The 4 P’s of Corona

Since the coronavirus outbreak began and quarantines were ordered in March, many people have contacted me, asking what they should be doing or what they can do in light of churches being barred. Even as many are growing weary, including me, my response remains the same.
Here are my prayed up thoughts. Amid a forced pause, the worst task we can do is try to fill the pause with our thoughts.
Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” Those words alone offer the key to being in the center of God’s will through any adversity we face in life. Therefore, whether you are trying to understand or you don’t understand at all, the Word of God says don’t lean on your own understanding, so what do you do?
Pause. You pause and let God’s peace be your pace. Let God’s peace fill your heart.
Next, after you pause, pray. Begin praying about the current situation, but not just any prayer. Be specific.
Ask God, since He has the world’s undivided attention, to use the church and the Christian to point a dying world to the Risen Lord. Eternally speaking, nothing else matters but this.
Pause, pray, then fill the gap with praise. Saturate your mind with worship music, rather than watching the constant barrage of negative news and redundant media feeds. Yes, stay informed, but don’t allow the information to form you.
Praising the Lord through the storm means trusting Him. Leave the outcome to Him and, again, allow His peace to be your peace.
Finally, after you pause, pray, and praise, plan on following God’s purpose for His church, which is to be fearless amongst a world that is fearful.
Many of our plans have been postponed, canceled or interrupted, but because of God’s faithfulness, we can trust that His purpose for our life will never be thwarted. Therefore, continue to support your local church and let us all continue to do what we can while allowing God to do what we can’t.
ED. NOTE: Maher is the teaching pastor at Coastal Christian Ocean City and is president of Soldiers For Faith Ministries. Social media and website: @TruthOverTrend.