The Church Has Left The Building

Good morning friends! I pray that this devotion finds each of you in a place of good health, financially secure and emotionally supported. I had my traditional devotion scheduled for this morning but felt like I wanted to spend a more intimate time with you this Sunday morning. So today’s devotion is going to look more like church than a traditional devotion.

Let me start with prayer.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for this new day and we rise to worship you. We proclaim your name in all the earth!

You are the great Physician and today we pray for every human being who has been afflicted with COVID-19. We pray for their complete healing in their bodies and give them back their lives.

We pray for your mighty protection over each of us and our families and friends. We pray for physical protection against all illnesses, but specifically against the Coronavirus/COVID-19.

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. Matthew 8:26

Lord, we pray against a spirit of fear and dread. We ask that you would calm the storm in our minds. Help us in our unbelief – we know all things are possible to him who believes.

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:23-24 (NKJV)

Lord, we pray for President Trump, and all our leaders, and policymakers, uphold them with your righteous right hand. Give them your wisdom in what they are doing. We pray for the healthcare workers, especially those who are in direct contact with this virus – keep them well, strengthen their immune systems, and gird them with your power and might.

We pray for a cure, a vaccine, and an end to Coronavirus. Heal our land, replenish our storehouses, and show us how to live victoriously. In your mighty, mighty name we pray. Amen.

For our devotion today, I am going to share a chapter out of the book I am writing; A Warrior of Peace – A 30-Day Journey to a Heart at Peace. (Please forgive any errors, I just wrote this today, and it has not seen the editor yet!)

Peace that Transcends Panic

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Do you watch the news? I gave up watching the evening news several years ago. My heart just could not take having its panic button pushed every time I saw horrific events. We live in a scary world, and if the only message we are tuned in to comes from media, our hearts will suffer.

This week, however, there is no avoiding the news. We were quarantined, all schools canceled, and toilet paper is out of stock in every store. A virus that has affected several other countries has taken hold of our nation. Panic seeped into my mind and wiggled its way down into my heart until I felt it in my bones. Perhaps you have responded to scary world events with panic as well.

I needed to have the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, curse through my veins and overcome my panicked mind. I am ready to choose peace over panic. We can rely on God to overcome the troubles in the world. His ways are not our ways but trusting in Him is THE way.

{A Warrior of Peace Chooses Peace Over Panic}

Imagine never being anxious, worried, or panicked again. We can do this by turning panic into prayer. The peace of God differs from the world’s peace; we can trust that God is in control and will guard our hearts and minds against any terrors from the troubles of this world. Prayer is our weapon against panic!

Heavenly Father, I turn my mind over to you and trust in your ways. I choose your Word over the words of the evening news. Today, I rejoice in you and present my concerns to you. Thank you for filling me with your peace that washes away panic. In Jesus’ name. Amen.