In this difficult moment when we are seeing some government leaders take drastic steps in the name of slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves tapped his most powerful weapon: prayer.
Yesterday morning, Gov. Reeves led Christians in the Magnolia State in a brief, prayer-filled Bible study.
“I believe in the power of prayer, so I’m inviting you to pray with me on this Sunday morning,” Reeves captioned the video. “‘For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.’”
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed,” the governor said, reading from 2 Corinthians 4:8-9.
Reeves read a total of three passages from the Bible and led over 179,000 viewers in prayer for the state.
“As the psalmist said, today is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it,” Reeves prayed, asking God to protect Mississippians and to give President Trump and Vice President Pence wisdom to lead amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Thank you for looking over us,” the governor continued. “Thank you for giving our leaders wisdom. Dear Heavenly Father, please be with President Trump, Vice President Pence, the leadership team in Washington as they deal with this once-in-a-lifetime pandemic across the globe.”
I believe in the power of prayer, so I’m inviting you to pray with me on this Sunday morning. “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Posted by Tate Reeves on Sunday, 22 March 2020
Reeves also challenged his constituents to take care of the elderly among them and be careful about congregating in public places. He recommended what he called “shared sacrifice,” including running errands for senior citizens or delivering groceries.
“We know these times are tough, but we know working together we can get through them,” he declared.
“You’ll notice it doesn’t speak to Baptists or Methodists or Pentecostals or Catholics or any other denomination,” Reeves said, closing with a reading of John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
“Worship online,” Reeves concluded. “Worship while listening to TV services around the state. But please continue to pray for your leaders and for your fellow Mississippians.”
Amen! Regardless of your stance on this pandemic and the measures being taken to fight it, there is only one way we will get through it: carried through in prayer!
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Picture: Vice President Mike Pence disembarks Air Force Two at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport in Gulfport, Miss. Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, and is greeted by Mississippi government officials and guests. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour). Public domain.