom, You would grant them discernment and strength to continue to guide us through this troubling time.
Currently there is no solution but Lord You know the solution. Raise up Spirit-filled men like Joseph who will provide wise counsel regarding what should be done to steer the world back on course. Bring such ‘Josephs’ to the attention of the leaders and open their ears to hear the wise counsel and touch their hearts to act upon the divine guidance. We ask in Jesus name.
Physical and Emotional Healing
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.”
Matthew 9:35 NIV
Lord Jesus, so many are sick and suffering in hospitals all over the world at the moment. When You walked the face of the earth, You were moved with compassion whenever You saw the people suffering. We ask that even now, You look with mercy upon all those who are suffering from COVID-19 and stretch forth Your hand to miraculously heal and deliver them.
Lord, even those who are not physically sick are struggling emotionally and mentally. A lot of people are fearful because of the news they are hearing. We ask that You protect them from the illness and bring calm and peace to their minds. Cause multitudes to discover You, the Prince of Peace in the midst of this crisis and enter into Your rest.
Health-workers in the Frontline
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
James 1:5 NIV
Father, we pray for all medical staff and health care providers in the frontline of this battle. That You will protect and strengthen them as they care for the sick and vulnerable. That they will not be overwhelmed or despondent. That You will give them the wisdom to administer the right treatment and save thousands of lives.
We pray that Christians who work in the medical sector will not shrink back from giving a Holy Spirit inspired answer to anyone who asks them about the hope that they have. That many doctors and nurses will surrender to You as they see the peace and hope that their Christian colleagues exhibit in the middle of the crisis.
Use Your Church
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Matthew 5:13-14 NIV
Lord, use us, the Bride of Christ to show Your love at such a time as this. Give us compassion for those who are suffering and teach us how to give practical help to the elderly and vulnerable around us who cannot go out. As we serve with love in the community let us truly be salt and light and let the hope we have in You be evident.
Prepare us to give an answer to everyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that we have. Let such answers be Holy Spirt inspired in humility and save souls. Use us for Your glory to ease the pain of suffering and isolation in Jesus name.
Help believers everywhere rise up in faith to trust You for Your promise of protection in Psalm 91 and to share the message of Your love and hope at this desperate time.
We ask that those who are afraid will be led by Your Holy Spirit to us so we will share the message of hope with them. Empower us to share the gospel with wisdom and compassion at this difficult time. Give us a sense of urgency and stir up in us an insatiable desire to see souls saved. Help us to see the opportunity we have at a time such as this to be salt and light in our world.
As we have moved the gospel out of the church into our homes we ask that You use this situation for Your glory. That people who would never have gone into a church building will click on the online service links and join Spirit-filled worship services. That You will use the preachers mightily to declare Your infallible and undiluted word through this media. That thousands will come to know You each Sunday throughout this period.
The Elderly and Vulnerable
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
1 John 3:18 NIV
Father, we pray for the elderly and vulnerable at this time. The enemy is trying to snuff out as many lives as possible and take them to eternal damnation but we are here to stand in the gap for them in the name of Jesus.
We ask that You spare their lives and that they surrender to Jesus as Lord. We ask that You stir up in us a passion to see souls saved. You said the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Lord, equip us to be worthy workers in Your vineyard at such a time as this. Strengthen us not to be distracted or fearful but remain focused on showing love, saving lives and seeing souls turn to You. Fill us anew with Your Spirit, break our hearts with what breaks Yours Lord.
Family Life and the Isolated
“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 NIV
Father, we ask that You use the occasion of all agendas being put on hold to touch family life afresh. As so many families have no choice than to be together at home, we ask that you unite and restore fractured families. Let Christian families go back to their first love. Cause us to begin to read the bible together, pray together, serve You and worship You together over this period. Let families come out of this period stronger and with the right priorities, with Jesus being at the centre of our lives.
Lord, we also know that so many people are alone and may feel lonely and isolated during this lockdown period. We ask that You will help them discover how to connect meaningfully with others using technology. We ask that You wrap Your loving arms around them and that they find solace in You. Protect their mental health and help them see this period positively as a time to develop new skills and become more creative.
Awaken and Revive Us
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.”
Joel 2:28 NIV
Father, teach us how to pray. So much is going on in our nation today that is very baffling. Your truth is being rejected by too many whilst sinful lifestyles and the lies of the enemy are being celebrated as bravery. Lord, we ask that You intervene in this matter.
We are crying out to You day and night because we want to see an awakening once again. Wake Your church up Father, wake this nation up from spiritual slumber, open our eyes and bring us back to You. Lord hear the cries of our heart and turn this nation back to you. We refuse to be overwhelmed by what we see rather we ask in faith and with the assurance that Your promises are Yes and Amen in Jesus name.
Father, pour out Your Spirit mightily upon our nation at this time. We pray that by the Holy Spirit, through the Church, Your truth will be revealed to this nation again. We pray, “Thy Kingdom – righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit – COME!”
Lord, when we look back at this time later on, we pray that we will be filled with joy as we remember the revival, hope, and peace that came out of it.
In Jesus name we pray. Amen.