Praying during the coronavirus crisis

Ephesians 1: 15-17

“For this reason, ever since I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people. I have not stopped giving thanks for you remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better”

Gracious Lord, we thank you for people who love us. Who have cared for us and been there for us (we take a few seconds of silence to picture them.)
Thank you for their advice, their kindness and their prayers.

We thank you for your love for us that you have no favourites but you constantly love us fully and unreservedly. Help us to love others in your name.

Lord in this time of change and uncertainty, grant us wisdom and revelation. That we may make good decisions for ourselves and for others.

In Jesus' name
Amen

All mighty God, rich in love and full of tenderness. We pray for all those who feel wounded, weary and broken. For the bereaved, the anxious and the isolated.

We unite our hearts with them in tears of lament. God come in power, God have mercy, God bring healing, may the oil of your love bring peace.

In Jesus' name
Amen

Psalm 20:1-2

"May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion."

Lord, we thank you for your grace and goodness, we thank you that you are our help and support.

We thank you for your compassion, you never abandon us.

Lord, we pray for those in distress today carrying a burden and under a weight of distress and sorrow.

May you answer them in their need and grant them protection and give them your peace.

In Jesus' name
Amen

Psalm 20:7

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses but we trust in the name of the Lord.
They are brought to their knees and fall but we rise up and stand firm."

Lord, we thank you that you are trustworthy: you remain constant in love, mercy and grace.

We ask that in times of trial that you may strengthen our faith and help us to keep our eyes fixed upon you.

When we are weary and tired help us to come to you enable us to rise up and stand firm.

In Jesus' name
Amen

Lord, as we tentatively approach a new season we thank you for your faithfulness.

We thank you for your Spirit, helping us to share your love in countless words of grace and acts of kindness.

As we move forward grant us wisdom, grace, mercy and love. Strengthen and renew your church and heal our land.

In Jesus' name
Amen

We thank you, Lord, for the gospel – the good news of Jesus, and His life, death, resurrection and ascension.

We pray that the saving message of love, hope, forgiveness and salvation in Him may go forward to all parts of the UK in the power of your Spirit.

Lord, we ask that many will encounter you for the first time and that others may have a fresh knowledge of your love and grace.

Move in our nations in saving power, we pray.

In Jesus' name
Amen

“As the deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God my tears have been my food, day and night?”

Psalm 42:1-2

Gracious God, we pray for those who are struggling emotionally and spiritually, those finding it hard to experience your presence, those who can’t see you through the tears and the anguish.

Thank you that even when we are struggling to have a vision of you. You are with us. You have promised to never leave us, and you have said when we seek you we will find you.

Thank you that you enter into our sorrow and pain, you journey with us in our questions and our doubts. Bring comfort strength and hope we pray.

In Jesus' name
Amen

Lord, we pray for those who wrestle with mental health issues. Grant them support, care, understanding and love.

We pray for families trying to give support. Lord, supply energy, rest, patience and others to help.

We pray for the wider support network, medical professionals, support staff and volunteers.
Protect them from being overwhelmed. Encourage them and give wisdom.

In Jesus' name
Amen

Lord, you stood outside the tomb and wept. Lord, you stood in the midst of the city and wept tears for the mourning, the broken, the hopeless, the lost. Were they silent tears, falling from your eyes and your broken heart?

Lord of compassion, we ask that you would you weep with those who weep, comfort the mourning, put together the broken, bring peace to the hopeless, and find the lost.

Lord of comfort, strength, love and victory, reveal your grace.

In Jesus' name
Amen

1 John 4:7

"Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."

Lord, it is easy to become distant, to harden our hearts. For some of us it is a way of coping with today. Vulnerability causes pain so we choose to distance ourselves.

Thank you, Lord, that you never become distant or apathetic. You never grow weary of loving. Even when we harden our hearts you lean and breath love over us.

We choose today to pray for the weak, the struggling, the suffering, the lowly and the poor of spirit. May they know your love and mercy today.

In Jesus' name
Amen

Lord,

Our hearts are bruised, we are anxious, we are worried about the ones we love, we are saddened by the lives lost.

Thank you that we can be honest before you. You know us and you have entered into our woundedness. You see our frailty and continue to love us.

You alone are our hope, our strength, our counsellor. Jesus you are our shield in the storm.

Pour the oil of healing upon us, have mercy, comfort the sick and bring peace to those in sorrow.

In Jesus' name
Amen

Psalm 13:1-2

"How long Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts? And day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?"

Psalm 13:5-6

"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise. For He has been good to me."

Almighty God, we pray for those touched by sorrow today, those who mourn the loss of a loved one, those who despair for the suffering, and those who weep in the watches of the night. O Lord have mercy.

We pray for those who fear, gripped by a sense of anxiety, choked by doubt and living in hopelessness, full of unanswered questions. O Lord draw near.

We pray for those who wrestle with their thoughts, who feel abandoned, who are living not just in physical but emotional and spiritual separation. O Lord, remind us of your unfailing love.

In Jesus' name
Amen

Psalm 13

Psalm 23:1-3

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters he refreshes my soul, He guides me along the right paths for His name sake."

Lord, we thank you that you are the one who never leaves us. You are utterly faithful in times of sorrow and joy. On mountain top or deepest valley, you lead and sustain us; you are our Shepherd

We pray for those who face greatest challenges in this season: those with underlying health issues, the weak and the elderly, those with disability, those caring for children with special needs, the lonely and the fearful. Lord may your presence bring strength, hope and peace. You are our Shepherd.

We thank you for all those in the emergency services: those who may be risking their own health to keep us safe, those overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands placed upon them. Lord give them encouragement, energy and wisdom.

You are our Shepherd. We trust in you.

In Jesus' name
Amen

Heavenly Father, we turn our hearts to you. You are utterly faithful, and you have never failed us. Grant us hope, strength and mercy in our time of need. Enable us to throw our cares onto you, our mighty God.

O Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for those touched by the coronavirus, those who face sorrow, fear, illness and isolation. We ask for compassion, love, healing, and kindness. Make us a people living in your perfect love that we may drive away fear.

O Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for wisdom and clarity for those making key decisions, for scientists, medical experts, politicians and public health officials. We pray for acts of kindness to spread in every community.
Enable us to be quick to see need and respond in gracious and loving ways. Take us through this time of trial.

O Lord, hear our prayer.

In Jesus' name
Amen

Scripture reading:

“Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7