God, my shepherd!

    I don’t need a thing.

You have bedded me down in lush meadows,

    you find me quiet pools to drink from.

True to your word,

    you let me catch my breath

    and send me in the right direction.

Psalm 23:1-3 (The Message)

Isn’t it so refreshing to know that even in the midst of everything we are facing during these days of COVID-19 that we have a shepherd—and not just any shepherd! We have a shepherd who provides our every need. He is our leader in the midst of this crisis. Will you and your church lean in and pray with us as we seek provision and guidance from our shepherd and King? 

Here are a few specific ways to pray for our city, country and world during COVID-19:

PRAY for our President, Governors, Senators, Representatives & Mayors:

Father, you are the source of all wisdom. You tell us in James 1:5 that “if any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.” So Father, we ask for wisdom in faith, confident of your promise to us. We ask that your wisdom would be given to our local officials: our Mayor, City Council, and County Judge. We pray for them as they make very specific decisions for the city of Houston and Harris County.

We pray for Governor Abbott and for those who advise him as they continue to balance decisions to protect Texans and to strengthen our economy. Father, we ask for your wisdom for our national leaders—President Trump, Vice President Pence, our Senators and Representatives, Dr. Fauci, and Dr. Birx—as this pandemic greatly affects our nation. We pray that your wisdom, not fear, will be over every man and woman in a position of influence. Thank you, Father, for we know that you are omniscient and you are in control, and we pray these things in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen. 

Gregg Matte  - Lead Pastor - Houston’s First

PRAY for families who have lost loved ones &

PRAY for those who are suffering from COVID-19: 

Lord, we stand in the gap for those who have lost loved ones because of COVID-19. You are the God of all comfort. We ask you to draw near to those who are grieving. Please grant them physical strength, heart strength, and grace. Help them, O Lord, to process their grief and not to get stuck. We also ask you to surround them with your loving presence.

And, we pray for those who are suffering physically from the virus. We ask you to send your word from heaven to heal them. In the name of Jesus, we rebuke the virus and we command healing to flood their bodies. Father, we ask you to release into their bodies the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, bringing healing and complete restoration to them. Thank you that you are our healer. Thank you for your healing anointing and authority, Lord Jesus. We pray and ask these things in the name of Jesus, our Lord.

Jeff McGee - Sr. Pastor -  Calvary Community Church

PRAY for those who have lost jobs and who are struggling financially: 

Father, we come to you recognizing that you are God alone. We ask you to provide for those who have lost their jobs during this crisis in our nation. Strengthen our faith during this  difficult economic struggle due to Covid-19. You are our sustainer and hope, and though we walk through the valley of the shadow of this coronavirus pandemic, we will not fear. In Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen.

••••

Padre, venimos a ti reconociendo que tú solo eres Dios. Te pedimos que proveas a aquellos que han perdido sus empleos durante esta crisis en nuestra nación.  Fortalece nuestra fe durante esta difícil lucha económica debido a Covid-19. Eres nuestro sostenedor y nuestra esperanza, y aunque caminamos por el valle de la sombra de esta pandemia de coronavirus, jamás temeremos. Oramos esto, en el poderoso nombre de Jesús. Amen.

Jaime Garcia - Lead Pastor - Bethel Baptist Church / Iglesia Bautista Bethel

PRAY for our Medical Professionals:

God, there are men and women on the front lines today, risking their own safety for the safety, surety, and security of others. I pray for your unwavering protection over these brave, skilled, and compassionate men and women.  Would you, oh God, grant supernatural understanding in research as we look to you for a vaccination?  Would you grant healing rest, free from anxiety and worry to each of these men and women?  And would you teach their hearts about your faithfulness, your power, your glory, and your compassion through this crisis?  I humbly ask these things, and petition your mercy in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Matt Roberson - Lead Pastor - The MET  

PRAY for our First Responders:

Lord your word declares in Psalm 91:1 The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. Father, we ask that you will protect and keep our first responders for the unseen dangers they face on a daily basis. We pray that on every call, during every situation, you will cover them with your wisdom, knowledge and power. We pray that while they are serving the community that will be secure in knowing that their families are safe and secure under your watchful presence. 

Lord, we ask you to remove doubt, fear, and stress and replace it with discernment, faith, and sound judgement. On hard and long days, allow them to see the joy and comfort they bring by serving so many in the community. We thank you for their courage and commitment to serve us. Amen

Bryant Lee  - Sr. Pastor - Higher Expectations Church 

PRAY for our Pastors and Spiritual leaders: 

Father, the last several years have been particularly challenging times for pastors in Houston. Many of us have served our communities through multiple floods, and now we are giving effort to serve our communities though a pandemic. Perhaps now more than ever we realize our own limits to shepherd our people well.

Thankfully we know that your resources are endless. And so I pray that the Holy Spirit would give us the mental, emotional, and physical strength that is needed to lead and bless our communities.  As always, do a mighty work through us and our churches, and do this work in ways that only You get the credit for it. We pray all things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

 Jeremy Evans - Sr. Pastor - Woodridge Baptist Church 

PRAY for our prisons and prison workers:

Bonnie Kristian recently wrote an article for Christianity Today, reporting:  

“As the COVID-19 pandemic escalates, detention facilities risk becoming ‘super-spreader’ sites, rapidly overloading inmates’ medical resources…incarcerated people are uniquely at risk in this pandemic.”

 

Jolie McCullough, writing for The Texas Tribune just a few days ago, reported that “70% of Texas prisoners tested have the coronavirus.” McCullough reports that COVID-19 has “infected more than 1,600 inmates and employees at dozens of units. At least 25 infected prisoners and staff members have died.”

 

Lord Jesus, as we pray in the midst of a pandemic, we lift up those in Houston area prisons and the families of inmates. We also pray for prison workers, asking that your light would shine brightly in dark times and dark places. We pray for peace for anxious family members and for the protection of the health of inmates and prison workers. We ask that those who are hurting would draw near to you and cry out to you. Lord Jesus, make yourself known to these individuals and their families as we pray that they would truly believe in You as their Savior. Oh, that they would know the freedom of Your redemption!                          

Jonathan Williams - Sr. Pastor - Wilcrest Baptist Church

 

PRAY  for churches and church leaders around the world:

Father in Heaven, we pray for churches and church leaders worldwide during this COVID-19 pandemic. We pray for a renewed spirit of humility and habit of repentance. We pray for You to provide supernatural wisdom and guidance for all our church leaders, staff, and volunteers. We pray that you will financially sustain all our churches. We pray that the body of Christ will rise up during this pivotal time in history, that we would be the Church, loving one another and sacrificially giving our lives away, looking to Jesus as our example. God, use your Church to share the hope of the Gospel to this world in fear.  

Lee Hsia - Campus Pastor - Houston’s First Downtown