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Covid-19

Apr 30 2020
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Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ Call for a National Day of Humiliation, Fasting & Prayer

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[Editor’s note: on April 30, 2020, as we finished our 30 Days of Prayer and Fasting in the Midst of Covid-19, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington) sent out this inspiring prayer call that we knew you must see. It is a powerful reminder of who we are as Americans. Enjoy!]

(Just this week, I came across two prayers from April 30, 1863 and April 30, 1974 – see below. These prayers are as powerful and relevant to our current situation as they were many years ago.)

On April 30, 1863, during the very depths of the Civil War, three months after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and three months before the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln proclaimed a Proclamation for Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer:

“Whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord . . .

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness. Amen.”

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Senate Joint Resolution 183, proclaimed April 30, 1974 as a National Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer.

“Whereas, we have made such an idol out of our pursuit of ‘national security’ that we have forgotten that only God can by the ultimate guardian of our true livelihood and safety; and

Whereas, we have failed to respond, personally and collectively, with sacrifice and uncompromised commitment to the unmet needs of our fellow man, both at home and abroad; as a people, we have become so absorbed with the selfish pursuits of pleasure and profit that we have blinded ourselves to God’s standard of justice and righteousness for this society; and

Whereas, it therefore behooves us to humble ourselves before Almighty God, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness: Now, therefore be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress Assembled, that the Congress hereby proclaims that April 30, 1974, be a National Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer; and calls upon the people of our nation to humble ourselves as we see fit, before our Creator to acknowledge our final dependence upon Him and to repent of our national sins.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

On March 23, 2020 Israel’s Chief Rabbi David Lau called on the public to fast. In his letter, he wrote that difficult days are affecting all of Israel and the entire world . . . it is on us to do some soul-searching. He called for everyone to better their ways concerning commandments which determine behavior between each person and their fellow and concerning commandments between man and God. He encouraged prayers for FORGIVENESS.

Chief Rabbi of Safed Shmuel Eliyahu posted: “In our days, man thinks he is God, that he is the master and can decide what is good and bad, something which is called moral relativism or postmodernism. If this is the case, that mankind is proud, mankind knows everything, understands everything, let him fight the smallest of God’s creations. This creation is called corona, a crown,” he continued.

Coronavirus is so named because of the crown-like arrangement of proteins on the virus when viewed under a microscope. “In man’s heart he must restore the crown to God.” he concluded.

“If my people who are called by my name
will humble themselves and pray and seek my face
and turn from their wicked ways,
I, the Lord God, will hear from heaven and will
forgive their sins and heal their land.”
II Chronicles 7:14

If my people who are called by my name — if we as Christians humble ourselves and pray and seek forgiveness from a living, loving God then God will heal our land – may it begin with me. Don’t harden our hearts – may we in humility confess our sins. We live in a time filled with moral confusion, spiritual chaos, and political divisions — Lord God, heal our bodies, our minds, and our souls. May God reveal His ways in this new day and may we embrace God’s wisdom and move with Him in obedience to His Word.

On May 24, 2017, Becky Tirabassi as guest chaplain for the U.S. House of Representatives prayed:

“Father, I pray for the immediate outpouring of Your Holy Spirit on our Nation and leaders.
I pray that not one of us will miss hearing Your voice today.
I pray that we would not neglect to ask for Your wisdom.
I pray that we would not make decisions without asking Your guidance.
Will You go before and behind us?
Will You give us our marching orders?
In this hour of our great need, begin again to help us, as You have in years gone by.
Father, You are the God who does immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine.
Today, give us the humility to ask for Your help, and the grand moral courage to be agents of change for the good of others and the honor of Your name.
In Your powerful name we ask these things. Amen.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our Father, FORGIVE us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us!
We pray for FORGIVENESS.
We ask for God’s FORGIVENESS and confess our national sins so our country can regain its national purpose and unity.
We pray to FORGIVE each other, stop tearing each other down, stop the finger pointing and blame game.
We pray to FORGIVE ourselves and embrace our uniqueness and potential.
We pray for Godly strategies to bring FORGIVENESS and healing in our land.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Many have quoted Benjamin Franklin at the Constitutional Convention when they had come to the end of themselves and couldn’t reach an agreement on the wording of our Constitution. The outcome of the convention looked grim, and that’s when Benjamin Franklin called on the delegates to pray. After weeks of negotiation at the 1787 Constitutional Convention delegates began returning home. Here’s what Benjamin Franklin said:

“I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?”

