Standing in gap during COVID-19 crisis

               STANDING IN THE GAP FOR COVID – 19 CRISIS

More and more people are being tested positive for COVID-19 around the world. The situation is turning gloomier each day. Hopelessness, mourning, isolation and desperation are the condition in most of our homes. Is there something that we can do as the children of God during this crisis? We might not be a medical personnel standing in the frontline nor a volunteer trying to manage the situation efficiently.

But more powerful and efficient thing that we can do now, just being in the lockdown, right there in your closet, something that can shake the very heart of GOD is to PRAY. We are called to stand in the gap and cry out to GOD that this pandemic will pass away.

The word of God says,

2 Chronicles 7:14 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Let us meditate on HOW DAVID MOVED THE HEART OF GOD and stopped the pestilence during his time. 2Samuel 24.

David repented of his sin:

In this chapter, we can see David committing a sin against God. This sin kindled God’s anger that a pestilence was allowed in the midst of Israel. 70,000 men died because of the pestilence and David cried out to God repenting of his sin.

The first step to standing in the gap for the sake of our people is REPENTANCE. When we the people who are called by God`s name humble ourselves and pray, seeking God’s face diligently and turn from our wicked ways God will forgive our sin and HEAL OUR LAND as in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

David built an Altar:

2 Samuel 24:25 King James Version (KJV)

²⁵ And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

Altar is a place of complete surrender. Altar is a place of sacrifices of praise. Altar is the place of divine exchanges. Building an altar will cost us something. But are we willing to pay the price? Are we willing to surrender our lives, our thoughts, our wants and needs on the altar, that God may be glorified in us? Building an altar simply means, acknowledging and letting God be the LORD of our lives and our situations. David built an altar for the Lord. The pestilence stayed from Israel.

Let us build and repair our altars too.

STANDING IN THE GAP:

Now this is going to demand more strength from us. David took responsibility for his people and stood in the gap. David pleaded that God will not show his judgment towards the innocent.

2 Samuel 24:17 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ And David spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.

In a similar fashion, Esther stood in the Gap for her people.

Esther 7:3 King James Version (KJV)

³ Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

Moses stood in the GAP between God and the Israelites that they will not be utterly destroyed.

Numbers 11:2 King James Version (KJV)

² And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched.

If we stand in the gap for people, this fire of COVID-19 will be quenched too. All we need to do is to humble our self, repent, build altars and stand in the gap. If God’s word in 

2 Chronicles 7:14 is true, he will heal our land too. To God alone be the glory. Amen.

Discovering God`s purposes for Life during CRISIS

Many days we wonder if there is a purpose for our lives. Every day we wake up, eat, run to work, come home, care for the family if we have one, do our chores and go to sleep. Of course, we do include a bit of church and social activities in these. The issue is further complicated with the world wide lockdown.
Barely, we notice the birds that sing around, the flowers that bloom and die nor the sun that rise and set each day. We are so caught up in the wheel of life, that we forgo noticing the breath in our nostrils or the kidneys that do their work. Days come and go. People come and leave our lives. Money come and go. Jobs come and go. Nothing seems permanent around us.
 Money seems to have a limit and so is education. Do we have a real purpose for our life that goes beyond boundaries of food, clothing and shelter? Is there any purpose for our lives when the whole world around us turns up-side-down? Let's examine this under the light of the word of GOD.

1. Purpose of our life is to have fellowship with GOD:

Genesis 2:7 King James Version (KJV)

7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

 Genesis 3:8 King James Version (KJV)

8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

We are God's masterpiece. God created us on purpose that his breath is in our nostrils. God made us to be living souls that we will have rich fellowship with him. As in Genesis 3:8 God wants to commune with us. Enoch walked with God. Abraham walked with God as a friend. God spoke to Moses face to face. David was a man after God's own heart. Our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ spent most of his life communing with the father in prayer.

Mark 1:35 King James Version (KJV)

35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Dearly beloved of God! we are called to have fellowship with our GOD. This is the purpose of our creation. This is why we are made for. Only GOD can satisfy the deepest longing of our soul. We will soon know that the purpose of our life is accomplished if we choose to have fellowship with CHRIST.

