As we build this community prayer platform, we ask the Lord to listen to our petitions with full confidence they not only are heard but acted upon by God according to His holy will. These requests are on my prayer list and I hope you consider putting them on yours as you place your petitions before the Lord Sunday.

This week, let’s remember we just celebrated the Empty Tomb. Our world is currently being battered and torn with the coronavirus pandemic. But we know through that Empty Tomb, Christ defeats all evil – illness, death, and even Satan himself.

Approach the throne room and respond with faith and not fear, knowing the promises of God and His mighty hand will hold us through any situation! Sometimes, all it takes is just one prayer to change everything. Something extraordinary happens when two or more agree together in prayer.

What is one of the most important things we should do as Christians? Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).

And, so, Lord, we come to You with our petitions, knowing and expecting Your will to be done.

Thoughts and prayers to all worldwide suffering from the consequences of coronavirus flu – and all other strains. Many – many – of the prayer requests are covid-19 related … people diagnosed … people sick … people dying … relatives worried and isolated. We are in this together – in prayer!

Please keep the victims of household abuse in your prayers. Whether it be physical, emotional, sexual or neglect, this time in particular is very horrifying for them to be trapped in a house with their abuser(s) and not being able to escape.

First, some praise reports. Ken is home settled on the couch. The surgeon was able to unblock all three stents and the blood is flowing in his leg. He still has pain in the foot but nothing like it was. Ray also is recovering from a triple bypass. LoLo also returned home after a hospital stay. Pray they continue to heal.

Dave had a difficult time breathing this week and was taken to the ER but refused to stay alone. They did run tests. They all came out ok, but the heart ultrasound did show a slight edema. Some medication was changed. Please keep Dave and family in your prayers.

Doris suffered a mild stroke last week. Lift her up.

Annie asks for prayer for an upcoming surgery.

Angie is experiencing some heath issues and could be lifted up.

Andrew continues to struggle. He had a few very bad, dark nights this week, but continues to battle through prayer – and a sense of humor.

Dave continues to need prayer — lots of prayer — as he battles his biggest challenge: loss of hope.

Marsha has congestive heart failure, a leaking heart valve, and now they believe a hole in her heart. She can use prayer.

When it all seems too much Geska concentrates on placing her faith and hope on prayer. She is taking one step at a time. Radiation is not a walk in the park. Please keep her in your prayers.

Shelby is struggling mentally. Please pray for her.

Rose really needs prayers. She is so very, very tired and needs another round of antibiotics and steroids. Her lungs/voice have been poor since early January.

Cass is asking for prayers. She hasn’t been able to stop crying all week.

Lucia asks for prayer while healing from depression. May she know God’s grace, be given freedom from fear, and blessings of faith that go with it.

Dynes suffered a stroke Thursday morning but is stable so far. She will undergo surgery next week to remove a tumor in her head. Prayers requested.

Prayers requested for Riley, 27, as he is having health (liver) issues yet to be diagnosed.

Also, please pray for Harry as he is in a battle with prostrate cancer.

Please pray for Sheeba. She lives in England and is currently fighting cancer.

Tim will be having surgery soon. Pray the family will trust in the Lord who cares for us.

Ashley has a doctor’s appointment for some health issues she has been having. She feels so anxious and needs to be lifted up.

Dawn has shingles and requests prayers.

We also lift up the congregations still struggling with whether to reopen church buildings, use alternate services or continue with online worship. My Maine church – Dover-Foxcroft United Methodist – asks for prayers for Alden, Tony from the Atkinson church, and Carol who is starting her journey back to Maine.

There were a host of unspoken prayer requests and we heard of a number of deaths this week. Prayers for their families as they go through this earthly trial. We grieve … heaven rejoices.

We come to You, Lord, because prayer is the least yet the greatest thing we can do for each other. When two or more are gathered in Your name, we confidently know You are with us. What better company can we have? You reign and we trust You! We may be broken and battered but know You heal and quiet the soul. You are the source for all that happens in our lives. We thank You for the progress being made. We thank You for the many blessings we have received this week – including the blessing shared from Ken, Ray and LoLo. Some we unfortunately didn’t notice. Nonetheless, those blessings are ever-present in our lives. We thank You for healing. We thank You for slowing us down. We thank You for providing us our daily needs — no more and no less. We thank You for being with us, listening to us, walking with us on this journey. We thank You for the support of our family and friends … for seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary — sunrises, sunsets, flowers, kids laughing, adventures, good news amid the bad news. We know we can come to You with our concerns and they will be heard. Through Christ all things are possible. We lift up those family members and friends who are battling various physical, emotional, financial, career or spiritual issues and ask not for Your guidance and healing (although that would be welcomed) but to keep reminding us we are not alone in our battles. Specifically we lift up Dave, Doris, Annie, Angie, Andrew, Dave, Masha, Geska, Shelby, Rose, Cass, Lucia, Dynes, Riley, Harry, Sheeba, Tim, Ashley, Dawn, Alden, Tony, Carol,and all those needing Your healing and guiding touch. We pray for the families of all those You have called home. We grieve … You celebrate. We pray for obedience to Your Will so Your “Son” Light shines through us through the power of the Spirit. And we come to You through the confidence of the words taught by Your Son Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Keep your joys and concerns coming. They have been and will be included during my prayer time and I trust they will be on your lips as well as you approach the altar. All it takes is a couple of keystrokes under the “Contact Me” button on the top bar {or to the right if you’re not a follower yet}. I hope it becomes your best friend as you navigate around the site so we can all be viable prayer warriors. You can also comment or reach me at wisdomfromafather@gmail.com.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you. – St. Augustine