DAY 291
Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic
A series of daily reflections for people of faith
by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor
Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland
pastorrobert@paxpres.org
Week Forty-two Wednesday 30 December 2020
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe, the former British colony known as Rhodesia, sits landlocked in the middle of Africa with a population of 16 million and 22 language groups. There is freedom of religion with Christians constituting 80% of the population, the largest number in Pentecostal and charismatic denominations. “The church has grown in numbers and in passion amidst great trials, even as the country disintegrates all around. The state failed the population, and while many find refuge in spirituality and faith, churches also work hard to meet the many desperate physical and social needs they encounter.” Violence, disease and inflation are rampant.
Prayer Focus
+ Pray for those suffering from a high rate of AIDS and children orphaned by it.
+ Pray that politicians will repent and turn to God or be replaced by Godly leadership.
+ Pray for strength and wisdom for the churches seeking to address massive social needs.
+ Pray that church leaders will take a firm stand against syncretism in the church, witchcraft
and sorcery and folk religious superstitions.
+ Pray that God will bring together all Christians divided by splits within their churches and
denominations and divisions between denominations – they desperately need each other.
+ Pray for the unemployed, now at 90% of the work force, and the demoralizing effects.
+ Pray for growth in the Foxfire ministry that reaches youth in hundreds of churches.
+ Pray for churches that stand against the corrupt government as they are then persecuted.
+ Pray a country in which life expectancy has dropped from 60 to 40 in a health care crisis.
+ Pray that Zimbabweans will experience the prayer they pray in their national anthem.
Jesus’ Prayer Request each Wednesday:
“’The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest,
therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Jesus – Matthew 9:37-38.
For additional information on praying for Zimbabwe go to: operationworld.org.
Reflective question: What one prayer request stands out for you to pray each day this week?
Reflective Scripture: Psalm 67:2 – ‘…that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.”
Reflective hymn:
“Lift High Our Flag” – verse 3 - Solomon Mutswairo (1924-2005)
Oh God, we beseech Thee to bless our native land;
The land of our fathers bestowed upon us all;
From Zambezi to Limpopo may our leaders be exemplary;
And may the Almighty protect and bless our land.
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