This weeks Covid Prayers notes on the Christians United website…
Psalm 99 Read the whole Psalm:
“The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake.” (v.1)
It’s revealing how often the Psalmist reminds us that God reigns. That’s because we are inclined to forget. And we are inclined to forget because when we look around us, or within, it appears as though God is not reigning. The devil wants us to think that, as the Prince of this world, he rules. As I read my newspapers over the weekend, I see columnists mocking politicians who believe in God, the world despairing at increasing Covid cases, historians warning us that after plague comes war – and so much that would indicate that our God is not on the throne. But if we lift up our eyes, if we believe what the Lord himself has told us in His Word – He reigns. We should tremble….and rejoice.
“How happy puzzled and perplexed Christians would be, if they turned their eyes from the defects that are in their obedience, to the fulness and completeness of Christ’s obedience; and see themselves complete in him, when most lame and defective in themselves” (John Flavel).
Petition: Please join with us in praying for:
1.The World – The number of confirmed cases is 152,474,036 (+ 5,692,820 – +0%). The number of deaths of people with Covid has passed the three million mark 3,198,313 (up 94,696– +10%). Brazil has passed 400,000 deaths. The situation in India is getting worse with today recording a record number of cases (over 400,000) and deaths (over 3,500 – although the actual figure is probably much higher). Various countries are sending aid to India.
2. Australia – There have been 29,826 cases in total (up 160 compared with 127 the week before).
| State | Total Cases | Weekly Change TW/LW | Total Deaths | Change in Deaths TW/LW |
| ACT | 124 | +1 (+1) | 3 | 0 |
| NSW | 5,484 | + 64 (44) | 54 | 0 |
| NT | 166 | +6 (+41) | 0 | 0 |
| QLD | 1,564 | +35 (11) | 7 | (+1) |
| SA | 727 | +22 (23) | 4 | 0 |
| TAS | 234 | + 0 (0) | 13 | 0 |
| VIC | 20,509 | +11 (17) | 820 | 0 |
| WA | 1,005 | +19 (+13) | 9 | 0 |
There has been another hotel breach in Perth, although this time the Premier has decided not to lock down. People have been banned from flying from India. There are 63 people in hospital (-5) with 2 in ICU (+1). There were 319,572 tests with 0.2% positive. There are 272 active cases (+38).
3. Vaccine and Cures – There have been 1.13 billion vaccine doses administered. There is an increasing disparity between rich and poor countries with the administration of vaccines – and a growing concern that some vaccines do not prevent the mutation of Covid 19.
4. Church – There are growing reports of a significant number of churches who have witnessed a decline in on site attendance, whilst others have reported an increase. Pray that the Lord’s people would not ‘’give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)
5. Personal and Family – There are some who are unable to visit sick relatives or even attend funerals because they are not permitted to, or cannot afford to, leave Australia. This is a cause of deep sorrow and sadness.
A Prayer of Repentance:
Lord our God, we bow our knees, submit our hearts, and confess our sins. We are not holy, you are. We are not mighty, you are. We are not just, you are. We are not love; you are. And yet O Lord we confess that we have acted as though the opposite were true. Forgive us. And enable us to look beyond ourselves, the source of all our troubles, to You, the source of all our joy, in Jesus Name, Amen.
Song: This is a lovely reminder that our God Reigns! Includes the verses that are often missed out….
A Prayer of Thanksgiving:
O Lord God – How thankful we are that you reign! Not the politicians, not the principalities and powers, not the people – but You – the Sovereign and Good Lord. Jesus is Lord. We confess and we worship. Amen.
Covid Prayer Notes – Psalm 98, India, and Shane and Shane
Very timely & helpful. If you can’t say Amen, say Help! Bless you David for this encouragement.
