When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He spoke of the Kingdom of God being lived out on Earth as it is in heaven. What a powerful statement. This has the potential to change the way we live and how we view the things of this world. Living out the Kingdom of God here on Earth can change how we love our spouse, how we parent our children, and how we reflect Christ to others.

During these unprecedented times, we don’t have control of many areas of our lives, but we can still pray. Notice the words of Jesus from Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV) and how He taught His disciples to pray:

 

“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.’”

 

Stories are circulating in the news of how people are struggling amidst COVID-19. Many are losing their jobs, unable to visit family members in nursing homes, and having to rearrange even the most fundamental aspects of their lives. As the body of Christ, we can pray strategically for the people God has placed in our lives. We can pray for God’s will to be done on Earth as it is heaven. Below are seven groups of people you can strategically pray for through this pandemic. If you want, print these suggestions out and post them in a specific place in your house that will serve as a daily prayer reminder. During your time alone with the Lord, look up the passages of Scripture, read them, and highlight them in your Bible or a Bible app.

seven people to pray for through Crisis

1. Pray for those who struggle with anxiety and depression. (Psalm 46:1; Psalm 34:4)
2. Pray for those who are curious about God. (John 14:6)
3. Pray for those who are seeking guidance. (Psalm 32:8)
4. Pray for those who are lonely. (Psalm 23)
5. Pray for those who are dealing with sickness and pain. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
6. Pray for those who struggle with worry. (1 Peter 5:6-7)
7. Pray for those who feel a sense of hopelessness. (Hebrews 10:23)

 

Praying the way Jesus taught will naturally change the way we live our lives. Maybe this kind of praying will cause you to evaluate how you interact with other people. We may not know what the person standing next to us is currently dealing with in their life. As we pray with a Kingdom-mindset, we can also demonstrate the love of Christ in the following ways:

 

1. Serve others. (1 Peter 4:10)
2. Share your faith. (Matthew 10:19-20)
3. Practice sincerity. (1 Peter 1:22)

 

James, the half-brother of Jesus, reminds us that “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16b ESV). Take time in the coming days to pray strategically for the people God has placed in your life.