Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Gracious God, as a new Thursday dawns, we pray once more for all those working within the NHS and healthcare system. Today we pray especially for the staff in our Intensive Care Units who deal with the effects of Covid 19 on a daily basis. As news reports reach us of their exhaustion and anxiety, after so many months of working under such tremendous pressure, we lift them before You. As communities we give grateful thanks for their continued dedication and expertise. We give thanks for the compassion and the love they give to all those in their care. We pray that they may know the assurance of Your love and Your presence with them throughout this day. Living God, we ask that you give them strength, give them courage and most of all, give them a sense of peace at the end of a difficult shift knowing that they have truly witnessed to the power of Your love in our world. So too, we pray for their families, concerned for the wellbeing of their loved ones and often separated from them for many hours, due to the demands of long working shifts. May the power of Your Holy Spirit be experienced today. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.