“We have been assured, sir, in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel . . . I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business.”
Benjamin Franklin July 28, 1787 When they returned, America was birthed — out of fervent prayer.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

President John Adams said:

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Pray for the humiliation to restore the crown in our lives to God. Join me for a day of fasting and prayer and humiliation. Ask God to speak to you. I’d love to hear from you after April 30. May God be as original with us as He has been with others!

“Your road led through the sea,
Your pathway through the mighty waters —
a pathway no one knew was there.” Psalm 77:19

Warmly,

Cathy

Apr 29 2020
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Day 30 – A Prayer of Worship and Thanksgiving

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Well friends, our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” comes to an end, and I am rejoicing in the hope that’s to come. You give me hope! You point me to our Almighty God. And He is our hope. Your faith, sticking with us throughout these last thirty days, has been inspiring.

Concerned Women for America (CWA) leaders from around the country were excited to join this effort, and we experienced a spiritual unity that is truly miraculous. It was a gift of God to my life. I hope you had the experience so many on our staff here in Washington, D.C., had. When a day in social isolation was particularly difficult, we would get that notice of that daily prayer, and the words of the page were a balm to our soul. It gave us words to say and helped us take the right posture in the presence of the Creator of the Universe.

I believe this effort will bear much fruit for us in the days ahead as we continue to face the challenges that still await us. This is a time for us to celebrate and gather much fruit in the spirit. Remember the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23? “Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control,” this is what we will reap. Let us extend our hands and hearts then in worship and thanksgiving, and pray together once again as we close this effort:

Thank you, Lord!
Thank you, Abba Father.
You are faithful, and
You are good.

You have helped us endure during
This COVID-19 crisis, and more than that
You are continually revealing Yourself to us;
Even in the hardest days of this trial.

You are always near, even when we fail
To see or feel in our humanity. Thank you,
For being our loving Father and patiently awaiting
Our return, as the prodigal son.

Wonderful Counselor, we implore You to remain
With us as we continue to tackle the challenges
Of this coronavirus and what is to come as we open
Our country back in every facet of life.

Give us strength and conviction to make the hard decisions
That must be made and help us to be compassionate at all times.
Give us patience and discernment, help us sort out
Those who would take advantage of our fragile state.

Help our President and all our leaders to have vision
To act in the best interest of our country, even when much uncertainty remains.
Help them to trust You, for nothing is impossible for You.
May we look back in retrospect and praise You for Your wondrous works through COVID-19.

In Jesus Name we pray,
Amen.

That’s it! You made it: 30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of COVID-19, done. You should be proud. I am so thankful for your support. May God continue to bless you beyond measure.

This, of course, is not the end of CWA’s prayer efforts, click here if you would like to check out more prayers from our ongoing general prayer journal, “For America.” And you can click here if you would like to learn more about our local prayers.

Continue to pray for CWA as we turn to planning the return of our national staff to our headquarters and as we work with activists around the nation who are deeply involved in supporting state authorities to reopen America.

In Christ,

 

 

 

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Our final prayer and message were submitted by CWA CEO and President Penny Nance. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 28 2020
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Day 29 – A Prayer for Deliverance

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God of our salvation, Holy Father,
We praise You in spirit and truth.
May Your kingdom be established in our hearts,
Let Your will be done on earth as in heaven.

Preserve our lives, Lord!
Gladden our soul with peace and joy
In the middle of this pandemic;
Help us see beyond the immediate.

We are thankful for Your constant provision,
Where would we be without Your grace.
There is none like You, a God who cares—
Who loves His people. Thank you!

Forgive us for being anxious while
Claiming to trust You.
Forgive us our trespasses and help us
To be quick to forgive those who hurt us.

Grant us courage to stand when
The enemy attacks, for we stand in You.
We want to be brave and bold in Your Word,
And remain meek and lowly in our state.

Deliver us from this COVID-19 time,
Grant us a miraculous exodus, as You’ve done in the past.
You are a God of wonders and miracles,
Let all who see bow down in worship!

