Ever since the war between Russia and Ukraine began, the United Nations and its partners have worked to scale-up humanitarian efforts in the Ukraine to adapt to the changing situation, and to alleviate the suffering of local civilians.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT) Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
【a】Let us pray to the God of mercy for His compassion to be upon all who have lost relatives and friends to the war in Russia and Ukraine. May God Comfort them in their sorrow, may His love pour out into the depths of their hearts, and may the hand of the Lord support them as they march on through the valley of the shadow of death.
【b】We beseech the God of righteousness to perform miracles in the battles over in Ukraine and Russia, and May He work in the lives of nations leaders so that the world may know His ways, and the nations may know of His salvation.
2. Nation
While the pandemic numbers remain high, flash floods have occurred in some parts of our country. Then, on the 12th of March, a total of 15 political parties will participate in the election of 56 state constituencies in Johor, and a total of 239 candidates are to participate.
Job 12:22 (NLT) He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; He brings light to the deepest gloom.
【a】We implore our Heavenly Father to encourage our leaders to speak and act, not only to talk about administrative matters, but also to take action; to help the people that are in dire straits in a timely manner; and to go all-out to solve the rakyat’s livelihood problem.
【b】Let us pray to God our Father to greatly arouse within every citizen the awareness and sense of responsibility to fight the pandemic, and pay more attention to the needs of the high-risk groups around us; may He help the Johor voters to, not only, prudently cast their votes in the election, but also to strictly observe prevention measures.
3. Church
John Wesley: “In every age and nation, since Christianity has existed in the world, many have been persuaded to the point of almost becoming Christians. (Source: The Almost Christian, 1741)
Mark 12:30-31 (NLT) And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
【a】May the Lord bless us with a repentant heart: to strive to become true Christians, to love the Lord with all our might so that our spirits may always rejoice in the Savior, and to have the assurance of Christ’s salvation and gain saving faith.
【b】May the Lord bless us with a heart of love: to learn to love others as we love ourselves, to keep the true meaning of love, to obey the Holy Spirit, to bear all things, to believe all things, to hope in all things, and to endure all things.
4. Family
Confucius in the pre-Qin period believed that the difficulty of practicing filial piety to parents is that it is difficult for the children to be kind to their parents. Children will often lose their patience, become irritated or be rude to their parents because of various unpleasant experiences.
Exodus 20:12 (NLT) Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
【a】Pray to the Lord to forgive us as children who have sinned against God and our parents through our words and deeds; and, give our children the tolerance, forgiveness and patience to be able to obey the Lord’s commandments, and to get along with parents peacefully.
【b】May the Lord guide each and every Christian family to continue to take root in the truth, so that the spiritual life of every family member will be constantly renewed; that family life will continue to be enriched by the power of the gospel of Christ for the glory of God.
Sejak permulaan perang antara Rusia dan Ukraine, Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu dan rakan kongsinya telah bermula operasi kemanusiaan secara berterusan di Ukraine bagi keadaan yang sering berubah dan untuk meringankan penderitaan orang awam tempatan.
2 Tawarikh 7:14 “lalu umat-Ku, yang dipanggil atas nama-Ku, merendahkan diri, berdoa, mencari wajah-Ku, dan berpaling daripada jalan mereka yang jahat, maka Aku akan mendengar dari syurga, mengampunkan dosa mereka serta memulihkan negeri mereka.”
[a] Kita berdoa kepada Allah yang maha pengasih agar mengasihani mereka yang telah kehilangan orang kesayangan akibat perang Rusia-Ukraine, agar Allah menghiburkan kesedihan dan kesakitan yang dialami oleh mereka, kasih Tuhan dicurahkan ke hati mereka, dan tangan Tuhan memapah mereka semasa mereka melangkah di lembah bayangan maut.
[b] Kita berdoa kepada Allah kebenaran untuk melakukan mukjizat dalam pertempuran Rusia-Ukraine dan pertempuran yang mungkin berlaku, dan menggerak pemimpin-pemimpin bangsa agar dunia mengetahui jalan-Mu, dan bangsa-bangsa mengenali keselamatan-Mu.
