As a cruel and violent army marched across the world, Hezekiah prayed, “O Lord, my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal—surely you do not plan to wipe us out?
God answered, “The Lord is in his heavenly Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him (Habakkuk 1:12; 2:20).”*
As the deadly Coronavirus marches across the world, we pray as Habakkuk did. And then we are silent, remembering, the Lord is God and He is good.
*Read all of Habakkuk’s prayer and God’s reply in Habakkuk 1:12-2:20.
Daniel knew God reveals mysteries, so he asked for that (Daniel 2:28).
When God answered, even the king said, “Your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries (Daniel 2:47).”
If you know what God can do, you can ask Him to do it.
“Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you . . . Pray to the Lord for it (Jeremiah 29:7).”
Work and pray, remembering that “Here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come (Hebrews 13:14).”
Model your prayers after those you find in Scripture.
Here’s an example based on Colossians 1:9-10. “Fill my friend with the knowledge of your will. Give spiritual wisdom and understanding. Help him to walk worthy of you, please you, bear fruit in every good work and know you more every day.”
Use Scripture to guide your prayers for the specific needs of your friends.
For example, for someone struggling with emotional pain, you can pray like this:
You are the God of all comfort! Comfort my friend in her affliction, so she can comfort others (from 2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
The blessings of relationship, success, provision, and health are common themes of my prayers. So when I read this, I paused to think. “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered (Psalm 32:1).”
If forgiveness were our only blessing, that would be enough.
God’s Word, like the sun, gives clear-shining bright light for my path (from Psalm 119:105).
Reading the Bible shows us what to pray.