All the nations shall one day glorify Your name,
For Your great works. You alone are God!
Great is Your steadfast love for us,
You alone can deliver our souls from darkness.

Yours is the power,
Yours is the glory and all honor,
Yours is the kingdom and majesty,
Now and forevermore.

Amen.

 

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This prayer was written by CWA General Counsel Mario Diaz. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 27 2020
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Day 28 – A Prayer for Blessing

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Dear Heavenly Father.

We come asking for Your blessing like Jacob
Who wrestled all night and refused to let go
Until he received Your promise of a blessing.

Today, I plead for Your blessing for CWA and
Determine to persevere in asking, not letting go
Of the desire for Your goodness and mercy and honor
And glory and strength and riches and blessing!

For “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12)

“The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But He loves him who follows righteousness.” (Proverbs 15:9)
“He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness and honor.” (Proverbs 21:21)

Your promises, oh Lord, are beautiful,
And even more soothing today in this time of a pandemic
Because our hearts are softened. I am so grateful
To see more clearly the need for all of You.

Thank you for the promise of protection from our enemy.
For You have said, “He will cover you with His feathers
And under His wings you will find refuge.” (Psalms 91:4)

Oh, how we need your protection and your covering.
We seek that for all at CWA – may wisdom and understanding
Be the mark of their work across our land, for “Wisdom
Calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares.
She cries out in the chief concourses. At the openings of the gates
In the city She speaks her words.” (Proverbs 1:20-21)

Bring Your blessing and protection to all in the national office
To Penny, Kenda, Mario, Toni, Tanya, Michelle, Julia, Denise, Sara, Keri Ann,
Shea, Doreen, Annabelle, Christina, Danielle, Ashley, Melodie, Celso, and Brittany.
We pray for Mrs. LaHaye, for Linda, and for all on the board
As well as every leader in our state chapters.

May we all seek to follow Your precepts,
To “not be wise in our own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil”.
For we are promised, “It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:7,8)

All for Jesus
And in His victorious resurrection, I pray,
Amen.

 

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This prayer was submitted by CWA of North Dakota State Director Linda Thorson. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 27 2020
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Prayer

Day 27 – A Call for Help

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With one voice we cry out for our country Lord.
To You who created the world and everything in it,
Who sustains it by Your very Word,
Who sent Your only begotten Son to die for our sins.

We need Your wisdom, Father.
We need discernment, through Your Holy Spirit.
Help us find the cure for Covid-19
And help us to rebuild our lives and the economy.

So many have lost their lives’ savings,
Their jobs, their schooling, their plans.
We stand in solidarity with them,
Asking for a special blessing over their lives.

Help us to be better people.
Help us to learn from this experience and
Turn to You with renewed fervor.
In You there is hope for the hopeless.

We continue to pray for our leaders,
Our public servants, working daily to lead
Our towns, cities, states and country,
Out of the stagnation, into productiveness.

Help us move with compassion and understanding,
But help us to move. Help us!
We pray for energy and restoration.
We pray for new discoveries and inspiration.

May our prayers be a delight to Your ears—may they never cease.
Set a guard over our mouths, help us control our tongue.
Do not let our hearts incline to idleness and evil desires.
Help us embrace Your rebuke.

Our eyes turn towards the heavens, from
Where were our help comes from.
In You we seek refuge, do not leave us defenseless.
Let the wicked fall in their own traps.

Give us new revelation,
Show Yourself with power.
We thirst for revival;
We thirst for You.

 

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This prayer was written by CWA General Counsel Mario Diaz. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 27 2020
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Day 26 – A Prayer of Trust

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Father God, we praise You!
We trust You; we want to obey Your statutes.
In our darkest nights we look to You—
In whom there is no darkness.

Forgive our ungratefulness and
Put in us hearts that recognize
And appreciate Your grace and mercy
Towards us, poor sinners, weak and needy.

We glory in our weakness
Because we know that in our weakness
Your power is shown to all peoples (2 Cor. 12:10),
And this is the desire of our hearts: Your glory!

Bring forth Your glory through this
Covid-19 crisis. We are struggling to
Even comprehend what the crisis is about.
Help us, Gracious Comforter.

