Asking in Prayer and COVID-19

Asking in Prayer and COVID-19, By Lynn Kauffman 

I sense there are three probing questions running through all of our minds during the present COVID-19 crisis:

• How can my family and I avoid COVID-19 infection and possible death?
• How can we deal with our financial needs during this pandemic, especially now that there is little or no work? 
• How can I experience emotional peace and less anxiety during this crisis?

These are good questions needing good answers. As followers of Jesus, we want to bring Him into the equation. He is the author of every perfect answer to all our needs and concerns. 

From the get-go, there is a truth that needs to slowly penetrate our hearts and minds, and hopefully bring emotional relief: “…your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8).

Meditate on this truth for a moment. He really does have our backs! 

Jesus stated this truth in response to a question one of His disciples had about prayer. Ironically, this disciple didn’t say, “Jesus, pray for me.” Neither did Jesus say, “I’ll pray for you.” Rather, this disciple said, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).

He wanted to learn how to pray, which Jesus then taught them to do (Matthew 6:5-15 and Luke 11:1-13).

Now the question is this: How do we pray?

I believe that Jesus’ understanding and practice of prayer is somewhat different from that of many Christians today. Today we ask God for something, and then leave the petition in His hands. We believe God will respond with a yes, no, or wait. Our COVID-19 petitions may look like this: 

• “Lord, I ask you to protect my family and me from the COVID-19 infection.” 
• “Lord, I ask you to take care of our financial needs.”
• “Lord, I am terribly anxious about this pandemic. Give me peace.”

There’s nothing inherently wrong with this type of petitioning. You are not sinning by doing so. But prayer is more than asking God for something and then moving on in life, thinking our part has come to a close. Real prayer involves us as His disciples! More often than we might realize, God wants to work together with us to pursue His perfect solution. He trusts our collaboration if we first trust Him, and increased blessing will follow!

The key to more effective praying is found in differentiating between “asking prayers” and “asking in prayer” (Matthew 21:22, Mark 11:24, and Philippians 4:6).

“To ask,” as in asking in prayer, means to request, petition, beg or solicit. This is easy to understand, but not so for the word “to pray” given our preconceived and limited understanding about prayer, (e.g. to pray is only to present petitions before God). 

In the original language, “to pray” means to will, to vow, or to wish something before somebody. We vow to fulfill an action. Combining this with an often-elusive and overlooked teaching of Greek grammar, we discover another aspect of biblical prayer: 

we vow to fulfill an action initiated by another.  This “another” is God. 

When we pray this way, we choose to participate in an action that He has already willed and initiated. God is inviting us to play a part in His plans. We choose to believe His promptings and perfect will. 

Eugene Peterson says it well about prayer: “We welcome God’s will in our lives, and we participate in what He is doing in the world. God involves us in his plans… I will to participate in what is willed.”

Knowing how and when to participate requires hearing His voice, and for us to hear His voice, especially when seeking His perfect counsel and answers to all of our COVID-19 requests, we need solace and solitude.

Jesus talks about this place of solitude in Matthew 6:5-15 where we find the Lord’s Prayer. With our door closed we can now present these and other petitions to Him and then learn how to walk alongside Him. These seven petitions serve as a model for when we pray. With each petition, He will reveal how and when we are to participate. Again, we only listen and obey.

Following are some examples as to how we might ask in prayer considering our COVID-19 needs using the NIRV translation of the Lord’s Prayer: 

Verse 9 – “Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored.” 

• “Lord, I ask that your name be honored during the COVID-19 crisis. Show me how your name can be honored more in my life and through it to those around me.”

Verse 10 – “May your kingdom come. May what you want to happen be done on earth as it is done in heaven.”

• “Lord, I ask you to protect my family, including my parents, children, and grandchildren from COVID-19 infection. Show me what to do to avoid infection and be an encouragement to others.” 
• “Lord, I have COVID-19. Show me what needs to happen to face this challenge leading to recovery or death. I trust you. Reveal how I can encourage others in a similar situation.” 

Verse 11 – “Give us today our daily bread.” 

• “Lord, take care of our financial needs. We trust you. Reveal to us what our responsibility is as we work together to experience your solution.” 
• “Lord, take care of those who are without the basic necessities of life. Show me how I might serve them.” 

Verse 12 – “And forgive us our sins, just as we also have forgiven those who sin against us.” 

• “Lord, sheltering in place has created much relational tension at home. Show me where and whom I need to forgive and/or ask for forgiveness.” 

Verse 13 – “Keep us from sinning when we are tempted. Save us from the evil one.”

• “Lord, I am terribly anxious and fearful about this pandemic. Show me the steps to trust you more and move towards emotional peace.” 
• “Keep me from using my time unwisely as I isolate myself at home. Reveal to me where I can live more according to your Kingdom values in the midst of COVID-19.” 

Pete Scazzero, the author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, says most Christians are better at “doing for God than being with God.” I feel very uneasy when I think about this statement; closing my door to spend time with Him is my greatest challenge in life at the moment.

I am convinced, though, as I achieve greater balance between being and doing, and practice petitioning, listening and obeying more diligently, I will then love God, myself, and others more authentically.  And my joy will increase! 

Will you join me in this Kingdom pursuit to slow down to be with God and ask in prayer?

(Lynn Kauffman and his wife Mary have been a part of SBC for several years now. Lynn has served as a pastor at several churches, continues as an itinerant preacher, is a writer, and serves as a chaplain at Community Regional Medical Center.)