A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis for August 19, 2020

AUG. 19, 2020

A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis

During these difficult days, the United Methodist Foundation of New England

is sharing a daily prayer based on 

the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions.

Today’s prayer

15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this?  Why have you let the boys live?”  19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.” (Exodus 1:15-19)

God of Shiprah and Pua, Thank you for being who you are and loving us as we are.  It’s another long day in 2020 and there are lots of questions.  What do we do?  What can’t we do any longer? What can we say? What is now offensive? What is acceptable? What is not? What are we aware of? To what are we blind? What will cause more pain? What can cause healing? What will we never understand? What do we need to learn? We are afraid. We are concerned. We need strength. We need grace. We need love. In this season of our lives, we encounter commands, threats, directives, news, social media, and friends in conversation. We hear about the economy, the pandemic, and racial injustice.  We wonder what we are to do. Whom shall we follow? What is the “right” thing to do? God of Shiprah and Pua, we ask you to make clear the path we are to follow, the love we are to share, the hope we are to offer. Help us to open the ears of our hearts to listen to your voice. Empower us to act as these two women, with wisdom, courage, strength, and grace.    This we pray. Amen. Written by Rev. Dr. David Abbott, Director of Stewardship and Leadership Development