Intercessions 10th January 2021.
Above the floodwaters is God’s throne
From which his power flows
From which he rules the world.
God makes his people strong.
God gives his people peace.
(Psalm 29 v 10 & 11 – The Message)
Sovereign Lord, we praise You, that You rule the world, and that You promise to strengthen us, and give us peace, whatever the circumstances of our lives. As You spoke light into the darkness that was over the earth, in the beginning, will You dear Father, speak light into the darkness of all the terrible effects of this pandemic. Send Your Holy Spirit as Comforter and Helper in these times of great need, and open hearts and minds of many people to receive the great love of Jesus, that Your kingdom will grow and flourish, and we will stand in awe and wonder at Your deeds.
God makes his people strong.
God gives his people peace.
Merciful Father, we see the coronavirus spreading and mutating, across Your world, which is already wracked with grief and pain through its devastating effects. We ask for Your intervention, that You will cause the mutations to weaken, rather than strengthen its’ effect, and that You will inspire scientists everywhere developing better tests, creating vaccines, and identifying protocols to eliminate the disease’s spread.
We pray for those who are poor across Your world, who are suffering increased hunger, and greater hardship at this time, in Africa, especially Syria, where the economy has collapsed, war torn Yemen, India, South America, and Lebanon, where Covid is rising.
Mighty Lord, open the way for food aid, medical supplies and vaccines to reach them all, and multiply the fruitful ministry of Sat 7, Open Doors, Barnabas and Tear fund, World Vision, and others. May our own suffering cause us to be more compassionate to those in pain and needy. Turn our brokenness into abundance for others.
God makes his people strong.
God gives his people peace.
Father of Compassion, we pray for our nation.
Grant Your daily wisdom to those in Government making such difficult decisions, that affect lives and futures. May truth and empathy be the touchstones of those setting policies for our protection. Equip all who are involved in distributing the vaccines, to find quick, efficient and safe ways. Keep us faithful in prayer for them, and help us to be patient.
We thank You for the sacrifices and amazing care of our doctors and nurses, who are overwhelmed by the unrelenting demands of the pandemic, many at the point of burnout and breakdown. Give them daily strength and peace to sustain them.
We thank You for teachers, lecturers, and all those involved with the education of our children at all levels, who are working so hard to help them to continue to learn and succeed. Equip families with the technology they need at home, enable children to adjust once again to these new ways of learning. Protect vulnerable children who feel safer at school, soothe the anxieties of those with learning difficulties, help students whose exams have been cancelled, and give them all the resilience and support they need to cope with these hard times.
Give wisdom to all Church leaders Lord, to find the best ways to meet the needs of their flocks.
Bless marriages and families through this harder winter lockdown, give spouses grace for each other, and prompt struggling, worn out parents to speak words of kindness and encouragement to their children.
Healing Lord, be present now to people who are suffering from Covid-19 in hospitals, soothe their fears as they are separated from their families, and comfort the many tens of thousands, who have lost loved ones to this disease, and whose hearts are broken with grief.
Be present to those who live alone, for whom the dark days seem long and unending.
God makes his people strong.
God gives his people peace.
Faithful Lord, we pray for our church and community, as the rates of the virus increase exponentially at this time, in and around Swindon.
Refresh and support all staff at the Great Western Hospital to cope with increased cases and demands.
Guide our medical trusts, and surgeries, as they seek to vaccinate as many people as possible, quickly and safely.
Encourage teachers working hard both online, and with Key workers’ children, in our local schools, and all who work in nurseries. Keep them, and all the children safe in Your protective hands.
Multiply the fruitfulness of Food Collective, Night Shelter and all who help the needy or homeless. May we have open hands to help them with food and supplies.
Refresh Tudor and Tricia, who have worked so hard and faithfully throughout these changing times and challenges, and bless their ministry.
Keep all in this church in Your gentle care, and heal and hold close to Your heart all who are sick at this time, or who have been suffering for many years, and their carers, Michael and Jill, Richard and Sue, Bill and Margaret, Angela, David and Margaret, and others.
Be an ever-present help to those who are isolated and long to be with their families again.
Father, we thank You that no persecution, pandemic, or closed churches, can stop Your Holy Spirit from working in peoples’ hearts to draw them into Your kingdom of love and amazing grace. We pray that You will fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and that revival will come to this church and across our nation throughout this time of lockdown, that many in Swindon and beyond will come to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Use our online services, and impending Alpha course to draw many to You. Give us divine appointments on our daily walks, to share Your strength and peace with all, in these fearful times.
Above the floodwaters is God’s throne
From which his power flows
From which he rules the world.
God makes his people strong.
God gives his people peace.