Deaths and infection with corona virus by the thousands kept on flashing on the TV and internet news. High depression rate, overstretched doctors, nurses/medical providers with limited facilities and protective gear, and economic crushing, overstretched President, Vice President and staff, and COVID-19 Task Force telling us the truth with tact and encouragement. Viewers shaken. What’s next? Which area will be the next hot spot? Will it be me or my family and friends?
Where can we find hope?
We, as Christian soldiers are in the fox hole. Determination to pull ourselves from fear and hopelessness gets harder. Is there anything too hard for the Lord Jesus Christ as our Commander-in-Chief?
Our GHSB (God Has Something Better, Hebrews 11:40) Prayer Group launched a seven-day intense prayer and prayer and fasting from April 4, 2020 to April 10, 2020. Praise and prayer will be posted daily with the testimonies of His children in the Bible who have experienced God’s supernatural healing and deliverance from demise.
As I thoughtfully and prayerfully meditate on 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, our Bible reading for the day. These verses hits me to the core.
“Alarmed. Jehoshapat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed they came from every town in Judah to seek him”(2 Chronicles 20:3-4 NIV).
King Jehoshapat’s prayers from verses 5 to 9 magnified the king’s steadfast faith in God and assurance of deliverance, “If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgement, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in distress, and you will hear us and save us” (verse 9).
“All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord” (verse 13).
He (a Levite and descendant of Asaph) said: “Listen, King Jehoshapat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (verse 15).
“Jehoshapat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice” (verse 18).
Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshapat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful”(verse 20)
“After consulting the people, Jehoshapat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever” (verse 21).
“As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated”(verse 22).
The Lord blessed King Jehoshapat and his people with victory against the enemy, no casualty, and so much plunder. They responded with praise and rejoice with harps, lutes, and trumpets as they entered the temple in Jerusalem. Fear of God was sown to all the kingdoms who heard how the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel.
We may not fight an enemy army, but everyday we battle temptation, pressure, fear of COVID-19, and rulers of this world (read Ephesians 6:12) who wants us to rebel against God.
Remember, as followers of Christ, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit till the day of redemption (read Ephesians 4:30), who alone can sustain us in troubled time like this.
If we ask for God’s help when we face struggles, God will fight for us. And He always triumphs.
How do we let God fight for us? (1)By realizing the battle is not ours, but God’s; (2) by recognizing human limitations and allowing God’s strength to work through our fears and weaknesses; (3) by making sure that we are pursing God’s interests and not our selfish desires; and (4) by asking God for help in our daily battles.
April 5, 2020 Praise and Prayer Points:
O Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ we praise and declare in united faith that this battle against COVID-19 belongs to you. We declare in united faith that there are hidden blessings behind this pandemic. All things will work together for good according to your plan and purpose for us, our families, church families, nationwide, and worldwide.
We pray in united faith for our President Trump,Vice President Pence, COVID-19 Task Force, government leaders from the Federal to State level, service men and women in the military, medical providers, doctors, scientists and experts who are developing treatment and vaccine, and those involved in the food industry services and delivery here and overseas government leaders (Canada, Philippines, Mexico, Peru, and others) will lean and trust in Jesus Christ alone for wisdom, guidance and courage by faith as they serve in various capacities during this distressful time till victory comes in Your own way and timing.
We pray in united faith for physical, emotional and spiritual wholeness of those inflicted with corona virus (Annie, Nana, missionaries, pastors, and victims here in the USA and other countries) and other diseases as we declare in Jesus’ holy and powerful name their healing according to Your Word, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24 NIV) on them for Your glory and honor.
We praise and pray in united faith for wisdom, provision and courage for our respective Pastor, praise team, Church leaders and volunteers, and Sunday School teachers as they serve unselfishly in this challenging time, and sow His Word through virtual services and meetings. We declare in united faith His promise, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning it’s shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV) on us and them.
We pray in united faith for those families who have family members and friends who died due to corona virus to experience your peace and comfort that passes all understanding by faith in Jesus Christ. That they will call on You for help.
We pray in united faith that more and more families will realize that they need a Savior who alone can give them comfort, hope, peace, and provision in this time of pandemic.
Father have mercy on people who are struggling with depression. Touch them with your healing grace and peace, Empower us to pray and encourage them with the Holy Spirit’s anointing on us.
Deliver us from the trap of hopelessness and blame, from the trap of panic, from the trap of hoarding, and from the trap of division among us and our government leaders. Be gone in Jesus’s holy and powerful name.
Father God in the mighty and holy name of Jesus with Your Holy Spirit’s empowerment on us as your intercessors, we pray in united faith for inner strength, godly perspective, and courage to continue to pray fervently as we offer and approach Your throne of grace with brokenness with praying and fasting as we claim Your assurance, “…for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV) on us.
Create in us a pure heart, O Lord, help us not to grieve Your Holy Spirit, and restore to us the joy of our salvation. Make us hungry for Your divine presence and crave for Your Holy Word. In Jesus’ holy and powerful name we pray and declare victory in united faith against COVID-19 for Your kingdom’s sake. Amen.
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Lilian Hosfeld 