April 2020

What good does a prayer do?
 
He’s not opposed to prayer. Since contracting COVID-19 a few days ago, many people have told *Chris Cuomo they are praying for him. He appreciates their caring gesture, but he had a deeper question. As he opened his *CNN Prime Time show the other night, he bluntly asked his audience, “What good is a prayer when you aren’t doing anything to give real help to a person? People say they are praying for those who are sick as well as the doctors, nurses, and first responders on the front line. But what good does that do when what they really need is PPE, ventilators, and medication to fight this disease? What good does a prayer do?”
 
Fair question. James, the brother of Jesus, says something very similar to the early Christian community.
 
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? James 2:14-16 (NIV)
 
Both James and Chris Cuomo are making the same point: real faith should result in loving actions. No doubt. There is only one difference. For James, prayer is one of those faithful deeds. Here are a few things prayer does.
 
Prayer changes me. When I pray, I come into the Presence of God, and I’m touched by God’s love, truth, peace, holiness, and faithfulness. The longer I stay there, the harder it is to hold onto my false assumptions, limited perspective, and self-centered nature. I stop measuring my possibilities by what I can do, but rather what God can do through me. Suddenly, no giant in front of me is bigger than the God inside of me. I discover I’m not fighting my battles alone. Even if I walk through the valley of death, God is with me. When I pray, despair is transformed into hope, anxiety is melted into peace, and fear is forged into courage. Prayer changes me.
 
Prayer also changes others. After years of experimenting, I’ve noticed that when I pray specifically, persistently, and boldly, real changes occur other people. Sometimes it is the softening of a hard heart. Sometimes it is the comforting of a grieving soul. Sometimes it’s the newfound joy of an aimless life turned to Christ. On occasion, I’ve seen people physically healed. I don’t pretend to understand how this mysterious force works. I’m just a witness that it does.
 
Finally, prayer releases the power of God. Scripture is quite clear on this. “If my people…will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV) In reality, God can do more in 10 minutes than we can do in 20 years. If there was ever a time in the last 100 years when God’s people needed to humble themselves and pray so our world will be healed, it would be now.
 
Thanks for not just saying a prayer, but fervently praying. Your prayers are bringing about enormous good.
 
Roger Ross
 
The prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve.  James 5:16 (CEB)
 
P.S. For encouragement, you can receive a weekly Prayer Text by texting KINGDOM to 573-227-6557.
 
*www.cnn.com
 
As our country and world battle COVID-19, we are shifting our entire prayer focus to address the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of millions of people.

Feel free to pray for a different area each day. Thanks for praying!

• SUNDAY: PEACE- Pray against spirits of division, suspicion, anxiety, panic, and fear that grip our communities.

• MONDAY: LEADERSHIP- Pray for wisdom, truth, direction, compassion, and strength for all leaders (political, medical, economic, religious) in authority. In particular, pray for Bishop Farr, the leaders of the Missouri Conference, and all our pastors who are facing unprecedented times and decisions. 

• TUESDAY: PROTECTION- Claim the blood of Jesus as a shield and healing over people groups, institutions, systems, policies and overall, first responders and medical personnel in the battle against COVID-19 and its effects.

• WEDNESDAY: IMMUNITY- Daily speak strength and health to immune systems (personal, family, friends, classmates and co-workers).

• THURSDAY: RESOURCES- Pray for sufficient human and medical resources for our healthcare systems and sufficient and necessary resources for all other sectors (i.e. financial) and institutions (i.e. schools, churches, local government).

• FRIDAY: TESTING- Pray for prompt, efficient, and sufficient production, distribution, administration, and interpretation of tests locally so that leaders may realistically determine the scope of the problem and be equipped with strategies and resources to address the problem quickly and thoroughly.

• SATURDAY: RESEARCH- Pray for all types of researchers to develop an effective, affordable, well-tested, and safe COVID-19 vaccine and treatments.

• DAILY: SALVATION- Pray that as we humble ourselves and seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways, God will release healing, salvation, and restoration across our nation and world. See in faith the people of God, the church, standing in the gap for the sick, hurting, lonely, and lost. Lord, multiply your Kingdom through us. 

(Prayers adapted from Rev. Dr. Peter Bellini, a United Methodist Pastor  and Professor at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, https://davidfwatson.me/2020/03/14/10-guidelines-for-prayer-in-these-covid-19-times-by-dr-peter-bellini/)