Covid-19: How We Can Pray For The World

All over the news, Covid-19 dominates discussions. The WHO notes that “A pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan China was first reported to the WHO Country Office in China on 31 December 2019″¹ From Wuhan in China, the disease has spread to almost the whole world. More specifically, 188 countries of the world have been affected. The statistics as of today 22nd March 2020 stands at 317,324 cases, 13,671 deaths and 96,010 have recovered.² The WHO has declared Covid-19 a pandemic.³

Countries and world leaders across the globe have announced and implemented various measures to help contain the disease as no cure is known yet. Humankind, in all of our technological advances, has been shaken by what some have referred to as a little virus. Little as it may be, it is wreaking havoc in the world and taking lives at an alarming rate. A breakdown of the 10 most-affected countries gives us the extent of havoc the disease is causing.

Table 1⁴

While medical personnel, scientist, world leadership are at the frontline of dealing with the situation, as Christians, our contribution to finding a solution is to Pray For The World. Of course, we can be sure there are Christians among the medical personnel, scientist and world leadership. In Ghana, among many measures implemented by the government, our President has declared the 25th March 2020 as a national day of prayer and fasting. Prayer indeed is important. Paul charges that

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way  This is good, and  it is pleasing in the sight of  God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Timothy 2:1-4).

Here Paul calls for prayers for all people. This is a prayer without discrimination: Pray for all people. Paul then specifically singles out prayers for leadership: “for kings and all who are in high positions.” The radar is indeed on all people of all walks of life. This charge is relevant in the days we live in.

Pray  For Citizens of The World

In the world’s struggle with Covid-19, some have been infected by the disease, others have lost loved ones and there are medical personnel who are helping contain the situation and scientists who are working in laboratories to help find a cure. All these categories of people need our prayer.

For those who have been infected by the disease, we should pray that God in his mercy will bring healing and recovery to their physical bodies. For families who have lost loved ones, we will pray that God will bring comfort and strength to their hearts. The medical personnel perhaps may be the most stressed having to deal with such a devastating disease. Already, some medical personnel have lost their lives helping fight this disease. This makes it crucial for us to pray for medical personnel that firstly, they will have courage in carrying out their duties. Secondly, that they will be protected from getting infected with the disease so they will continue to offer their expertise.

Most importantly, we should pray for the scientific community who are spending time in laboratories racing against time to find a cure for the disease. A cure must be found and our prayer to God will be that he will guide the scientific community into finding a cure.

Pray For World Leadership

According to John Maxwell, a leadership expert, “Everything rises and falls on leadership”.⁵ This tells of how crucial leadership is. And in these critical times, leadership is needed than never before. This must be one of the turbulent times to be a world leader. I feel for world leaders for there is no time to think through decisions. Leadership has to make a decision and be swift about them. Some decisions may be good decisions, others may be bad decisions. Nonetheless, leadership must act and act fast. We will, therefore, do well to pray for world leaders that God will guide them into making wise decisions that will be beneficial to the world and its citizenship. Also, that they will be courageous and not lose heart in these hard times.

Pray For The Salvation of Souls

What a great opportunity to tell the world of the hope Christ offers amid crisis.  Paul in his charge admonishes we pray for the salvation of souls. There is nothing important in this world than that people will come into a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible condemns all human beings as sinners separated from God (Romans 3:23). This separation puts enmity between God and humans. Indeed, one of the greatest resistance to the Christian message is humanity’s rejection of the biblical verdict that we are sinners. As Christians, we can take advantage of these times to shine forth the truth of the gospel. Pray for souls that they may be saved. Pray for souls that they may come to a knowledge of the truth.

Be A Responsible Christian

In ending, we must note that not everybody believes in prayer. So it is to be expected that people will mock believers for offering prayers. But apart from prayers, another important thing we can do is to be responsible citizens. Let us adhere to all preventive protocols that have been established i.e. washing of hands, social distancing, not touching our face, avoiding crowded places and obeying Government restrictions across the world.

May the Lord bless you as you pray for the world.

Notes

1. World Health Organisation, “Rolling updates on coronavirus disease (COVID-19)”, https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen, accessed 22nd March 2020
2. Worldometer, “Coronavirus Cases” https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/, accessed 22nd March 2020
3. World Health Organisation, “WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 11 March 2020”,https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19—11-march-2020, accessed 22nd March 2020
4. Worldometer, “Coronavirus Cases”https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/, accessed 22nd March 2020
5.  John C. Maxwell, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of A Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow (Nashville, Thomas Nelson, 1999) Kindle Edition