30 Days of Prayer: Emergencies Don’t Take a Break

“If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 4:11

The world may be sheltering in place, but First Responders are continuing to engage in daily situations that require compassion, rescue and resuscitation. Training and expertise prepare them for what they will see and how they will act, and they must trust that this equipping will guide them through unknown and surprising circumstances.

In a similar way, we can train ourselves to go to God’s Word and trust that He will use it to equip and guide us through periods of uncertainty and temptation to fear. In Scripture we find verse after verse reassuring us that the Lord will “go before us and follow us, to place His hand of blessing on our head.” Psalm 139:5. He “is a shield for all who take refuge in Him…and it is God who arms us with strength and makes our way perfect.” Psalm 18:30,32. “He will watch over our coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121:8. He is “able to make all grace abound to us, so that in all things at all times, having all that we need, we will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

As we pray these Scriptures over our First Responders and the situations they face today, let us allow the Lord to be the expert in our lives and His Word the expertise that we trust to guide us through our new and unpredictable circumstances.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you for our First Responders and the calling You’ve given them in our communities. We thank you for the sacrifices they make and the selflessness they demonstrate. Today, we ask for Your covering on their lives and work. We pray for recall and focus as they rely on their training. We pray for Your wisdom and discernment as they make quick and vital decisions. We pray for their protection and safety as they face crisis and for courage and compassion as they meet the needs of others. Above all, Lord, we pray that as they serve with this balance of Your tenderness and strength, that You would be recognized and given glory. In Your precious and Holy Name, Amen.

For Reflection:

Our expertise often comes through our experience. Let’s recall and remember God’s work in our lives as our equipping for today.

• How have you seen God go before you?
• How have you sensed Him being your refuge?
• How have you perceived Him responding to your needs or the needs of those around you?

Rely on the Truth of these experiences to trust Him today.

By Megan Uecker