Church, here is a prayer I’ve written and prayed for you. Consider joining me in this prayer by praying it too, with family and friends around a meal, or before bed. You may just want to read it aloud and reflect. Whatever you do, I hope you’re encouraged.
Lord, we come to you in a time of considerable need. We are buffeted by viruses, cultural chaos, winter storms, and powerlessness. We sense our need, our frailty, our utter contingency in the cold, and we turn to you.
You are Lord of the storms, “He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?” (Ps 147:16-17). We cannot stand before your cold; how much less sturdy are we before your judgment? Yet, being rich in mercy you save, pardon, forgive, and comfort us in Christ.
May we cherish Christ more through these storms, not less. Allow this bitter providence to have a humbling effect on our proud hearts, sweetening of our ungrateful spirits. May we think of others before ourselves.
Give shelter to the suffering, and warmth to the cold, but above all give us yourself. Give us faith to cherish you above warmth, preference, and selfish desires. Make us an aroma of Christ as we tend to one another’s needs and help our neighbors.
Grant us uncanny joy and persistent gratitude that points to the Lord of the storms and his sovereign grace. For what do we have that you do not give? Extend physical and spiritual mercies on Texas and our great city of Austin.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor Jonathan