Day 1

What a great day to begin a new commitment in prayer. I remember a Sunday morning, ages ago, when a missionary tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if I needed to pray. He could see the distress in a child’s face.

I moved out of the wooden pew and made my way to the altar rail in our little church in Hawley, Minnesota. I knelt in prayer, asking God to direct my life and o$ered myself to Him however He wanted to use me. We used the prayer rail frequently in our church, and I was not conscious that other people were watching me—only God. I was intent on pleasing Him alone.

Re%ecting now, I see that day as a signi"cant part of my journey toward discovering God’s purpose in my life. I cannot remember all the details of the moment, but I picture in my mind a young boy, hands folded, knees resting on a red cushion at the prayer rail, his feet protruding out upon the hardwood %oor. I see his head bowed, and I hear his whispered prayer of petition: “Lord, show me what to do, and I will do it.” #e heart of prayer is simply acknowledging God as Lord and o$ering ourselves to Him. Without such surrender, our words are only empty noises.

Recognize in prayer today that Jesus Christ is Lord of your life, and submit yourself to him. #en commit this season of the coronavirus to him. You do not know all the future holds, but God does. He did not need the morning news to get His update. He knows the end from the beginning. All that we worry about he has under complete control.

Scripture: Matthew 6:25–34 Prayer: Oh God, let Your peace abound among the church and throughout our world in this season of crisis. Give us serenity in place of our anxiety and faith in place of our fear. Prepare my heart and our church for our assignment as Your people in this strange time.