Please pray for France, too. The head coup-plotter is now warning of all-out civil war:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.arabnews.com/node/1852006/amp
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9527851/amp/France-threatens-coup-plotting-army-staff-JAIL.html
https://jacobinmag.com/2021/05/french-military-generals-letter-valeurs-actuelles-right-wing-coup-rassemblement-national-le-pen-macron
If the coup-ployters were ever to, say, install Marine Le Pen in power, remember she is no friend of Protestants:
https://www.challenges.fr/election-presidentielle-2017/marine-le-pen-contre-les-protestants-une-dangereuse-manipulation-de-l-histoire_467881
https://www.francetvinfo.fr/societe/religion/marine-le-pen-et-les-protestants-la-polemique-en-quatre-actes_2152769.amp
Protestants in the past have been firm suppporters of Macron because of the perceived threat from Le Pen:
https://www.ncronline.org/news/politics/french-clerics-stands-le-pen-populism-range-resistance-reserve
https://evangelicalfocus.com/print/2539/Protestants-the-faith-confession-that-most-clearly-supported-Macron
https://www.haaretz.com/amp/world-news/europe/.premium-jews-muslims-and-protestants-rally-against-le-pen-but-catholics-stay-put-1.5468659
During the Algerian War , the natives’ most popular slogan against Diversity and Multiculturalism was ” One Settler One Coffin” .
I haven’t yet heard Marine Le Pen attack the welfare – dependent, criminality – prone , educationally – failing Muslim population in such a robust manner.
Thank you for this devotional and such assurance that our God reigns. The daily verse on Bible Gateway this morning is 2 Chronicles 7 verse 14 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%207%3A14&version=esv&cm_mmc=ExactTarget-_-VOTDBGNLT-_-macinnes146@gmail.com-_-reference-verse
with the promise that if HIS people humble themselves and call on HIS name,blessing will follow but if not judgement can be expected.
Since the start of this coronavirus pandemic, I cannot recall being present when a congregation was led in public prayer for God to remove this virus, nor heard news of such prayer, nor read of a church leader encouraging such prayer. Can you? I find this strange. Have you noticed this too? Do you also find it strange?
More on the French situation:
https://www.voanews.com/europe/talk-coups-unnerves-france?amp
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56899765.amp
The Guardian thinks fears might be exaggerated:
https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/04/coup-france-far-right-president-marine-le-pen
The George Floyd case was a a catalyst for the above comments .
This is because an ex – convict , drug addicted Black man was transmogrified in to a ” hero – martyr – saint” for the US core – populace , Euro – Americans in the country they painfully pioneered and built.
George Floyd’s forebears were brought to America as slaves at a time when such things , and much worse , were legally permissible everywhere.
And , for those of an historical bent , the majority of White Americans are descended from people who arrived After the abolition of Slavery .
This does not mean that Whites should live under Leftist , Black – Reparation style rules or lower our societal standards to those of the Ghetto.
One more:
https://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/2021/05/will-threat-military-putsch-strengthen-frances-far-right
Let’s hope so , because the French Left is firmly on the side of Muslims , a group so divided that they do not know what they want ( other than, en passant , an end to Christian Europe ) and even if they did , would not know how to accomplish it.
Please see Iraq and Syria and Egypt et al .
It sad to read what you have written in your five points David. Has anything changed in human nature since Jesus wept over Jerusalem?
No.
Your claim is that we are inclined to forget. That happens if we are overly focussed on the world and have neglected to have hearts and minds that are heavenly focussed. Consider what Jesus said to his disciples when they were concerned about when they might eat or about having adequate clothing when they, like him were homeless having left everything to follow him. He said to consider how beautifully the lilies were clothed and of the food that is provided for the ravens. And if your father in heaven cares for the flowers and the birds how much more will he care for you, oh you of little faith!
I imagine Jesus being full of joy in saying this and with a twinkle in his eye with it being an encouragement to his followers. And by that I mean not merely saying something nice, but engendering courage in them.
So if you are carrying heavy burdens – Jesus invites you to come to him and he will give you rest.
Now, if the church generally speaking practiced what it preached rather than merely preaching it wouldn’t that make literally a world of a difference?
It’s only natural to experience fears and temptation to become proud and neglect to do good. But the temptation isn’t the sin. And God comforts us in this, he doesn’t come in like a bullying school teacher and beat us up. So in the context of the Psalm, the nations trembling and the earth shaking is in the context of God’s judgement and his punishment of misdeeds with fear being associated with judgement. Would any of us want to live without justice sooner or later? Or without right judgement? That to my mind is as close to hell as it gets.
And what loving parent would want their child to go to hell?