Cover us under the shadow of Your wings,
That we may be secure—keep our families safe, Lord.
And help us be brave. Help us to fight.
Help us to stand. We do not want to be complacent.

We do take this opportunity to be still,
To know that You are God. But when You want us to move,
We want to be ready and not bend with fear
Under the threat of a terrifying enemy.

They might come with meticulously devised schemes,
With lies, disruption and even biological weapons,
But they will not succeed, we come in the name of the Lord;
Through Him, our victory is secure.

What comfort to rest in His presence!
What joy to sing the songs of deliverance!
What assurance in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
Our Hope and our God.

 

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This prayer was written by CWA General Counsel Mario Diaz. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 24 2020
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Day 25 – A Prayer in Heartfelt Communion

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Dear Lord,

In authentic heartfelt communion with You,
We open our hearts in prayer. Set our heart right.
We are discouraged by the despair
And the many afflictions we face.

We come to You like a child comes to a loving, wise parent,
For comfort and peace and love. We just really need You, God.
Just as Your Word teaches us to pray:

Search me, know my Heart, test me.
Know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me.
Lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

We ask You for forgiveness
For anything that disturbs our communion with You.

We recognize through Your Scripture that
Suffering and tribulation can be a tool You use
To produce in us, perseverance, prove our character,
And give us hope! (Romans 5:1-4)

Thank You for loving us so much that You are
Involved in each detail of our lives.

Boldly and in Jesus precious Name we pray
For our leaders in the White House –
Our President and Vice President and other leaders in the Congress,
As well as the Justices of the Supreme Court, Lord.
Please give them wisdom and discernment
Far beyond their human abilities.

We pray through this coronavirus pandemic
That unbelievers would see Your glory and come to know You.

Show us how we can serve where You are working, and
Through unity with the Church and through Your enduring love for us,
I ask that you set us apart to be used for Your purposes, Lord.

We ask that you embolden each of us
To use our spiritual gifts to Your glory
In each task we undertake,
No matter how big or how small.

Thank You for this opportunity as we are witnessing
How You are moving in this crisis, Lord.
With humility and love and service.
In Jesus precious Name we pray, Amen.

 

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This prayer was submitted by CWA Chief Operating Officer Toni DeLancey. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 23 2020
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Day 24 – Supplication as We Open Up the Country

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Holy Father,
We come to You with supplications,
Asking for a special blessing for our efforts
To open up our country and defeat this virus.

We do not have all the answers,
But we trust You, Lord, give us wisdom;
Be our lighthouse leading us to safe harbor,
Fill us with faith and hope.

We are thankful that You allowed our leaders
To act quickly in the face of this threat.
Many lives have been saved—we are thankful,
Even as we mourn the tragic loss of many.

Now, send out Your light and Your truth,
Open our eyes that we may see.
Let them bring us to Your holy hill,
To Your dwelling place.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)
To You, we run, Lord. In You, we are secure.
Do not hide Your face from us.

Show us the way out!
Out of the darkness of Covid-19,
Of social isolation, of complacency,
Of the sin that ensnares us.

Show us the way out, Almighty God.
That we may worship You in the temple once again,
Altogether singing the songs of Your Salvation,
Proclaiming the works of the Lord!

Let us sing: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.”

Or: “A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing”

Or, “All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.

Amen!

 

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This prayer was written by CWA General Counsel Mario Diaz. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 22 2020
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Day 23 – A Cry for Help

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Dear Father,

Psalm 121:1-2 says, “I will lift up my eyes unto the hills
From whence cometh my help.
My help comes from You,
The Lord who made Heaven and earth.”

Psalm 91 promises us that,
“You are our refuge and fortress
Whom we trust to save us
From the plague that destroys at midday.”

Psalm 92 tells us “You are our rock
And there is no wickedness in You.”

We have so many precious promises from You and
We lift You up and exalt You, especially during this pandemic.
You are the Great Physician and will work through the health professionals
To heal and restore health to the sick while protecting those on the frontlines.

We pray for an end to this coronavirus and
To learn what You want us to learn and know as a result of it.
We thank You for this virus, not because it’s good,
But because Your Word tells us to thank You in all things.

