Dear brothers and sisters,
Our president has declared today, Lord’s Day, March 15, to be a National Day of Prayer, saying, “We are a Country that, throughout our history, has looked to God for protection and strength in times like these. No matter where you may be, I encourage you to turn towards prayer in an act of faith.”
We are thankful that we live in a country where our President can publicly recognize God’s sovereignty. Although we are not meeting together at the meeting hall this Lord’s Day to avoid possibly spreading the virus, we can still come to the Lord in prayer. We need to pray for those who are sick and for their families, for the healthcare workers who are caring for the sick, and for our leaders to make wise decisions about public health. We need to pray for the Lord to limit the spread of the virus. Especially, we need to pray that the Lord would have mercy on our country and cause the hearts of the people to turn to Him. And pray that we, the people of God, would rise up to pray more and to speak the Word with boldness (Acts 4:29; Eph. 6:19) to our friends, relatives, neighbors, coworkers and classmates.
With all that is happening with the COVID-19 virus, many people are anxious and afraid. Thank the Lord that we can put all of our trust in Him, “casting all your anxiety on Him because it matters to Him concerning you” (1 Pet. 5:7).
Generally speaking, as the church, we do not promote “official” prayer events. However, we sense from the Lord our great need for more prayer. Our brother Minoru Chen suggested that we consider to “join all of God’s children to intercede on behalf of the nation which is now besieged by an unusually serious health crisis. As Aaron the high priest lifted up the censor, standing between the living and the dead, and stopping the plague that broke out amongst rebellious Israel, in principle, we may echo the ascended Christ in His intercession before God for His administrative purpose to advance on earth, for people to be preserved and saved according to His desire, and for His Church to repent and overcome. Significantly, the Lord told us in Matthew 18 that if TWO are in harmony (with the heavens and each other), they can bind and loose based on the will of God. Oh may the saints rise up these days to spend much more time before the incense altar!”
For the brothers in Denver
