What should we pray for during this pandemic? Can we really expect people not to suffer and die, if we pray that it not be so? Is it even worth praying, if God is going to do whatever He wants anyway? Is COVID-19 God’s judgment against humanity’s rebellion and sin?
These questions get to the heart of reasons why people pray or do not pray. Will prayer really make any difference? And if prayer works, why does the pandemic persist? Why do people still get sick, and why do some still die?
In my book 8 Essential Lessons From The Lord’s Prayer For Today’s Pandemic, I show how things change when you pray, how to be granted every prayer, and how to pray correctly. I also show not only how to pray the Lord’s Prayer for today, but how to pray in such a way that God will grant your request. Sounds unbelievable? Still doubting? Read my book; then tell me what you think.
The Lord’s Prayer Then
In Matthew 6:1-13, Jesus gave us what has become the most famous prayer of all time. “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
The Lord’s Prayer for Today
1. Offer your requests to your heavenly Father.
Our Father which art in heaven
Do you know God as your heavenly Father? Anyone can pray, but only the children of God, who know Him as Father, will be granted their prayers. So, if you want your prayers granted, you must know God as your Father. Do you know God this way? To know God this way, you must be born again, which means you must believe Him, trust Him, and depend on Him. God will grant the prayer for salvation.
In order to offer prayers that God will honor during this pandemic, you must offer them as a child to his or her Father. Examine yourself to make sure that you can truly call Him, Heavenly Father.
2. Approach God respectfully and with humility, to make requests, not demands.
Hallowed be thy name.
If you believe God is the Almighty, how can you not be awed by Him? And if you want your prayers granted, it is necessary to honor Him. This is what it means to say that His name is hallowed. He is holy.
In order to offer prayers that God will honor during this pandemic, approach God with supreme honor and respect like no other. Offer your prayers with humility, not as demands.
3. Truly desire His return to judge evil and to establish His kingdom.
Thy Kingdom Come.
Is this pandemic the end of time for earth? Is Armageddon just around the corner? Do you look forward to Christ’s return, to His heavenly kingdom, to a better world? Are you prepared for His return? Or are you dreading the idea of Christ returning?
In order to offer prayers that God will honor during this pandemic, you must truly want Him to return, to judge evil, and to establish His kingdom. Do you desire to live under the Lordship of King Jesus?
4. Seek to do His will.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Do you desire God’s will to be done? Are you willing to accept His will, regardless of what it is? Do you trust Him to be in control and to do what is best for you?
If you want God’s will to be done, you do not want any request to be granted that is not according to His will.
In order to offer prayers that God will honor during this pandemic, truly desire God’s will to be done. Do you truly want to live for Christ and to do His will? Are you seeking to do that now?
5. Gratefully confess your total dependence on God to take care of you.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Do you really believe that you need God? Are you thankful to Him for your health, food, clothing, and home?
When God created everything, it was perfect. There were no problems. There was no sin, so there was no suffering, and there was no death. This is the way God wants it. God designed the world to run smoothly and warned humanity not to sin.
But then, Adam and Eve sinned, and things have been going downhill ever since.
The COVID-19 pandemic is causing a major disruption economically, health-wise, and socially. So what should you pray for that would please Him?
In order to offer prayers that God will honor during this pandemic, confess your dependence on God to take care of you. Pray for health. Pray for healing. Pray for any and all of your needs to be fulfilled. Pray gratefully and with acceptance that His will be done.
6. Be forgiving and willing to reconcile with everyone, even as God is toward you.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Jesus makes it very clear that forgiveness is essential to having our prayers granted. Are you willing to forgive anyone who has wronged you?
Being forgiving reminds us of God’s forgiveness, His willingness to reconcile, His mercy, and our unworthiness. Ephesians 4:32 states, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ?s sake hath forgiven you.”
In order to offer prayers that God will honor during this pandemic, be mindful not to prevent the granting of your prayer requests by harboring an unforgiving spirit. Let go of vengeance, and be willing to pursue reconciliation.
7. Trust God to answer your requests with the best answers.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
God hates sin and never tempts us to sin. The temptation and evil Jesus is referring to means trials and suffering.
Do you believe that God will deliver you from trials and suffering if you pray for it? The Bible says that God does deliver all of His children from harm. Why not?
In order to offer prayers that God will honor during this pandemic, trust God to answer your requests with the best answer. Pray for deliverance from temptation and evil, and accept His answer.
8. Gratefully accept His answers to your prayers.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
When we approach God in prayer, we should acknowledge that He is the reason for all things, that His will is supreme, and that He is worthy to be praised because of who He is. He does not answer to anyone. He is not persuaded by anyone. He is not influenced by anything.
During this pandemic, in order to offer prayers that God will honor and grant,
- Offer your requests to your heavenly Father.
- Approach God respectfully and with humility to make requests, not demands.
- Truly desire His return to judge evil and to establish His kingdom.
- Seek to do His will.
- Gratefully confess your total dependence on God to take care of you.
- Be forgiving and willing to reconcile with everyone, even as God forgives you.
- Trust God to answer your requests with the best answers.
- Gratefully accept His answers to your prayers.