Will Covid-19 destroy this world or save this world?

  

Silence

1.   Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence

2.   Wait for God. Breathe deep for God's peace and feel His presence. Exhale your worries.

Praise and Thanksgiving

1.   Think through your day, all the times that made you smile

2.   Thank God for all those moments, and for all those people

3.   Sing a song to praise God (you are welcome to use "Father, I adore you" which I have been singing every morning for the past 20 years or your own choice to praise God)

          Father, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.

          Jesus, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.

          Spirit, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.

      

Confession and Repentance (Subjective Shifting Devotion Method https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

1.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to shine on you that you are able to discover your sins and be willing to repent:

     “Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God and having Jesus as my Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

2.  Through the Holy Spirit, examine yourself for a short silence and then pray:

     "Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sins to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gifts to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."

3.  John Stott's daily prayer of Christlikeness (Christopher J.H. Wright, Cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017, 13)

(Please click this link to see how God used John Stott to change my life:https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/

           "Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.

             Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.

             Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

    

    The link to today's Time with Abba passages:   http://api.pastoralcareschool.org/twa/

    Time with Abba passages: (Psalm 65:9-13, Judges 19:1-20:48;John 3:22-4:3; Proverbs 14:22-24)

    Today's key passage: 

    

        You care for the land and water it;

    you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
    to provide the people with grain,
    for so you have ordained it.
10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
    you soften it with showers and bless its crops.
11 You crown the year with your bounty,
    and your carts overflow with abundance.
12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
    the hills are clothed with gladness.
13 The meadows are covered with flocks
    and the valleys are mantled with grain;
    they shout for joy and sing.

Psalm 65: 9-13

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to Him. 

   

     My Listening

    The topic I received today from Jesus is: Will Covid-19 destroy this world or save this world?

    There are quite a number of news and researches pointed out that Covid-19 will save this world! 

    Why? Because those researches point out that due to the negligence of taking care to the earth, we had numerous natural disasters the past many years and it is estimated that in 2050 the whole world will have disasters beyond our imagination to put human race in a very dangerous situation! All is because we do not give a chance for this earth to rest!

    But, those researches also point out that the whole world is stop because of Covid-19 and the earth has a time to rest. One research points out:

    "Covid-19 pandemic did not just "sneak up on us." Public health experts have been warning us for decades; we simply chose not to listen...and now the world is paying a terrible price...
    If we listen and take the experts warning seriously, we can avoid these calamities. If we don't, the sky may really fall.
    We will survive this pandemic, and if we learn from it,
     perhaps Covid-19 will save the world."

    But, when I was meditating on today's Psalm, knowing how God "cares for the land", "enriches the land", "bless the crops", suddenly I understand what is happening now to this whole world!

    It was human fault of negligence to the rule of public health to cause this Covid-19 causing this pandemic and the death of millions of people!

    But, God allows this to happen so that our earth has a chance to rest, making use of Covid-19 to save this world!
    

     

     Dear Lord Jesus,  

     Help us to look at this pandemic at an angle of how you allow Covid-19 to happen because you care for this world and you love us. Lead us to be closer to you and to be loved by you each day. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

      Reflect on these questions:

     1. What inspiration have you received from today's catch and what have you heard from Jesus now?

      

      2.  What is your next step to be more closer to Jesus?

    

      Family Corner:

     Find an opportunity to share with your family the importance of today's message. 

     

Please click this link for the video version of this blog:   https://youtu.be/1-Z77R762dY  

  

     To know, learn and practice the method of Time with Abba, please click this link: https://www.pastoralcareschool.org