By Silas Young | June 12, 2020
Crisis moments will come into our lives…whether personal or national, it is unavoidable.
How we respond when crisis comes reveals what or who we are trusting. Often our first response is the most telling.
Yes, we can control many aspects of life. We can control what we say, what we do, where we work, and what we wear, just to name a few.
However, there are also many things in life that we cannot control. We cannot control how we naturally look, the color of our eyes, the color of our skin, our genetic makeup, how others treat us, what gender our children will be, and so on. Most of all, we cannot control crisis moments. We cannot control catastrophic storms, disease, pandemic, cancer, or death.
While we cannot control the crisis itself, we can control how WE respond to the crisis.
Prayer is simply asking. Asking God for something that we cannot do for ourselves.
In Matthew chapter 14, Peter faced the crisis of fear and death. It is the chapter where Jesus walked on the water and Peter had the faith to ask Jesus to help him walk on the water too. Peter stepped out of the boat and walked for a time, but then looked away from Jesus and began sinking. In that crisis moment, he prayed.
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. (Matthew 14:30)
His first reaction revealed his heart. Perhaps this short, two word prayer is one of the most profound examples for us today.
5 PRAYERS IN TIME OF CRISIS
1. Pray for Faith
In Luke 17, the disciples prayed an amazing prayer. After Jesus warned them about the betrayer and admonished them to forgive each other, they asked for more faith.
And the apostles said unto the Lord, increase our faith. (Luke 17:5)
People are not only saved by faith, but Christians are also called to live every day by faith. Crisis times will test our faith, but they also give us an opportunity to show how strong our faith truly is.
Faith is focusing on God more than the crisis. Faith calls our attention to who God is, and what He has the power to do in our lives.
2. Pray for Health
A crisis can be physical, and those are many times some of the hardest to endure. Cancer, virus, or even death. This was not God’s original plan, but as Creator, He has the power to heal if He chooses.
Jesus cared about people’s physical condition as well as their spiritual condition.
All throughout the Gospels people asked (prayed) for Jesus to heal them…and He did. He healed so many, because He loved them. And He loves us!
So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. (Matthew 20:34)
3. Pray for a Solution
Too many times we pray general prayers. Maybe we are afraid to get specific because we lack the faith that God will answer us. Pray for specific solutions in times of crisis.
Several times, Jesus asked what someone wanted specifically.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. (Mark 10:51)
Jesus asked the man to get specific, and when he did, Jesus healed him.
Our country is going through a time of crisis right now. Don’t just pray that God will bless America. Get specific! Pray that people will stop killing each other and that looting and vandalism will end. Pray that God will work in people’s hearts to replace racism with love and to root out the corruption and systemic racism that exists in different areas.
Whatever your crisis is, get specific. God knows the situation.
4. Pray for Leaders
This is a direct command of Scripture.
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
In times of crisis, extreme pressure can be placed on leaders. Whether parents as leaders of the family, managers as leaders of the business, pastors as leaders of the church, or government officials as leaders of the country.
Leaders are the decision makers. Think and pray for leaders who must make tough decisions during crisis times.
5. Pray for Opportunities
God is so powerful and loving that He is able to take any situation and bring good out of it for our good and His glory.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
The original language is even stronger in clearly identifying God as the One who causes all things to work together.
In times of crisis, there is always a chance for personal growth and growing your relationship with God. You may learn something or experience something that will allow you to help others in the future. There may even be a chance to share the Gospel with a loved one.
Crisis moments will come. They could be individual or national. They could be physical, emotional or spiritual. How will you respond? What will be your first response?
When crisis moments come…pray!