It doesn’t say only the good things –
Romans 8:28 promises that “all things work together for good
To those who love You and are called according to Your purposes.”
We await to see the good You will bring.

Forgive our sins in this great land called America.
We have strayed far away from Your statutes.
We have turned to our own way and rejected You.

Your Word promises in 2 Chronicles 7:14, that
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray
And seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven
As we do what You command in that promise.

Thank You for our salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ.
He took the punishment for our sins – dying on the cross in our place.
Three days later He rose to victory over death and suffering.
May America and the entire world have that same victory over death
By accepting Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord.
May we realize how much You love each one and
Are not willing that any should perish.

May we worship You in Spirit and Truth as believers,
And may unbelievers be drawn to You as they realize You are in control.
We love You because You first loved us.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

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This prayer was submitted by CWA of Maine State Director Penny Morrell. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 21 2020
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Day 22 – A Prayer of Hope

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Heavenly Father,

I thank You for my life today
For each day is never promised.
I thank You that You are in control
Because I know that I certainly am not.
I thank You for Your mercies
For they are new each and every morning.

Lord, Your Word tells us that it is out of Your mercies
That we are not consumed, because Your compassions fail not.
Great is Your faithfulness.  My soul says You are my portion
Therefore, I will hope in You.  (Lamentations 3:22-24)

Though I do lift our leaders up to You for wisdom and guidance,
I do not put my hope in government to save me.  You are my refuge,
My strength— a very present help in trouble.  Therefore, I will not fear.
You, the Lord of hosts, are with me.  You, the God of Jacob, are my refuge.  (Psalm 46)

Lord, You are faithful.  You are sure.  You are steady.  You are all-powerful.  You are never changing.
You are all- knowing.  You are wise.  You are good.  You are just.  You are loving.  You are merciful.
You are holy,  and I praise Your name— the Name above all names. I ask, Lord,
That You remind me daily of Your presence and Your work in my life.
That when I try to take back my worry, my shame, and my uncertainty,
You remind me that You are all of these things and so much more.

Lord, I humbly ask that You take this time
To mold me ever more into a vessel that is useable for Your service and Your glory.
Continue Your work of sanctification in me that I may be a reflection of You
To those I come into contact with.  Create in me a clean heart,
O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  (Psalm 51:10)

Open my eyes to see where You are at work around me
And show me how I can join in that work.
In Jesus’ precious and holy name,
Amen.

 

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This prayer was submitted by CWA Constituent Services Representative Keri Ann Thompson. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 20 2020
0

Day 21 – Prayer to the Glory of God

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You reign on high, Lord—
Clothed with majesty and splendor!
The clouds are Your chariot;
You ride on the wings of the wind (Psalm 104).

Like You, there is no other
Who can transform the heart;
Who can quench the soul’s thirst;
Who can alleviate the anguished mind.

You said, and it was done.
You established the boundaries of the waters.
You cause the grass to grow for the livestock.
At Your rebuke, the storm subsides.

There is no other like You.
The birds are taken care of,
Flowers are clothed; by Your hand
The moon proclaims the seasons.

O Lord, in wisdom You made all,
And creation proclaims Your glory.
The Earth is full of it,
Even its perils remind us we are not gods.

When trouble comes, all look to You,
Our Creator, whom we know can deliver us.
You have done it before,
Your Holy Word testifies of Your great works.

Do it again Father,
Bring glory to Your name through COVID-19.
Send forth Your Spirit and cleanse us
From the sin that ensnares us.

Do not turn Your face from us,
Hear our humble cry.
It is You we seek, You alone,
Our only sure foundation.

May Your glory endure forever,
May we rejoice in Your works for generations.
We will sing praises to You with thanksgiving,
And rejoice in all Your proclamations.

Now, through this pandemic, and beyond,
To face with boldness and faith
The trials of our age, the cross of this day,
Until that glorious day where we’ll rise from death.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

 

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This prayer was written by CWA General Counsel Mario Diaz. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 19 2020
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Day 20 – Prayer for Our Cities

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The Lord reigns on high,
Let the nations be glad!
For righteousness and justice
Are the foundations of His throne.

And of His kingdom, there shall be no end.
He loves and is love,
His heart moves with compassion
For the children of men.

