Ohana Prayer 221 – Ecclesiastes 3
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.
13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
17 I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.”
Our Heavenly Father, the Eternal and Almighty Creator, may everyone honor Your holy name. You created man in Your own image and from this single creation event all humans descended. You set the season for different cycles of natural phenomena and predetermine all our activities so that all things in the world have regularity, timing and laws. Throughout the ages, You work all things according to Your will; You have a plan and that plan is to love us and be with us no matter what. Our lives, our actions, and our existence, are Your grace and mercy. So, regardless what we encounter, good or evil, the misfortune, life and death, it is Your sovereign will that governs them and timing to judge our every event and every work.
Father, we thank you. You have a unique design for each of us and You have prepared in each of our lives different stages that consist of challenges and triumphs. Open our eyes so we may see Your guidance and grant us patience and endurance to fulfil Your purpose and to become the persons You want us to be. We firmly believe that we wouldn’t have damaged even a hair if it hadn’t been for your permission.
Lord Jesus, thank you for coming into the world to demonstrate God’s love to us and giving the promise of rest for the weary and burdened souls.
Looking back, we reflect on all the blessings and grace in the past, You crowned the year with Your bounty and our paths overflowed with plenty. Our hearts are filled with gratitude even though the sky is not always blue, the path is not strewn with flowers, joy comes with sorrow, and peace with pain. But we know that You give strength for the day, rest for the labor, and light for the way. We are grateful for Your unfailing sympathy and undying love.
Indwelling Holy Spirit, we feel helpless and frightened as we watch the COVID 19 pandemic wreaking havoc on our country. Our anxiety is heightened as we don’t see a way out and we feel inept to care for our family. Our hearts are breaking from sadness and pain and tears are streaming from our eyes waiting for You to dry them.
Thank you for being tolerant with us just like You were with Moses. It took him 80 years to become a chosen vessel for God. Today, we wholeheartedly entrust our bodies, hearts and sprits to You for You are our fortress and potter. We will wait reverently for that joyful day when we can co-labor with You to glorify God.
In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen.