In this moment

A prayer for ears to hear and eyes to see
Loving Lord,
you have so much to say to us,
so much to show us,
so much to teach us,
through our experience of these last few months.
But sometimes our ears are deaf to your gentle prompting,
our eyes are blind to what you want to reveal to us,
our hearts are so indifferent we shy away from your redirecting touch.
We simply want to get back to normal,
continue as if nothing had ever happened,
forget the trials by which you teach us your ways.
It is so much easier that way,
we don’t have to stop to think, pause to consider, dwell to assess.
Instead, we can fall back on what we know,
settle for staggering forward again into familiar routines,
stumbling along in reliable ruts and grinding grooves.
Break through our stubbornness and foolishness;
strengthen knees enfeebled by the weight of yesterday’s burdens
so that we might walk with purpose into tomorrow’s world.
Shatter our desire for safety,
give grace that we may grow,
faith that we might follow,
insight that inspires.
Give us ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
May our eyes be blessed because they see,
and our ears because they hear,
and our hearts because they are open to learn from you.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen

Sunday 26 July

Answered Prayer

• Give thanks for answered prayer in response to so many aspects of the coronavirus crisis and ask God to continue to give grace sufficient to continue to meet the needs of the world.
• Pray that God would help us to retain the greater reality of dependence on him we experienced during the worst of the coronavirus pandemic and grow in us expectancy that he will answer prayer.

Monday 27 July

The Economy

• Give thanks to God that economic activity and retail and business life is beginning to recommence, asking that God would continue to enable it to bounce back to health.
• Pray for those guiding recovery, either in individual businesses or government level, asking that God would give wisdom and resilience, blessing their work for the good of society as a whole.

Tuesday 28 July

Holidays

• Give thanks to God that the possibility of holidays at home or overseas has opened up, asking that many will benefit from a change of pace and scenery.
• Pray for safety in travel and care in observing necessary measures of increased hygiene and social distancing, asking God that relaxation of restrictions on travel does not lead to an increase in the spread of the virus.

Wednesday 29 July

Ministers

• Give thanks for ministers who have been teaching and preaching God’s Word and offering pastoral care in very difficult circumstances, asking that God would continue to bless their labours for him.
• Pray that ministers will know rest and renewal during the summer months, asking that they will be re-energised for the work that lies ahead in the new church year from September.

Thursday 30 July

Global Relations

• Give thanks for increased cooperation among nations in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, asking that God will bless these collective and connected efforts.
• Pray for those relationships among nations that are strained, asking that God will encourage and enable the pursuit of justice and peace.

Friday 31 July

The Bereaved

• Pray for those who have lost loved ones through coronavirus, asking that God would be their comfort and strength as they continue the process of grieving and rebuilding their lives.
• Pray for those who lost loved ones during lockdown and feel that they were unable to mark their passing adequately due to restrictions on funeral services, asking God to enable other ways of finding closure.

Saturday 1 August

The Arts

• Give thanks to God for his gift of the arts and how music, song, visual art and other expressions of creativity helped build community and give strength during the lockdown period.
• Pray for those who work in the arts sector while it continues to be badly impacted by ongoing restrictions around social distancing, asking that God would provide and enable creative ways of expression.