Dear loving Father God,
During this past year, we experienced the impact of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, we still worship and praise You, for You are a faithful God, Your love never left us. As we obeyed what You commanded: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” As we prayed, the pandemic took a turn, confirmed cases are decreasing, and slowly church in-person services and other public places are being reopened.
During this passion week, we want to thank You for Your redemptive grace, sending Your only beloved Son, to become sacrifice for our sins. By the precious blood of Jesus Christ on the cross, our sins are forgiven, the veil is torn, allowing us to be restored back to You. “Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:12-13)
May You give us a heart of compassion to pray for peace for the world. May You heal the broken hearted, help those struggling financially, and to restore relationships between people. May You take away the anxieties, restore the hurt and the pain caused by racial discriminations, allowing people in the society to have mutual respect, living in harmony, for Jesus had already taken down the barriers and removed the hatred.
As we prepare to celebrate Easter, we offer ourselves to You once again. Just like the encouragement by Paul: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his… So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body… Present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.” (Romans 6:4-13)
Finally, may You revive Your church, raise up Your children to proclaim the gospel, so that people will be saved. May Your kingdom come quickly, may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Rev. Jonathan Chen
Cannaan New Life Christian Church