1 Corinthians 1:9 King James Version (KJV)

9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

2. The purpose of our life is to WORSHIP God:

Isaiah 43:21 King James Version (KJV)

21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

God formed us for himself that we will show forth his praise. 

Psalm 150:6 King James Version (KJV)

6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

There is still breath in our nostrils, that we may praise God. The dead cannot Praise God. But will praise him in the land of the living as long as his breath is present in our nostrils. This is another purpose of us in Christ.

Isaiah 38:18 King James Version (KJV)

18 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

Isaiah 38:19 King James Version (KJV)

19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.

3. The Purpose of our Life is to accomplish God's will for us in our life:

Philippians 2:13 King James Version (KJV)

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

God wants to accomplish his will according to his good pleasure in us. But are we willing to submit our will to him?

Matthew 26:42 King James Version (KJV)

42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Jesus submitted to the will of the Father and fulfilled the purpose of his life. If you are struggling to discover God's will in your life, you can go through this blog for better guidance.

MY WILL OR GOD'S WILL

4. The purpose of our life is to seek the kingdom of God and his Righteousness:

Matthew 6:31-34

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

As of now, trying to make ends meet and feeding our family and living a normal life might seem to be the purpose OF OUR LIFE. But, Jesus teaches us to focus our eyes on things that are unseen yet much permanent and eternal than what the world can offer us.

 We will make a willful decision to seek for God's purposes in our lives during this time of crisis. Let us choose to have a rich fellowship with God, let us spend time worshipping him. Let us choose to submit to the divine will and make a choice to seek his kingdom more than anything. I am sure, we will know the purposes of God have been accomplished in our lives. Amen.

FACING THE CRISIS OF COVID-19 WITH INTEGRITY

As we are going through these times of COVID-19 crisis, questions Strom our heads as what life has in store for us. Many of our lives are shaken. Routines changed. Jobs lost. Times of illness. Times of tears. We have forgotten how to smile or laugh. Streets empty. Countries locked down. Meaningful relationships taking a new form adapting to social distancing. Only one thing that seems to be permanent is the CHANGE. As we try to adapt to these new changes, as our ship struggles to reach the other end... here we are scrambling our way to reach out to the anchor. Let us dig a little deeper in the living scriptures on how we can face this crisis with integrity with GOD`s help.

1. THE HOPE WE HAVE IN CHRIST:

The word of God says, THE HOPE WE HAVE IN CHRIST is that anchor as in  Hebrews 6:18,19

18. That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 

Dear brothers ad Sisters in Christ, it is impossible for God to lie, because HE IS GOD. He is GOD ETERNAL, IMMORTAL AND INVINCIBLE. ( 1 Timothy 1:17 ).  If he says he will be the anchor of your soul, he means it and again, he cannot lie..... because he is GOD.

2. COME TO THE THRONE OF GRACE:

We have a GOD who is a high priest too. He remained sinless, though he was tempted in all points similar to us. So we can come boldly to the THRONE OF GRACE because we have a father who can understand our shortcomings. The word of God says in Hebrews 4:14-16 as,

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Many of us have turned our backs to GOD. Now we are so driven by guilt, we don't know how to come back. Dear children of God! the arms of the father are open wide. The distance between you and God is just a breath away.... Call unto him in the name of Jesus and there you are in front of the throne of grace....You will find help in the time of your need.

3. HOLDING ON TO THE LOVE OF CHRIST:

a. THE LOVE OF CHRIST is powerful. You want to know how powerful it is...? The word of God says, Love is stronger than DEATH. Many waters cannot quench LOVE. No flood can drown it. You can find it in Songs of Solomon 8:6,7

6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

b. The LOVE OF CHRIST makes us more than a conquerors. Romans 8:37 says,

 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

We are more than conquerors through this CHRIST who loved us.

 c. His banner over us is LOVE. He is going to fight battles for us and we are going to win in each of those battles.

 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

Songs of Solomon 2:4

d. Whatmore, this LOVE of God will never put us to shame.

Romans 5:5 King James Version (KJV)

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

So, this is time to look into the fullness of God`s face, that our faces will shine in the midst of the crisis. 