For we are like sheep without a Shepherd,
We run towards trouble, not realizing
That calamity awaits— death is inevitable.
Help us, Good Shepherd.

We pray for our cities, LORD;
So much turmoil affecting so many.
Help us reprioritize in these desperate times,
Teach us to number our days.

Give us love for You and one another.
Give us wisdom and discernment.
We know not what we do, so many times,
Forgive us. Renew us.

We pray against the evil schemes
Of the enemy. He is a liar and a murder.
From the beginning, he was so.
Help us resist His temptations.

Preserve our lives, LORD,
Help us have peace in the middle of the storm,
Give us faith, and love,
Give us hearts full of thanksgiving.

We depend on You. We
Do not put our hope in medicine.
Policy, leadership or might
But in the Lord of Hosts, the Holy One of Israel.

Be with every governor and every member
Involved in dealing with this threat.
Keep their eyes on truth, and
Frustrate evil at every turn.

In Christ, we pray,
Amen!

 

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This prayer was written by CWA General Counsel Mario Diaz. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 18 2020
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Prayer

Day 19 – Prayer in Unsteadiness

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Gracious God,

Today, in the unsteadiness of our world,
All we can control is how our own heart reacts and responds
To what surrounds us. And that “control” comes from recognizing
That we can do all things through You, and only through You, who strengthens us.

In the darkness, You are our light.
In our need, You are the supply.
In our weakness, You are our strength.
When we seek wisdom, You are our Counselor.
When we thirst, You supply living water.

Your grace is sufficient.
Your presence is our refuge.
Your face alone do we seek.

You are our Father, our Shepherd,
Or Comforter, our Provider,
Our Prince of Peace,
Our Deliverer, and so much more.

If You are for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

In these days where there is so much we don’t know,
Help our lives to reflect what we do know –
You are Lord of All! Our prayer is that others will see
The light of Jesus shining brightly through what we say and
How we respond, even as we are putting our hope in You!

May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts
Be pleasing to You, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.

In the name of Jesus we pray,
Amen.

 

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This prayer was submitted by CWA Regional Director of External Relations Melodie Tunney. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 17 2020
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Day 18 – A Prayer of Repentance

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Dear LORD,

For eons of time you have been calling to your children to pay attention
To Your precepts.  You have commanded our respect and reverence
For Your deity, Your power, Your wisdom, but more importantly,
Your agape love for every created soul.

And LORD, for generation after generation, we have ignored You.
We have turned to our own way.

Now, when an unseen and seemingly unconquerable enemy
Confronts our lifestyle, we scramble to remediate our life choices.
We search in the annals of man for answers.  We bring in the most renown of human experts.
We arm our soldiers and our medical personnel with shields and masks in an anemic attempt to
Preclude death.

We call out to others from behind a window and say, “Be well.”
We remember Psalm 2: “Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing? … He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them.”  Help us, LORD, to seek You as the essence of our being.

LORD, when …

Our worship of You is ritualistic;
We hurry on to self-fulfilling activities in the times we should seek You;
We care more about ourselves than our neighbors;
We work more for the benefit of ourselves than for those we are assigned to care for;
We play and put-off Your prescribed work;
We sleep and close our ears to the cries of innocent babies from the womb;
We party when so many have nothing to eat;
We ignore the call to duty except when we will receive the credit;
We care more about the adequacy of our bank account than Your sovereignty over everything;
We choose our own time and situation to perform our peripheral acts of kindness and help;
We are ignorant of Your call because we failed to listen to You and seek Your guidance.

LORD, show us our sin. Be specific.

Hebrews 12:7 -11 says:

“It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.  Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.  All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” (NASB)

Our prayer is this, LORD, help us to use this pandemic
To re-prioritize our values and realign them with Your Word
So that we may truly represent You and the salvation You bought for the world.

We come with this request
In the name of Jesus Christ our Savior.

 

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This prayer was submitted by CWA of Texas State Director Ann Hettinger. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 16 2020
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Day 17 – A Humble Prayer Before the Almighty

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Heavenly Father,

We humble ourselves before You this day, and
We examine our hearts.
As David prayed in Psalm 139, today we pray:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.”

