After yesterdays letter this weeks prayer notes on Christian United. seem appropriate!
Psalm 106 Please read the whole Psalm:
12 Then they believed his promises and sang his praise. 13 But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold.14 In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness, they put God to the test. 15 So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them.
Ps 106 is a song about how God rescued his people, they praised him, they forgot him, they wanted something else, he gave them what they wanted, they repented and the whole cycle is repeated. Can we not see that same pattern today? We so quickly forget what the Lord has done, and we put him to the test. In prayer we remember what he has done, and we ask him to remove from us the test.
“The world was made partly that there might be prayer; partly that our prayers for George might be answered. But let’s have finished with ‘partly’. The great work of art was made for the sake of all it does and is, down to the curve of every wave and the flight of every insect”” (C S Lewis – Letters to Malcolm)
Petition: Please join with us in praying for:
1.The World – The number of confirmed cases is 181,000,826 (up 2,577,503 – down 50%!). The number of deaths of people with Covid 3,921,080 (up 56,661 – a drop of 70%). The daily cases in India have dropped considerably. As have the cases in Brazil. Indonesia, South Africa, Bangladesh are seeing large increases.
2. Australia – There have been 30,449 cases in total (up 168 compared with 156 the week before).
| State | Total Cases | Weekly Change TW/LW | Total Deaths | Change in Deaths TW/LW |
| ACT | 124 | 0 (+0) | 3 | 0 |
| NSW | 5,642 | + 114 (+47) | 54 | 0 |
| NT | 181 | +3 (+3) | 0 | 0 |
| QLD | 1,683 | +18 (+33) | 7 | 0 |
| SA | 794 | +9 (+21) | 4 | 0 |
| TAS | 234 | + 0 (0) | 13 | 0 |
| VIC | 20,685 | +21 (+50) | 820 | 0 |
| WA | 1,021 | +1 (+2) | 9 | 0 |
At the moment of writing there is considerable concern that small outbreaks in Queensland, Perth, Darwin and the larger one in Sydney may spread. Sydney is in a two-week lockdown. There are 53 people in hospital (+17) with 1 in ICU (+0). There were 586,084 tests with 0.2% positive. There are 145 active cases (+110).
3. Vaccine and Cures – There have been 2.92 billion vaccines (+310 million) – equal to 38 for every 100 people. Australia has 7.5 million with one million in the past week. It is now clear that the vaccines are not 100% effective in preventing the spread of Covid, however they are incredibly effective in stopping serious illness and hospitalization. For example, Scotland had its highest number of covid cases in one day (3,000) despite 60% of the population being vaccinated – but only a handful of hospitalisations.
4. Church – Pray for the Methodist church in the UK which this week is debating a report which asks for cohabitation and same sex marriage to be accepted in the church. Faithful Christians in the Methodist church are deeply distraught. https://www.christiantoday.com/article/the.marriage.madness.in.methodism/137001.htm
5. Personal and Family – Many people are prevented by border closures and restrictions from visiting loved ones. If I can be forgiven for illustrating this at a personal level, I would appreciate prayer for my father who I was informed last night is dying. It is deeply distressing being thousands of miles away and being unable to visit or offer support. We commend all such to our Father in Heaven.
A Prayer of Repentance: “Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise. 25 They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD.” (Ps 106:24-25) Lord, we confess that too often we behave like the Israelites. We forget your benefits. We grumble and we are disobedient. Enable us to truly repent and follow you with all our hearts. In Jesus name, Amen.
Song: This is a wonderful reminder of where we are to look – Turn your eyes upon Jesus – from Sovereign Grace Music.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving:
47 Save us, LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. 48 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the LORD.
Covid Prayer Guide – 21st June – Ps 105, Flavel, News, Prayers and City Alight
Almighty God and Everlasting Heavenly Father , Hear my prayer. In this life we have always lived under the shadow of death and dying. We know much about it because of the pain and suffering it causes . We know too it also would seek to leave us helpless , lonely and in despair . This past year we have had to face up to its intrusion on us personally , and upon every nation on Earth . You know I speak the truth , for you also suffered such pain , such pain that you could not bear to look upon your only Son , He who is Life , becoming obedient to death unimaginable , and its curse.
Yet Father , that single act of obedience to you changed my life forever . It gave me life, and life with purpose . It gave me life and a hope that is certain . It taught me that I need never be lonely or afraid . His death , revealed that my sins are ALL FORGIVEN . by His one act of obedience to you. Today , Almighty Heavenly Father , this Sinner is one of the numberless who have been so blessed . We are so blessed by such knowledge that we boast , share and comfort one another knowing that death has no hold or claim upon us , knowing that if or when our time comes to pass through its shadow , we fear not death’s evil ,for THOU art with us ; thy rod and staff they are our comfort .
Hear us , O God . May the whole Robertson family know your peace at this time and may David’s father rest in you , secure in the finished work of his Saviour. Would that his mother would continue to know your comfort and strength for today , and the days to come. We , the Body of Christ thank you for the legacy you endowed him with , for its enrichment to all who seek and know Jesus. We bless you Almighty God , and may the glory ever be thine , through Jesus Christ our Lord . Amen .