Bless the Nation 50 Days of Prayer: Day 25

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Video Clip Link

Click on the following link to watch the video clip of today’s devotional:

https://youtu.be/JheJiU6-agw

Text Version of Video Clip

Introduction:

Welcome to Day 25 of the ‘Bless the Nation 50 Days of Prayer.’ As we continue to focus on Education and Health, it is a privilege to have Dr Mpho Phalatse, a medical doctor who is MMC for Health and Social Development in Johannesburg, share some wonderful guidelines from Nehemiah to assist us in rebuilding our society according to Godly principles.

Devotional by Dr Mpho Phalatse:

Greetings South Africa! My name is Dr Mpho Phalatse, and I’m the MMC for Health and Social Development in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Today we are going to talk a little about what is happening in our country, South Africa. We know that in these days a lot of people are struggling with fear, anxiety and uncertainty as to what is happening and where we are going as a country. Many are worried about economic insecurity, political instability, but it’s important to understand at a time such as this how we are to react as the church, and we are going to share a little bit from the Book of Nehemiah some lessons of how we ought to respond to such things as the Church of Jesus Christ. Now we know that Nehemiah was a man who was exiled from his home town of Jerusalem and we see in the first chapter of Nehemiah that when he sees brethren from back home, he enquires of them as to what is happening back in Jerusalem.

It is important as the church of Jesus Christ to be concerned about what is happening in our world and to seek to enquire from those around us and those in positions of authority and those in government as to what is happening in our world. It’s important to know as a church how we are to respond in such times, and we are going to look at how Nehemiah responds. When Nehemiah hears about the broken walls of Jerusalem and the gates that have been burnt down, he goes before the Lord and he weeps and he prays. It is important to also note how Nehemiah prays. He starts by praying repentance before the Lord. He repents before God for his sins and the sins of his people. It is very tempting when we see problems or hear bad news, as the Church of Jesus Christ, to join in with the world and point fingers and sow negative words into situations, but we see here that Nehemiah puts himself in the position of Christ and that he stands between God and His people and that he calls on God to forgive His people of their sins that they have committed against the Lord. Now, it is also important that as we speak to God to remind him of his promises. We see that Nehemiah reminds God of the promises that he made to the people of Israel.

As a country, South Africa, God has promised us many wonderful things, and it is important that when we go through these perilous times that we remind Him of all that He has said concerning our country, South Africa. Nehemiah also steps into his covenant position. We see him in chapter 1 and verse 10, he reminds God of who the people of Israel are. It is important as the people of God, to step into a covenant position. This covenant, which is an eternal covenant, we are covenanted to God through the blood of Jesus and through this blood we can go before Him into the holy of holies and we can present our cases to him and through that we have access to all our inheritance in Him. Now we also see that Nehemiah begins to make his requests known to God. When we go before Him it is important to make our requests known to God, what is it that we would like to see in our country South Africa, but we also see Nehemiah availing himself in chapter 1 and v11 to be used of God to repair these broken walls. It is important when we go before God in prayer that we don’t limit God, but that we allow Him to stir us up to be used of Him and to be part of the solution. Another important thing is for us to continue to seek guidance from the Lord as we embark upon solutions.

We see that Nehemiah in chapter 2 goes before the king, he finds favour with the king and asks the king for several things that he needs in order to rebuild the walls. We see that when the king asks him what he needs, he continues to pray. The Bible says that before he answers he prays again. It is important that whatever we do we do not begin with the Lord and then lose Him along the way, but that we continue to seek his guidance every step of the way. It is also important to be resolute in assuming our role and this we see in chapter 2 and v6, where Nehemiah is able to give the king a time, so it’s not just a dream he has to go back to his home town and help rebuild the walls, but he has actually got a plan, a tangible plan, and he’s got it down to detail and he is able to tell the king this is exactly what I need. And lastly, it is important to be steadfast in the face of opposition. In chapter 4, the Bible tells us about Sanballat and Tobiah who come to hinder progress in the rebuilding of the wall, but we see that Nehemiah decided to pray to God and to remain watchful day and night, and later in chapter 4 the Bible tells us they built with one hand and had their weapons in the other hand.

Now we are going to pray before God and bring South Africa before the Lord. We are going to call on all the Nehemiah’s in our land, the land of South Africa, to arise and take up their positions and to lead the people of God in rebuilding the walls of South Africa and in repairing the gates of South Africa. And we pray that South Africa as a country will arise and take up her position and move into her prophetic destiny according to the promises of God. May God bless South Africa.

Daily Prayer Guide:

Father God, today we pray especially for school bullying and peer pressure. We pray for the victims of bullying. May they discover the value that You place on each person’s life. Please heal them from the trauma that they have experienced because of verbal, physical and psychological abuse. We pray for proper supervision of children at school, and for the protection of the vulnerable ones. We pray for bullies, that they will be convicted of their wrongdoing and that their abusive behaviour will be exposed. We pray for their home circumstances, relationship with their parents and that their own pain and rejection will be healed. We ask for school systems where children will once again learn the moral values of love, kindness, respect and honour. We bless the education of our young generation in Jesus’ mighty name!

PRAYER-WALK or DRIVE: As you commute to work today, pray for every child and young person that you see or meet along the way. Bless them by praying Numbers 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”

Thank you for joining us today in prayer. Grace and peace to you! Have a wonderful and blessed day. Or as we would say it in sePedi, “Releboga theeletšo ya lena, gape re re eka moya wa mogau, lerato le khutšo dibe le lena ka nako tšohle…”

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