Bless the Nation 50 Days of Prayer: Day 26

Video Clip Link

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

https://youtu.be/y68Dnvv6yVI

Text Version of Video Clip

Introduction:

Welcome to Day 26 of the ‘Bless the Nation 50 Days of Prayer.’ Most of us are aware of the watershed court case on religion in schools in South Africa that will be heard by the Johannesburg High Court from 15-17 May next week. It is therefore very appropriate that as we are focussing on Education this week we are able to specifically pray into this area and for the legal team and FORSA (Freedom of Religion South Africa) who will play a huge part in these proceedings. In the light of this, we are especially privileged to have Andrew Selley share a challenging devotional with us regarding our response to dramatic events and tensions currently erupting in our nation. Besides being the Founder and CEO of FORSA, Andrew leads the Joshua Generation group of churches and is part of the leadership of the Four12 apostolic movement of churches.

Devotional by Andrew Selley:

We are living in very difficult times, perilous times as a country and it seems that every time you open up the newspaper or you hear of what is happening, there’s just more and more crazy things going on – crime going through the roof, violence, aggression, xenophobia, racism, corruption in areas of government – and there’s a huge frustration and an overwhelming rising up of anger in the nation. In the middle of this, it’s so important as Christians that we keep our hearts in the right place. It’s so easy to get caught up in things that are not actually that important and forget that we are part of a Kingdom that is very different, and we’re called to ultimately usher in the Kingdom of our God into this world. Paul writes to the Ephesians and he says in Ephesians 4:31: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you”, and as Christians, I want to remind us that we must not allow our hearts to get caught up with all the anxieties, the fears, the angers and the frustrations that so many in our nation have right now. We need to keep our hearts right before the Lord and remember to keep the main thing the main thing, which is preaching the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But we are given something to do, in fact we are urged to actually respond to crisis in a place like this. Paul writes to Timothy and in 1 Timothy 2:2, he gives us a very well-known verse when it comes to things like praying for the nation. He says, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour ….”. Here Paul actually encourages us, he urges us, that it is a good thing to pray for our nation, for our kings and those in authority, so that we can live quiet and peaceful lives in godliness and in dignity. And so there is this command that comes through from the Bible that, as Christians, we would be praying for our country, we’d be crying out to God on behalf of our nation – that God would intervene and move, and actually bring peace and stability in a nation that right now desperately needs it. It is easier for us as Christians to share the Gospel at times of peace than times of turmoil, and it is pleasing and good in the sight of God our Saviour when there is peace in the land.

So, I want to encourage you as a fellow believer, that we would petition God (as Paul encourages us) and cry out to God on behalf of our nation – for peace, for those in authority, that we would be able to live quiet lives without hostility against the Church, live out our faith and godliness, and that there’d be a dignity given and afforded to all men who are created in the image of God. Pray with us, because prayer moves the heart of God and prayer moves God, who can raise up kings and nations and bring them down. As we gather together and pray in this time, let’s trust for our God to do immeasurably more than what we can dream of or imagine, as we cry out to God on behalf of our beautiful nation South Africa. Join with us, amen.

Daily Prayer Guide:

We bless South Africa’s health industry with compassion for the sick and needy; with healthy medical practices and responsible use of pharmaceutical products. We bless medical personnel with insight into physical, emotional and spiritual causes of disease and sickness, and to bring healing for the suffering. We pray for the restoration of the gift of healing to the Body of Christ, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We bless South Africa with physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual health.

Pray Jesus’ blessing over our nation today: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for yours is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for you shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for you shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for you shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for you shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for you shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for you shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for yours is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Mat.5:2-12.

PRAYER-WALK or DRIVE: Hospitals, clinics, veterinary clinics, pharmacies, rehabilitation clinics, psychiatric institutions, etc.

PRAY FOR: doctors, nurses, hospital workers, dentists, care-givers, frail care personnel, pharmacists, paramedics, relief workers, etc.

Receive Daily Devotional Directly: