Dear Members and Friends of Providence,
Summer is a special time of year and many try to make it different from the rest of the year by traveling, reading, doing outdoor things, planting, and gardening. Summer can provide some special time for reflection as well. I find that summer can be a special time for prayer as you think about all the activities and the people who are doing all those special things. I pray for those traveling, those outdoors in the midst of all those activities, those who are unable to get out in the heat, and the list goes on.
Who are you praying for this summer?
I just received a letter from Bishop Mark Hanson of our Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. He writes, “With a swiftness that we could not imagine only weeks ago, the waters have brought chaos to a large area of the Central United States. The flooding that is moving south in the Mississippi River valley and unusually destructive tornadoes in several states has involved at least eleven synods in relief operations, an unprecedented number in our history.
In the midst of these disasters, Scripture speaks to us. ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.’ (Psalm 46:1-3) God remains faithful. God’s Spirit is at work, moving over the face of the waters to renew life and hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love is being poured out by the Holy Spirit.
Please pray for all who are facing adversity, including the hidden challenges that seep in after the media attention leaves: the destruction of this year’s crop and the productivity of cropland for years to come; the loss of homes and neighborhoods; the severing of ties from each other and histories in particular places; and troubling emotions and thoughts that erode confidence and faith. Pray that God’s Spirit sustain them in the hope of God’s faithfulness, shown to us in Jesus Christ.
‘But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flames shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.’ (Isaiah 43:1-3)”
So the list of those to pray for continues to grow. With the 4th of July around the corner there are others who are brought to mind as well, those who are serving our country here and around the world and their families.
Summer is a good time to remember to pray for others as you find
yourselves and your loved ones in need of prayer.
Praying in Jesus’ Name, Pastor King