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⁸¹ My soul faints with longing for Your salvation,
but I have put my hope in Your word.
⁸² My eyes fail, looking for Your promise;
I say, “When will You comfort me?”
~ Psalm 119:81-88

The Christian life is not always easy.
It is not always joy and peace.
There are times when we struggle.
We know about the Lord’s salvation,
but we are not experiencing it.
We long for it. And as we do so, we hope in His Word.
We also call out to Him — looking for His promise and comfort.
We know it will come — but we cry — ‘how long, O Lord, how long?’

 “That which is most remarkable in Christ,
and should be in all His followers, is humility.”
~ Thomas Manton

Prayer Points

1. The World — There have been 270,124,782 cases (up 4,277,228 — down 2% on last week) and 5,305,6754 deaths of those with Covid (+50,110 — down 5%).
The US has now passed 50 million cases and 800,000 deaths.
Germany, the UK, France, Russia, Poland and Vietnam have all seen large increases in the past week.
India, Brazil, Iran, Mexico and Thailand continue to decline.

2. Australia — There have been 228,930 cases in total. (Up 11,091 – a 10% increase)

State	Total Cases	Weekly Change TW/LW	Total Deaths	Change in Deaths TW/LW
ACT	2,197	+39 (+39)	15	+1 (+0)
NSW	85,924	+2,736 (+1,763)	639	+9 (+5)
NT	311	+17 (+10)	1	+0 (+1)
QLD	2,168	+16 (+32)	7	0
SA	1,008	+40 (+37)	4	0
TAS	240	+ 0 (+ 2)	13	0
VIC	135,959	+8,170 (+8,604)	1,416	+44 (+50)
WA	1,123	+1 (+1)	9	0

There are 535 people in hospital (-6), with 99 in ICU (+30). There are 15,978 cases.
Queensland is now opening its borders.
Omicron has also arrived in Australia, with 69 cases in New South Wales.
The first person to be hospitalised with Omicron is in New South Wales.

3. Vaccine and Cures — 4.41 billion people have received a dose of vaccine.
57.4 % of the world’s population.
Australia now has 80% with one dose, 76% with the full dose and 2.7% with an extra dose.

4. Church — As we are now in the Christmas season, pray for all the carol services that are now being held all over the country. Christmas is still a time when many who do not normally come to church will come — pray that churches would take this opportunity to proclaim the Gospel creatively and courageously.

5.  Personal and Family — As borders continue to come down (except in Western Australia),
give thanks that many families can be reunited.

A Prayer of Repentance

Most Merciful Father, we plead with You to forgive our sins
and our refusal to hear You speaking in and through Your Word.
Grant that we may have the grace to hear
and receive what You teach us through Your Word.
Enable us not to rely on our own feelings.
Grant that in all our words and deeds, we may seek Your glory,
and the increase of Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Song

Colin Buchanan and City Alight have come up with this beautiful song — suitable for children and adults.

 

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

We give You thanks, Lord, for the wonder of the Incarnation —
and that we as Your people can speak of this miracle into our wider culture.
May this Christmas really be Christ’s time.
Lord, come into our darkness.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

___

Weekly devotions by David Robertson via Christians United — COVID19 Call to Prayer.
Photo by cottonbro from Pexels.