It’s Time to Pray

One of the hymns I remember singing in Church had the following lines:

It’s time to pray to the God who watches o’er us
It’s time to seek His help without delay
The world is dark for the clouds of war still threaten
It’s time for all America to pray
                                                            John W Peterson (1921-2006)


In the past few months or more, I have seen disasters in Australia; a large forest fire threatening wild life and homes nearby.  I have seen earthquakes that threatened lives and destroyed homes in south side of Puerto Rico near Ponce and surrounding areas.  There was endless flooding in Missouri, Mississippi and South Dakota.  Now, we face a world pandemic, the Corona Virus (Covid-19) in which the majority of the population is in “panic” mode.

Facemasks, hand sanitizers and wipes have disappeared off the shelves of pharmacies, drug stores and mega stores like Target and Walmart.  People are stocking up on food, water and toilet paper.  Toilet paper?  There was a struggle in a video posted on Facebook, two people wrestling with a package of toilet paper.  I understand the need to prepare, stock up in case quarantines are in effect but really, do we have to “fight” over the products?  Where is the “human compassion” to share with others?  We do not need to be greedy and yet, this is what panic and fear does to people.  Obsessions with watching the news, checking social media, and listening to live updates from the Presidential Administration does not help matters.  Politics, News Media and Center for Disease Control are not 100 percent reliable.  “The whole truth and nothing but the truth” will never be 100 percent revealed to the public.  Yes, prepare yourself to be safe, take precaution measures for yourself and your families but do not panic or fear.  Doing so will take energy away from your physical being and will leave you vulnerable.  Relax and stay calm in the process.  I do.  However, I do much more than this and take comfort that God is watching over me, over us believers who profess Jesus Christ.  It’s time to pray to the God who watches over us.

Matthew’s Gospel records Jesus saying to the people,

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  “And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the flowers of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ for the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own Matthew 6:26-34).

Yes, I did “stock” up on some items that might not be available due to “panic” shopper.  However, I did not “buy up the whole store” nor was I going to “fight” over an item left on the shelf.”

In the past two weeks, our economy suffered.  Stocks plummeted and informed that we are in a recession that could last months or up to a year.  Most of us have retirement accounts with our employers; mine saw a great loss.  Yes, I am concerned but c’est la vie, there is nothing that can be done about this right now; the economic market is affected.  Will we see a market crash like the one in 1929?  It’s time to pray, to the God who watches over us.

In the past week, discrimination and bullying surfaced blaming Asians for Covid-19.  On the subway, an African American man sprayed an Asian man in the face who did not want the Asian to sit or stand near him; another result of panic and fear.  On another train, a Caucasian man went right up to an Asian man and punched him in the shoulder; the Asian man remained calm.  The other kept ranting using the “F” word and going over to the Asian man again slapped him in the face.  The Asian man got up and was about to knock the person out but a woman blocked him and another was saying, “Don’t do it.”  NBC news televised this video clip.  Again, panic and fear dictates irrational responses and behaviors.  Will this type of behavior get worse?  CNN, Washington, DC and the Mayor of New York City (where I work) provide updates on daily basis on the status of Covid-19 and counts on cases reported.  I might not believe or take all I hear 100 percent but there is a common thread that I trust 100 percent; wash your hands, do not touch your face and no shaking hands with each other.  However, I would add one more important, life-saving detail; God is still on the throne!

Imagine, we are worried about not having enough “sanitation” supplies, food and staples; we are worried about being near those who are of the Asian population; and we are worried about our economy.  I have yet to hear of our need to pray, as a country, as a nation, as a world.  Do you think that maybe God is trying to get our attention?  It’s time to pray to the God who watches over us.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Civilla D Martin/ Charles H Gabriel (©1905)




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