40 DAYS OF PRAYER (2021)

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

Day 19 – Three Blessings of Goshen

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for keeping the land in which we live in during 2020. While the entire world experienced fear caused by COVID-19, we got to experience what Psalm 29:10 says, “The Lord sits enthroned over the flood, the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.” As we experience You turning crisis into opportunities, we are reminded of the Israelites receiving three blessings from You while dwelling in the land of Goshen, and so we offer up three praises:

As the Chinese New Year celebration comes to an end, You watched over us just like in Goshen. During the pandemic, even though we cannot travel out of the country, You allow us to live on this land, to have the “freedom” to carry on activities, to have the “freedom” to gather in church, this is a blessing of being set apart. Just like the words from Exodus 8:22, as the swarms of flies filled all Egypt, there was none in the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived. O Lord, this is our first praise!

The second praise has to do with while the world experienced economical challenges during the pandemic, including the shortage of electronic parts, we were able to take lead in supplying the need, and the amount of export was historical, much more than our competitors. What looked like a year of global famine, we actually got to experience Your faithful providence, like in Genesis 47:27, the Israelites settled in the land of Goshen in Egypt. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. This is a blessing of being fruitful and multiply.

Lastly, we praise You for giving us the “Blessing to Be Near You.” Genesis 45:10 records, “You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.” Goshen was a protected place where Israelites found safety in. It represented a place to draw near to God. More importantly, it was a place where the Israelites set up altar of praise and prayer.

Lord, may You continue Your work, to keep Your people and churches everywhere not to be restricted by the pandemic, but to experience the blessing of being set apart, the blessing of being fruitful and multiply. To seize “the present opportunities.” Whether it is in person or online, may we draw closer to You, to build altar of praise and prayer, to lift up our hands, and to intercede for all people and all nations.

[1 Timothy 2:1-4] First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

All praises and prayer are in the precious name of my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

Pastor Doris Kuo
EFC Life of Miracle