Tag Archives: pandemic

The Dead of Winter and the Spirit’s Fire

16 Sunday Jan 2022

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It’s the dead of winter, the coldest time of the year. My back is aching. A pandemic is raging. Nerves are frayed. Patience has collapsed in a heap of ruin. And it’s the best time to praise God. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s the best time to lay aside our troubles and worries, and praise our Creator.

Praising God in good times, for good times, is easy. Praising God in hard times requires more afore thought—more raw determination. Perhaps it’s the best measure of our faith.

The apostle Paul challenges us with this admonition: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, NIV).*

My Bible breaks the statement above into four separate verses and then tosses “Do not quench the Spirit” into an entirely new paragraph. But in the original Greek, there are no verse numbers, or indented paragraphs. These four statements all flowed together as one.

The Spirit’s fire is stoked or quenched by our rejoicing, our prayer and our thanksgiving. None of these responses—our rejoicing, prayer and thanksgiving—should be driven by the circumstances we find ourselves in. Our circumstances may vary, but God’s love for us is constant.

Paul and Silas perfectly illustrated the presence of God’s Spirit in their lives, as they prayed and sang hymns after being severely flogged and imprisoned in Philippi. See Acts 16:16-40. Did their circumstances inhibit their rejoicing? Apparently not. They refused to quench the Spirit’s fire. Instead, they stoked it.
Fireplace

Is your fire going out? Can you still find some glowing embers among the ashes? Then take some action. Add some fuel. Throw on a few splinters of rejoicing. Log on some prayer time. Top it all with some heartfelt thanksgiving.

In the dead of winter, at the coldest time of year, in defiance of a pandemic, let’s build the warmest fire.

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

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David Kitz is the chair of The Word Guild. His most recent book series is Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer.
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The One Who Sustains Me

08 Saturday May 2021

Posted by in Psalm 54

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Today’s quote and prayer from the Psalms
Psalm 54_4aFather God,
throughout this pandemic
you have kept me and my family safe.
For this I thank you, Lord.
In hard times and good times
you have sustained me.
Amen.

Volume II of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is available now. For a closer look at this #1 new release click here. For a look back at Volume I click here.

He Stilled the Storm

30 Saturday Jan 2021

Posted by in Psalm 107, Psalms

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Today’s verse from the Psalms
Psalm 107_28-29Heavenly Father,
still the storms brought on by this pandemic.
Still the raging storms
in this overheated political climate.
Still the personal storms
of worry and depression.
Lord Jesus,
still the storms.
Amen.

The first volume of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is now available. For a closer look at this 262-page daily devotional book click here.

Entering with Thanksgiving

27 Wednesday Jan 2021

Posted by in Psalm 100

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Today’s verse from the Psalms
Psalm 100_4Heavenly Father,
thank you for all your kindness.
You have been so good to us!
Help us to maintain an attitude of gratitude
all year long,
even during this pandemic.
Amen.

The first volume of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is now available. For a closer look at this 262-page daily devotional book click here.

He Fills the Hungry

17 Sunday Jan 2021

Posted by in Psalm 107, Psalms

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Today’s quote from the Psalms
Psalm 107_4-9Heavenly Father,
I thank you and praise you
because you supply all my needs.
Even during this pandemic I eat like a king.
Thank you for your bountiful provision
through the grace of my Savior.
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise.
Amen.

The first volume of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is now available. For a closer look at this 262-page daily devotional book click here.

Remember Me, LORD

09 Saturday Jan 2021

Posted by in Psalm 106

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Today’s verse from the Psalms
Psalm 106_4Heavenly Father,
 during this pandemic,
I need your help and protection.
You know all my difficulties and weaknesses.
Even now,
show me your favor
for I am your child.
In Jesus’ name,
I pray.
Amen.

The first volume of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is now available. For a closer look at this 262-page daily devotional book click here.

