O Lord God of hosts,
Who is mighty like You, O Lord?
Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
You rule the raging of the sea;
When its waves rise, You still them.
(Psalm 89:8-9 NKJV)
If you’ve heard the news in the last few days, you’ve learned of a very strong hurricane named Melissa who is rolling around in the Caribbean Sea. Although she’s not expected to make landfall in the United States, she is certainly packing a punch for the tiny island nation of Jamaica. As I write this, here are some of the headlines:
“With wind speeds of 185 mph, hurricane is still category five“
“Storm ‘extremely dangerous and life-threatening’ – National Hurricane Center“
“Jamaicans hunker down as Hurricane Melissa makes landfall“
“Melissa makes landfall with catastrophic winds“*
“We’re expecting destructive winds in the eyewall of Melissa as it makes landfall and moves across the island,” [Michael Brennan, director of the National Weather Service’s (NWS) National Hurricane Center] reported. “We could have complete destruction of shelters, homes, and buildings in the path of that eyewall, not just along the coast but in areas of high terrain across the central part of the island as the center of Melissa moves across the island during the day on Tuesday.”**
Of course, a storm of this size and power doesn’t just fizzle out after it hits one relatively small land mass.
Hurricane Melissa is expected to make landfall in Cuba Tuesday night as it moves through the area. Heavy rainfall is expected to reach 10-20 inches in Cuba. The country could also experience catastrophic flooding and landslides, according to the NWS.**
So, today, let us pray for all those in the path of this storm.
Omnipotent God,
You made the earth by your great power, founded the world by your wisdom, and stretched out the heavens by your understanding. When you thunder, the waters in the heavens roar; you make clouds rise from the ends of the earth. You send lightning with the rain and bring out the wind from your storehouses. We recognize your mighty power in the world around us and are grateful for the perfection of your creation.
Today we intercede for those in Jamaica, Cuba, and every island facing the onslaught of Hurricane Melissa. Lord, we ask that you would still the storm to a whisper and hush the waves of the sea. Give the residents of these regions wisdom to be prudent, to see the danger of this storm, and to take refuge in safe places.
We pray for all who dwell in these areas — that they will trust in you as their refuge and strength, their ever-present help in trouble. Calm their fears and turn their hearts toward you for protection. We ask that you would lessen the force of the winds and rain, and reduce the impact of the eye-wall and storm surges.
Lord, protect the utilities, infrastructure, businesses, and homes in these regions. We pray for a quick and complete restoration of all resources in the days following the storm. Strengthen and guide first responders and emergency workers; grant them endurance, wisdom, and safety as they serve others.
Finally, we ask that your Spirit’s deep shalom peace rest upon every person as they wait out the storm — and afterward, as your peace and renewal are poured out again.
Bless them, keep them, guard them, and let them know the sweetness of your presence as they wait for the end of this hurricane.
We ask all this in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
You have been a refuge for the poor,
a refuge for the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. (Isaiah 25:4 NIV)
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. (Psalm 46:1-2 NIV)
But God made the earth by his power;
he founded the world by his wisdom
and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar;
he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.
He sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from his storehouses. (Jeremiah 10:12-13 NIV)
He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. (Psalm 107:29 NIV)
The prudent see danger and take refuge. (Proverbs 27:12 NIV)
*headlines from https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cvgvexdjp1xt
**https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/category-5-hurricane-melissa-closes-in-on-jamaica-5935726