THANKFUL

Friday, March 13, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, it seems like they are everywhere. You ran into them when you were here. Those annoying, religious busybodies, watching you and your disciples every move, eager to point their virtue-signaling finger at some perceived wrongdoing. I love how the Message Bible describes your actions: “But Jesus stood up for them” (Luke 6:3). Good news! Jesus, you still stand up for us when we’re accused by the devil. His allegations of our transgression run into a stronger-than-brick wall—your cross! You remind him how you’ve paid for these sins and he no longer has any control over us. Then when your rose from the grave on Easter Sunday, that was the icing on the cake for the devil’s and death’s defeat. Take that, Satan!

We ask again for your mercy and deliverance from this coronavirus disease. We trust you are in control, Lord, and we know you will work good for those who place their trust in you. We pray you reach your hand out and say, “Stop! You can go no further!” to this virus. May no more lives be lost to this disease. Help people not to panic, to act foolishly and spread fear. Bring peace to this situation. Give our leaders wisdom to govern during this crisis. And may the plans of those who would use this outbreak for political gain come to futility. Let righteousness rise and deception and fraud fall.

Thanks for standing up for us/me, Jesus. Amen.