Gracious Father, on the cross your son prayed, "My God, my God, why did you abandon me?" I want to pray for all the people around the world who find themselves feeling abandoned by you, by their fellow human beings, by family who can't see them. Father, in the name of your son Jesus and in the power of his Spirit, will you come and be with them, be with your suffering world at this time. Give us fresh resources of courage, faith and hope. Give our leaders worldwide the scientific wisdom, the faith that they need to say the right things to encourage people. We pray specially for the doctors and nurses and all the medical professionals and researchers looking for vaccines. We pray that ways forward may be found that unnecessary deaths may be stopped, and the proper care given to those who are now dying. We pray for all those who are seriously ill right now, finding breathing difficult. Gracious Lord, be near them, be with them, bring good out of this trouble. And Father, as you have promised that one day the earth shall be full of the knowledge and glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Give us even in the present time, a foretaste, a glimpse of that, and help us to live by that glimpse, to live in hope and to become, in our time, people of hope to your wounded and waiting world. We pray this in Jesus name and for his sake. Amen.
Tom Wright, New Testament scholar and former bishop of Durham
As we come to you, our Father, we remember that you are our refuge and fortress, the God in whom we trust. Lord, we ask you to protect us from the spread of coronavirus. God, we believe that you are a healer. We ask you to heal those with coronavirus. Lord, have mercy on us. Give wisdom to the government, World Health Organization and other leaders as they monitor, assess and lead through this pandemic. Give strength afresh to those on the frontlines of medicine and healthcare. In their weariness, enable them to lean into your strength. Give wisdom and insight to those researching for a cure. Bring them clear thinking and a breakthrough. You are the God who comforts. Embrace those who are grieving the loss of loved ones, surround those experiencing trauma and loss with your compassionate love. Amen.
Sarah Whittleston is the leader of Elim's national prayer ministry
Loving God, as the Methodist Church in Britain, we pray for our partners around the world who do not have the privilege of healthcare we rely on here. We are one world and part of the same struggle. But many face hardships compounded by poverty and poor nutrition. Help us to be good global neighbors. Strengthen us with courage, and with the skills to alleviate suffering. Protect us with the shield of love and the sword of justice. So that as one body, united in Christ, we will be people of light and peace. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Dr Barbara Glasson is President of the Methodist Conference
Heavenly Father, we come to you knowing that we are coming to a God of mercy and a God who loves us. We pray, heavenly Father, for this nation. We pray for our leaders, the Prime Minister and his cabinet - that you will grant them wisdom as they make decisions that guide us as a nation. We pray for our loved ones and the various communities in which we exist. We pray for the those who are working on the frontline. For the entire nation, we're asking Lord that you will guide us through these challenging times. We're asking Lord that in the way that only you can, that you will cause many things that will be for our good to come out of what is a bad situation. We're praying for those who have caught the virus that Father, you will step in. We still believe in a God who heals. We're praying, Lord, that as a nation, you will give us the grace to come together, stand together with each other and that acts of kindness will multiply up and down the length and breadth of this nation. We are praying almighty God because we do believe in a miraculous God. In a God who can do the impossible - that this virus will stop, that its spread will be stemmed and reversed. We're asking in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Agu Irukwu, Pentecostal president of churches together in England
We thank you for opportunity to come together, even if it is virtually. And we thank you for the opportunity to be able to speak to you whenever we need. And Lord at this time we are in need. We place before you all those who are bereaved. All those who are suffering or those who are vulnerable and confused, anxious and unsure. Lord, we place before you all those struggling with so many things that they didn't anticipate. But Lord, we know your strength. We know your power, and we know that we are in your hands. And so at this time, Lord, we pray for our churches. We pray for your Church around the world. We pray for our nation. We pray for those who are serving medically in crisis, and those who are placing themselves at great risk for others. We ask your blessings and protection upon them. We ask for your healing hands upon your world. And we ask you, Lord, in every way, to be our guide, to be our light, and to be our hope, that we may in your love, be strengthened and comforted. Amen.
Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Church
In this time of such uncertainty, loving Father be with all those who are unwell or worried for themselves and their loved ones. Please watch over all those working in hospitals, especially those caring for the most vulnerable, and those doing screening tests. May they be strengthened and energized that they can perform their duties as well as possible. Look after health care workers and carers in the community as they must balance the need to care for their clients and their own health, especially if they're traveling from people's homes. Help those in power and those involved in planning to make the correct decisions, that this virus has the least impact it can. Send your healing spirit around the world to bring this situation to a swift conclusion. In your son's name. Amen.
Hannah Dodd works for the NHS in the West Midlands
Father God, we come to you with grateful hearts, appreciative of your intimate care for each one of us. You know us by name and know every aspect of our circumstances. You show patience beyond our comprehension as you wait for us to cast our cares onto you. Draw us closer in the midst of this global distress. Speak your peace into our hearts and your wisdom into our minds. Give insight to those seeking solutions and perceptiveness to those managing each nation's affairs. We come before you in a way that has seldom been evident in the past, not looking to you for our own interests, but standing before you as a global community with nation after nation finding itself at one with others in an interdependency of need. Let us with all humility sense the gravity of such unity and allow us to touch your heart with our corporate cries. We need you Father God to move on our behalf. Lift the spirits of your people. Cause us to rise above the storm. Give us those eagle wings that carry us high into the realms of your encouragement, while keeping us relevant to our neighbors, families and friends. Be our inspiration Lord, the one who can heal our hearts as well as our bodies and bind us together in great hope for the future. All this we ask in Jesus name. Amen.
Revd Dr Hugh Osgood is Free Churches Moderator and the Free Churches President of Churches Together in England
Heavenly Father, we are so thankful that we serve a God and a king and are part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Lord, we know that you are our refuge and our strength, our ever present help in times of trouble and we need not fear even if the mountains were shaken and fall into the sea. I pray for my brothers and sisters who are reading this and I pray for those who are not believers. I pray that you would provide an anchor for us and be our unmovable rock, that when we build our lives on it, it never lets us down, no matter how hard the storm rages. I pray for healing. I pray for you to destroy this virus worldwide. I also pray you would protect the very ordinary men and women who are suffering from physical symptoms and fear, anxiety, claustrophobia and isolation. That you would provide comfort, healing, salvation and rest. Lord, I pray for a sense of your presence with them and among us, and that you would help us as your Church to serve a world who desperately needs both answers and help in this time and we pray this in Jesus name. Amen.
Andrew Wilson is teaching pastor at Kings Church London
Heavenly Father, I turn to you now, and I thank you for your Word. You said in Psalm 138:2 that you magnify your Word above your name. Your Word matters. It is your integrity put on the line. And I pray that what is happening will cause people to turn to you and show you reverence and the respect that you deserve. I pray that you'll let everyone see that all things work together for good to them who love God, and to them who are called according to his purpose. And I pray that it will not be seen as something that happened in vain, that they will not just be one or two, or a dozen, or a few hundred, but millions. Lord, I'm asking for millions to turn to you. And that we will look back and say, 'thank God for that, which we thought was so terrible. It is all a part of your plan, because you meant it for good.' Hasten the day that we see this. I ask this in Jesus name. Amen.
RT Kendall is an international speaker and author
