Gluten Free & God Seeking

Monday, April 6, 2020

Taking Another Look at the Bible & Prayer During This Pandemic Crisis

       For some funny reason when I first started hearing about the spread of the coronavirus to other continents, it made me think about the bubonic plague.  I had a vague recollection of that tragic time in medieval history, but this is the 21st century, and none of this made sense!   So for the past few months I've just been processing coronavirus facts and praying.  

    Probably because I'm a teacher or some other quirky reason on February 27th, I made a chart so my husband and I could track the changes in some of the major countries on earth.

     On that date and the time we checked, the countries with the largest numbers were China, South Korea, Japan, and Italy.  The United States where I live had only 60 cases.  

     A few days ago on April 4th my husband brought up the Worldometers website so we could write down the changes, and the numbers in the world were staggering with a total of 64,691 deaths at the time we checked.  On February 27th the U.S. reported 60 deaths, and on Apeil 4th that number had reached 8,432!  Where have you parked all of these statistics and overwhelming facts from the last few months?  It was more than perplexing for me to wrap my head around.

       Anyway week by week words started trickling in trying to give meaning to what was going on. First I heard a message where the brother underscored the divine truth that God is ON the throne and not absent from His universe!!  I really like Ezekiel 1:26, 27B-28A on this: "And above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne,...and upon the likeness of the throne was One in appearance like a man [Christ], above it....And there was brightness all around Him. Like the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud on a day of rain,.." 

      And this is verified in the book of Revelation in 4:2-3:  Immediately I was in spirit; and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne there was One sitting...and there was a rainbow around the throne.... God's throne is a huge fact that God has taught me through some painful situations in my life.

    It's important to keep God's throne before us, especially today when it feels figuratively like the sky is falling. That's when you need to look at the rainbow that is above the throne which I learned in a Life-Study of Genesis is a sign of God's faithfulness to fulfill His promises! 

      Another pivotal truth I've been encouraged to bank on is because God IS on the throne, He's calling the shots. He's working out His greater purposes even though we don't get what they are.  A recent message I heard brought up Ephesians 1:11 which says: In whom also we were designated as an inheritance, having been predestinated according to the counsel of the One who works ALL THINGS according to the counsel of His will. 
 
 
     Nothing gets past God's gate, and I learned this profoundly when I read through the Life-Study of Job, unless He permits it.  And we see this truth in Daniel 4:25  which says: "...until you come to know that the Most High is the Ruler over the kingdom of men..."  So whether it looks like it or not, that's still the divine fact!
 
     In another message that I recently heard,  a brother stated that at this time God needs His people to pray that His will would be done on earth as it is in heaven.   Since April 1st my husband and I have been participating in a 21 days of prayer on Unceasinglypray's website.  Every day there's a prayer burden and the verses from Scripture that support it. 

I've learned from my reading that a powerful way to pray is just to pray back God's word and claim it.  This 21 days of prayer mirrors the time Daniel spent in the prayer recorded in Daniel 10:13.  Besides reaching out to family, neighbors, and coworkers, I really feel that this is one of the main things God is calling His people to share in during this crisis.

CHECK IT OUT!  If you would like to receive a free Bible in another language, check out Rhema's website!  They also have free ebooks in different languages, and a tract that's related to the coronavirus on the webpage. 

Other Related Posts on Prayer:

From the Life-Study of Exodus:
Taking a Closer Look at the Tabernacle in Exodus: The Incense Altar

From the Life-Study of 1 & 2 Samuel:
What We Can Learn from Hannah's Prayer in 1 Samuel 1


From the Life-Study of 1 & 2 Kings:
Taking a Look at King Solomon's Prayer in 1 Kings 8:48

From the Life-Study of Daniel:
Overcomers In Babylon - What We Learn About Prayer in Daniel

From the Life-Study of Matthew:
What is the Crucial Significance of Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13?
Have You Seen the Battle Between the Two Kingdoms in Matthew 12:26-28?

From the Life-Study of Luke:
Why is Persistent Prayer Important in Luke 18:1-8?

From the Life-Study of Acts:
How is Acts a Book on God's Move & Prayer?
Seeing God's Move & Satan's Frustration in Acts 14

From the Life-Study of Galatians:
How Do We Practically Enjoy Grace in Galatians 5:18?

From the Life-Study of Ephesians:
How Do We Apply the Armor of God in Ephesians 6?

From the Life-Study of Philippians:
Why Does Paul Put Anxiety and Prayer Together in Philippians 4:6?

From the Life-Study of Colossians:
From the Life-Study of Colossians - What Happens When We Pray?
What is Christ Doing at the Right Hand of God in Colossians 3:2?

From the Life-Study of 1 Timothy:
What is Paul's First Exhortation in 1 Timothy 2:1?

From the Life-Study of James:
What James 5:17-18 Teaches Us About Elijah's Prayer

From the Life-Study of Revelation:
What are the Golden Bowls of Incense in Revelation 5:8?

Other Posts on Prayer:
Why Prayer Matters
Hearing God   (From Collected Works of Watchman Nee, Vol. 18 - Tell Him)