“When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among Your people Israel—being aware of the afflictions of their own hearts, and spreading out their hands toward this temple—then hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since You know their hearts (for You alone know every human heart), so that they will fear You all the time they live in the land You gave our ancestors.
(1 Kings 8:22-25)

In the New Testament we pray as the temple, on the basis of the finished work of Christ, that the Lord would hear, forgive and act – especially when we are faced with plague. We may dread that God would judge us, or listen to us, on the basis of our hearts. But in Christ we have a new heart. And so we plead on the basis of the blood of Christ – which cleanses us from all sin.

Petition: Please join with us in praying for:

1. France – has 93,780 confirmed cases and 8,093 deaths with Covid-19. France is on a strict lockdown with police seeking to prevent people leaving their homes. There was already significant social unrest in the country before this.
2. Western Australia – now has 453 cases (up from 311 just over a week ago) with 3 deaths and 92 recoveries. A significant proportion are from cruise ships. Australia as a whole now has 5,744 cases (up 109 from yesterday) and 34 deaths. The trajectory is still downwards.
3. Hospitals – There are 408 cases in hospital in Australia – of which 91 are in ICU. We pray for each of them. Be thankful that the modeling that by now the ICUs would be overwhelmed has not come to pass.
4. Those in churches who do not have access to the Internet. That provision would be made for them.
5. Those who dread being ‘socially isolated’ at home – because they are victims of domestic violence.

A Prayer of Repentance:
LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger
or discipline me in Your wrath.
Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint;
heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.
My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, LORD, how long?
Turn, LORD, and deliver me;
save me because of Your unfailing love.
(Psalm 6:1-4)

A Prayer of Thanksgiving:
“Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the LORD has heard my weeping.
The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
the LORD accepts my prayer.”
(Psalm 6:8-9)