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Prayer
Unshakeable God, you are our ever present help in times of trouble.
Amidst all the isolation, grief and fear caused by this crisis, renew in us your peace,
restore to us your perspective, and reveal to us your presence.
Amen.
I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.
Ezekiel 37:14
Amongst a place of desolation there is hope. In his vision Ezekiel is told by the Lord to speak, and in response to the prophets words the bones are re-membered, covered with skin. The Lord tells him to speak again, to call for breath from the four winds and the bodies are animated by the Spirit. In the Bible breath is a powerful metaphor for life. In Genesis, God breathes life into Adam. You may also remember the story of Jesus and the disciples in the locked room where Jesus breathes on them and they receive the Holy Spirit.
Breath. Breath is so important, a vital part of our life, a vital rhythm to our life. We know that the coronavirus that is affecting our lives so much at the moment is transmitted by our breath, we need to be careful when we sneeze or cough and keep 2 metres apart from each other. Various manufacturers are now changing their projects to make ventilators to help people affected by the virus to breathe. Maybe there are areas of our lives where we need the breath of the Holy Spirit? Maybe parts of us are dead or sleeping and we need to be animated by the breath of God? I wonder where you would pray for the breath of God today?
In times of desolation it is difficult to imagine resurrection. But we know from the Easter story that God can transform what seems to be be an impossible situation into something beautiful. I wonder where you are noticing God in your life? Let's pray for that sense of transformation, that the breath of God will transform us, that the breath of God will come from the four winds to heal our world and transform each one of us.
In your prayers remember those who work on the front-lines to tend to the sick; may the breath of God bless them. Remember those who are ill and maybe struggling to breathe; may the breath of God bless them. Remember your neighbour, the lost and the lonely.
A Prayer
God of all hope, we call on you today.
We pray for those who are living in fear:
Fear of illness, fear for loved ones, fear of other’s reactions to them.
May your Spirit give us a sense of calmness and peace.
We pray for your church in this time of uncertainty.
For those needing to make decisions in order to care for others.
For those who will feel more isolated.
Grant us your wisdom.
Holy God, we remember that you have promised that
nothing will separate us from your love – demonstrated to us in Jesus Christ.
Help us turn our eyes, hearts and minds to you.
Amen.
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