Psalm 34:5 King James Version (KJV)

5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

We will never be put to shame and we will come out of this situation victoriously, being a blessing to many in tears. 

e. There is no fear in love. Perfect love casteth away all fear.

1 John 4:18 King James Version (KJV)

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Let us be filled with the Love of God, if fear is tormenting us. 

f. My final words, 

If we choose to Love Christ, he will surely deliver us.

Psalm 91:14 King James Version (KJV)

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

Our hope and our Love for Christ and his love for us will sustain us these had times. He will surely deliver us because we have chosen to set our love upon the one who chose to love us eternally. To God be the Glory!

50 Bible verses to help coping Covid -19 crisis

Here are 50 bible verses that you can use to memorize and meditate during these trying times. The word of God has the power to heal, the power to deliver and gives us peace and comfort that passeth all understanding. Go through these verses and paste them on your walls. Let the walls in your homes resonate these words, that God`s glory stay in our homes in these times of crisis. Feel free to meditate the whole chapter, whenever prompted by the Spirit of God.

To battle thoughts on FEAR OF FUTURE:

1.             1.      Psalm 46:10 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen; I will be exalted in the earth.

2. Isaiah 55:8:9

⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

3. Jeremiah 29:11 King James Version (KJV)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

 4.       Psalm 94:19 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁹ In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

5.       Psalm 16:11 King James Version (KJV)

¹¹ Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

To battle FEAR OF DISEASE:

1.       Psalm 91:6-8, 10 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

2.       Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

3.       ⁶ Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

4.       ⁷ A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

5.       ⁸ Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

6.       Psalm 43:5 King James Version (KJV)

⁵ Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

To battle FEAR OF DEATH:

1.       Psalm 9:13 King James Version (KJV)

¹³ Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:

2.       Psalm 23:4 King James Version (KJV)

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

3.       Psalm 56:13 King James Version (KJV)

¹³ For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

4.       Psalm 107:14 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

5.       Psalm 116:8 King James Version (KJV)

⁸ For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

6.       Isaiah 25:8 King James Version (KJV)

⁸ He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.

7.       Amos 5:8 King James Version (KJV)

⁸ Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name:

8.       Psalm 118:17 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

9.       Isaiah 55:3 King James Version (KJV)

³ Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

10.   Psalm 27:1 King James Version (KJV)

 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

11.   Psalm 91:16 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

12.   Malachi 2:5 King James Version (KJV)

⁵ My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.

Verses on Healing:

1.       Malachi 4:2 King James Version (KJV)

² But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

2.       Revelation 22:2 King James Version (KJV)

² In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3.       Isaiah 57:18 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁸ I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

4.       Psalm 30:2 King James Version (KJV)

² O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

5.       Psalm 103:3 King James Version (KJV)

³ Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

6.       Psalm 107:20 King James Version (KJV)

²⁰ He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

7.       Isaiah 53:5 King James Version (KJV)

⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

8.       Isaiah 58:8 King James Version (KJV)

⁸ Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.

9.       Jeremiah 17:14 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

10.   Jeremiah 30:17 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

11.   Jeremiah 33:6 King James Version (KJV)

⁶ Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth

12.   Ezekiel 47:9 King James Version (KJV)

⁹ And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

For  STRENGTH, PEACE and COMFORT:

1.       Jeremiah 31:3 King James Version (KJV)

³ The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

2.       Psalm 91:14 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

3.       Psalm 97:10 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

4.       Song of Solomon 2:4 King James Version (KJV)

⁴ He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

5.       Hosea 14:4 King James Version (KJV)

⁴ I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

6.       Revelation 12:11 King James Version (KJV)

¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

7.       Isaiah 40:29 King James Version (KJV)

²⁹ He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

8.       Exodus 15:2 King James Version (KJV)

² The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

9.       Numbers 24:8 King James Version (KJV)

⁸ God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

10.   Psalm 18:2 King James Version (KJV)

² The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

11.   Psalm 27:14 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

12.   Psalm 31:24 King James Version (KJV)

24     Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

^{13.      Isaiah 41:10:}

¹⁰ Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

14.   Luke 21: 36

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

 15.   John 16:33 King James Version (KJV)

³³ These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.