2. Negara
Sungguhpun penularan COVID-19 mencecah tinggi, beberapa bahagian di negara kita telah mengalami banjir kilat. Pada 12 Mac, Pilihan Raya Negeri Johor yang membabitkan 56 kerusi DUN menyaksikan penyertaan 239 orang calon dari 15 parti politik.
Ayub 12:22 Dia menyingkapkan rahsia kegelapan; dan membawa bayang-bayang maut kepada cahaya.
[a] Kita menyeru kepada Bapa di Syurga untuk mendorong para pemimpin kita supaya berkebolehan dalam percakapan dan tindakan, bukan sekadar berbincang mengenai hal pentadbiran negara, tetapi bertindak secara peribadi untuk membantu rakyat untuk menyelesaikan masalah saraan hidup.
[b] Kita menyeru kepada Bapa di Syurga untuk membangkitkan kesedaran dan tanggungjawab setiap rakyat dalam memerangi pandemik ini, dan lebih prihatin terhadap keperluan kumpulan berisiko tinggi di sekeliling kita; kita berdoa agar Bapa melindungi pengundi-pengundi di Johor supaya mematuhi langkah-langkah pencegahan penularan COVID-19 semasa menunaikan kewajipan mereka untuk mengundi.
3. Gereja
John Wesley: ” Sejak wujudnya agama Kristian di dunia, pada setiap zaman dan negara, terdapat ramai orang yang telah dipujuk sehingga hampir menjadi Kristian. ” [Sumber: The Almost Christian (1741), Laman Sesawang Sekolah Teologi Methodist Sibu]
Markus 12:30-31 Kasihilah Tuhan, Allahmu, dengan sepenuh hatimu, dengan sepenuh jiwamu, dengan sepenuh fikiranmu, dan dengan sepenuh kekuatanmu.’ Inilah perintah yang terutama. Perintah yang kedua ialah: ‘Kasihilah sesama manusia seperti kamu mengasihi dirimu sendiri.’ Tiada perintah lain yang lebih utama daripada dua perintah ini.”
[a] Kita berdoa agar Tuhan memberkati kita dengan hati yang bertaubat, berusaha untuk menjadi orang Kristian sebenar, mengasihi Tuhan dengan sedaya upaya, supaya roh kita bergembira kerana Allah, Penyelamat, dan berkeyakinan dengan keselamatan Kristus dan berkepercayaan telah diselamatkan.
[b] Kita berdoa agar Tuhan memberkati kita supaya mengasihi satu sama lain, belajar mengasihi orang lain seperti diri kita sendiri sepanjang umur hidup, mengekalkan makna kasih yang sebenar, mematuhi Roh Kudus dalam segala urusan, menderita segala-galanya, percaya akan segala-galanya, berharap akan segala-galanya, terus-menerus menanggung segala-galanya.
4. Keluarga
Konfucius pada zaman pra Dinasti Qin percaya bahawa kesukaran yang dihadapi oleh anak-anak untuk menghormati ibu bapa adalah kerana kesukaran untuk bersikap lemah lembut dan baik hati kepada ibu bapa. Anak-anak sering hilang sabar malah mengeluarkan kata-kata yang kurang elok atas pelbagai pengalaman yang tidak menyenangkan.
Keluaran 20:12 Hormatilah ibu bapamu, supaya lanjut usiamu di bumi yang Tuhan, Allahmu, kurniakan kepadamu.
[a] Kita berdoa agar Tuhan mengampuni dosa-dosa kita sebagai anak kepada Allah dan ibu bapa dalam perkataan dan perbuatan, dan memberkati kita dengan sikap toleransi, mengampun dan bersabar, supaya dapat mematuhi perintah Tuhan, dan berdamai semasa bergaul dengan ibu bapa.
[b] Kita berdoa agar Tuhan membimbing setiap keluarga Kristian supaya berakar kukuh dalam kebenaran, kehidupan rohani setiap ahli keluarga sentiasa diperbaharui, kehidupan keluarga diperkayakan lagi oleh kuasa Injil Kristus, memuliakan Tuhan dan memanfaatkan manusia.