In the busyness of life, our hearts have been
Prone to wander and to lose focus
Of the greatness of who You are.

But You have given us a “pause” in this season.
A time to reflect and to set our eyes on Your face.
We ask You to “create in me a clean heart, O God.” (Psalm 51:10)

In the natural, we have all been washing our hands
So much more than usual. But, it’s also time to cleanse our hearts.
As Psalm 24:4 says, we want to have “clean hands” and “pure hearts;”
Let all idols be removed from our lives.

Forgive us for all inward sins of the heart
Such as wrong attitudes, pride, offense,
Anger, unforgiveness, bitterness,
Jealousy, envy, and more.

Jesus, we want to be more like You.
Purify our hearts and transform us from the inside out!
We want to see You arise in power and heal our land of this deadly plague.
We know that 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 gives us the prescription”

“When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

So, today, we humble ourselves before You,
Almighty God. We set our hearts to pray
And seek Your face as never before.

We repent and ask You to cleanse our hearts and lives
From all unrighteousness. And, as we do, we stand
On the unfailing promise in Your Word that
You will hear us from heaven, forgive us, and bring healing to America.

In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.

 

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This prayer was submitted by CWA Chief Financial Officer Denise Cappuccio. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 15 2020
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Day 16 – A Prayer of Thanksgiving

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Heavenly Father,

How grateful we are that You are Emmanuel, God with us.
You have promised never to leave or forsake us.
You are fighting our battles and working all things for our good
Even when Your footprints can’t be seen.

You are ever present in our troubles.
You go before us and behind us.
You surround us with songs of joy!

We are seen by You, known by You, and cared for by You.
And nothing can separate us from Your love—
Deep love we cannot begin to understand or deserve.

Thank You for Your presence in these uncertain days.
Thank You for never abandoning us in our times of need.
Thank You for Your Word that is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed;
Perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
And our light and momentary troubles are working in us a glory that far outweighs them all.
So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary. What is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4)

Lord, we seek You, we trust You, we wait for You,
And we find rest in You this day and in the weeks to come.
Show us Your salvation!

In Your mighty name we pray,
Amen.

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This prayer was submitted by CWA Regional Director of External Relations Melodie Tunney. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 14 2020
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Day 15 – Praying the Full Armor of God

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Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for our CWA leaders—
Their many gifts and talents.
Lord, we ask you now to anoint them with your Holy Spirit
As we commission them to serve our nation.

Together, we put on the full armor of God
So that we can take a rock-solid stand
Against the devil’s schemes.

Lord, help us all to remember:
That our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
But against the rulers, against authorities,
Against the powers of this dark world
And against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We pray that your church will put on your armor,
That as we endure in this day of evil, we won’t stop standing our ground,
And after we have done everything, to stand
Having weathered the buffeting of the trials of life and of darkness.

That no matter what; we may stand firm in You
Adorned with the belt of truth,
The breastplate of righteousness firmly in place,
And with our feet fitted with the readiness to share the gospel of peace.

Holy Lord, help us to take up the shield of faith
With which You can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
And give us the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,
Which is the Word of God.

Father, many of us are struggling.
Our nation is struggling but, O Lord, help us not to struggle in vain.
We pray that you will heal our nation both physically and spiritually.

We pray for the weakest in our nation,
That you will place a hedge of protection around their bodies.
We pray especially for the elderly and those with other illnesses,
Protect them, Great Physician.

We pray for the doctors, nurses, first responders,
And all other health professionals
That you will keep them and their families safe.

We pray those of us who are well
That we will not grow weary but will serve
And love our neighbors. We pray
for the businesses and charities that are struggling.

We pray for peace for the family who is worried
About paying their rent or child’s school tuition.
Lord, we pray this trial is an awakening for this nation.

Most importantly, Lord, we pray our hearts are turned to You,
That our lips speak Your praise even in the darkness.
May we repent as a nation of our pride and selfishness.

Lord, we know that everything we have
Comes from You and therefore,
We recommit our lives, our families, and
Everything we have to You.

We pray for President Trump. Please,
Give him wisdom and discernment.
We pray for Vice President Pence.
Please bless their entire team with supernatural ability
To combat Covid-19. We pray for Mike Pompeo,
That you will guide him and our nation as we deal with others.

