This present age we live in is never easy, but times feel especially troubled lately. In my home state of Wyoming, fires have ravaged the prairies all summer and uncontained fires are still raging. Less than 2 weeks ago Hurricane Helene devastated the east coast. Now a second category 5 hurricane is predicted to make landfall in Florida as early as tomorrow (October 9th).
All of these things stir up uneasy feelings in our guts and trouble our souls. What are we supposed to do? The fires, the hurricanes, the political unease, the wars that continue on… all of it is out of our control.
But God has called us to be active participants in His ministry of prayer. Oh body of believers, let’s not neglect our calling now! Please join together in intercessory prayer, laying the burdens of our hearts for the needs of others before the LORD. If you’re not sure what to say, maybe it can be something like this:
LORD Almighty, you are our comfort and strength in times of sudden disaster, crisis, or chaos. Surround those in harms way with your grace, peace and protection. By your Spirit, lift up those who work to rescue or rebuild. Help us to persevere through the world's groaning and fill us with the hope of your new creation. In Jesus name, amen.
The Spirit is here to help us pray when we don’t know how. You can simply let the anguish you feel be your prayer, and let the Spirit intercede for you. However you do it, pray.
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Psalm 46:1-3