The Psalmist’s Pandemic Response

31 Thursday Dec 2020

Posted by in Psalm 91, Psalms

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Reading: Psalm 91
(Verses 1-8)
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD,
“He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked (NIV).*

hands with latex gloves holding a globe with a face mask

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

Reflection
In the introduction to Psalms 365, I made this blanket statement, “Whatever state you find yourself in, there’s a psalm for that—a psalm for every situation and human need.” That includes a global pandemic—the likes of which we never seen—a pandemic that shuts down the economy and leaves us confined to our homes.

Psalm 91 directly addresses the topic of pandemics. “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you” (v. 5-7).

Epidemics of various kinds have ravaged humanity for thousands of years including during biblical times. But during the last 150 years, the development of vaccines, and improved hygiene practices have made epidemics rare occurrences.

In such perilous times, what does the psalmist do? He addresses the fear factor. We live in a world where fear is contagious. Will there be another global pandemic, a terrorist attack, a stock market collapse, or a recession? Will my marriage survive? Will my children turn out okay?

Yes, please follow the advice of health professionals. But do you trust the Almighty? Above all else, this psalm calls us to put our trust in a loving heavenly Father. Having come under his wings, we find safety.

Response: Lord God, you are my shelter in a stormy world. I am so safe—so very safe—when I am with you. I want to live each day in the confidence that you care for me as a loving father cares for his dear child. Amen.

Your Turn: If you truly know the loving nature of God, trust should come easily. Does it? What do you use to anchor your faith during troubled times?

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

The first volume of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is now available. For a closer look at this 265-page daily devotional book visit Amazon and enter David Kitz into the search bar.

What Do You Do in the Midst of Defeat?

03 Monday Aug 2020

Posted by in Devotions, Psalm 44, Psalms

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Reading: Psalm 44
(Verses 17-26)
All this came upon us, though we had not forgotten you;
we had not been false to your covenant.
Our hearts had not turned back;
our feet had not strayed from your path.
But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals;
you covered us over with deep darkness.
If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
would not God have discovered it,
since he knows the secrets of the heart?
Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
Awake, LORD! Why do you sleep?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.
Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?
We are brought down to the dust;
our bodies cling to the ground.
Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love (NIV).*

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Photo by David Kitz

Reflection
As previously noted, Psalm 44 begins in a very positive fashion as the psalmist recalls the goodness of the LORD and the great victories Israel has won because of the LORD’s help. But that is not the present reality. The present reality is filled with defeat, death and destruction. The psalmist moves from rejoicing over past victories to lamenting over present-day tribulations. Hear his words of anguish: Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

What do you do in the midst of defeat? Do you put on a brave face and pretend all is going well? There may be occasions when putting on a brave face is warranted, even necessary—but inside, when we are alone with our thoughts we question why God would allow such things. Why would God allow a child to die? Why would He allow a global pandemic or a natural disaster like an earthquake to claim countless innocent lives? Normally, these life-shattering matters don’t come with pat answers in tow. We are left in a state of grief and bewilderment.

Often believers see such events as retribution for sins committed against a holy God. But note the psalmist’s complaint: All this came upon us, though we had not forgotten you; we had not been false to your covenant. Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path.

The brutal truth is bad things happen to good people. Sometimes Christians are martyred on a beach in Libya. Sometimes a cruel disease hems us in on every side and there is no escape, aside from death and heaven’s door. Sometimes all we can do is pour out our complaint before a God of unfailing love.

Response: LORD God, when life is hard, help me to remember to bring my complaints and travails to you. You are bigger than any agony or grief I may face. I call out to you, my Savior and my God. Amen.

Your Turn: In your opinion has God been unfair to you? How do you respond?

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

Because of open heart surgery, publication of 365 Days through the Psalms by award-winning author David Kitz has been delayed until later this year or 2021. In due course, 365 Days through the Psalms will be published by Elk Lake Publishing. In the interim, please pray for my return to good health.