Today marks the first day of a month of prayer. Our denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), has put together a 30 day guide that prompts our prayers for the Church, the nation, and the world. You can access the prayer guide at the following:
The Apostle Paul encouraged the Church in Rome: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (Romans 12.12–13 ESV).
Our current circumstances press the boundaries and challenge our creativity to show hospitality. We extend love by placing distance between and limiting contact among one another. I am thankful for technologies that allow us to remain digitally connected, but I miss seeing you face to face. I am mindful that these times will provide ample opportunities for Christians to contribute to the needs of others. And all the while, in fears or fatigue, we can rejoice in the hope of Christ.
Day 1 Directs our Attention to our God’s Infinite and Unchangeable Being
As we seek to pray through the Covid-19 Crisis, we turn to the attributes of God as listed in the Westminster Larger Catechism, The Psalms, and Galatians 5:22-23 (the Fruit of the Spirit) to guide our prayer and focus our hearts and mind on the attributes of God:
Other Resources
- Devotional with Tim Keller | Psalm 11: Disciplines of Distress
- Martin Luther’s letter to John Hess | Whether One May Flee a Deadly Plague
- N.T. Wright’s article from Times Magazine | “Christianity Offers No Answers About the Coronavirus. It’s Not Supposed To.”
These three links represent theological and pastoral remarks from different times in the life of the global Church and from different Christian traditions. You may not agree with everything they have said. For example, the way Luther writes of “judgements of God” might challenge your sense of God’s involvement in the day to day, but he speaks of it in context of a Christian’s hope and trust in the justice and mercy of God. Moreover, there are portions of Wright’s article that bump up against my theological convictions of God’s simplicity, immutability, and impassability. I pray that all three challenge, strengthen, and comfort you in this time, but above all, may you experience the Lord’s consolation from his word and through prayer.