We pray for the church,
For the spiritual leaders among us,
We pray for boldness and courage to
Carry Your gospel with faithfulness.

Anoint us anew,
Amen

 

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This prayer was submitted by CWA CEO and President Penny Nance. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 13 2020
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Day 14 – Prayer to the God Who Hears

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He is waiting to hear from us;
let’s turn to Him today,
right now.

Father, we remind ourselves just how big You are.
History shows us and Scripture tells us,
“There is nothing new under the sun.”
The world has seen pandemics before and will again.
This world will pass away, but Your Word remains forever.

As each new wave of statistics is revealed
It takes each of us time to process … pausing to ponder
How these new facts will impact us and those around us?
Help us to never lose hope.

We must make changes in the way we do a lot of everyday things.
Many are filled with anxiety and fear with all these changes coming at them so quickly.
Now, more than ever, people need to feel Your love, Jesus.
Help us to be Your hand and feet for those who are in need.

Lord, help us to stay informed
And find ways to encourage those around us with your love!
Help us think outside the box,
And serve sacrificially, as You did.

Even from a distance, help us to extend a warm wave
To a neighbor with whom we normally don’t interact,
Or maybe leave a note of thanks for our mail carrier,
Or thank the grocer restocking the shelves as we pick up items for our families.
A big, warm smile in love can go a long way.

We thank You that it is getting easier to speak words of comfort
To complete strangers (our neighbors) all around us.
As we struggle, help us continue to unite.
Help us to continue to learn from one another,
As we fight COVID-19 together

We remember, Lord, that no part of this crisis is taking You by surprise.
You’ve got this! Knowing Your love for us gives us the courage.
And so, we turn to You, inviting others to come before Your throne–
That there, they may find mercy and grace.

In Jesus holy name we pray this,
Amen.

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This prayer was submitted by CWA of Arizona’s Kathy Roper. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 12 2020
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Day 13 – An Easter Prayer

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This Easter Lord,
In the middle of Covid-19,
We remember that by
Your wounds, we are healed.

Heal our Land, Father,
Heal us physically (take away this virus)
And heal us spiritually—
We repent of our sin.

For which You were pierced, Lord.
You took our shame, You paid the price,
You bore our iniquities and,
You defeated death.

Hallelujah, is our song—
Blessed be the Name of the Lord
Who was and is and is to come.
Only in God we trust.

Give comfort to those infected
Right this very minute; be with the families.
Be with the doctors and care takers,
Be with the health officials plotting our strategy.

Savior, Lord,
When we remember Your sacrifice on the cross,
We remember nothing can stand in Your way.
You are omnipotent (all powerful).

Help us in our time of need.
Incline Your ear to our supplication,
And save us from this Covid-19,
As You continue to save us from our sin.

For You reign on high,
You are alive. You were raised
On the third day. O death,
Where is thy sting?

It was defeated on Calvary!
And hope lives on,
To carry us today through our cross
That we may reign with Him when the day comes.

Amen.

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This prayer was submitted by CWA General Counsel Mario Diaz. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.

Apr 11 2020
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Day 12 – A Prayer for Congress

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Come, let us sing to the Lord;
And shout to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us cry out for Help, with thanksgiving,
For He is our deliverer.

He will deliver us from this virus,
And from the many troubles of this world.
With music and song,
Let us remember His many great deeds.

Father, forgive us our lack of faith,
Increase our reliance on You
And help us to seek You and
Lead others to find You.

We pray oh Lord, for a special blessing
Upon our congressmen, who
Continue to work so hard to help us
In our struggling days.

Bless their families, keep them safe.
Turn their hearts toward You,
Towards truth, LORD.
Help them to see.

May the tempter fail in his
Schemes against them.
Protect them and give them
Wisdom, above all.

You chose them to serve
In such a time as this.
Help them to live up to the challenges
They face in representing us.

Help us to serve them in return,
By remembering them often in prayer
And lifting us our voices of concern;
In multiple counselors there is wisdom.

Amen.

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This prayer was submitted by CWA General Counsel Mario Diaz. Click here for more prayers from our “30 Days of Prayer in the Midst of Covid-19” effort. Here for more coronavirus-related resources.