Bless the Nation 50 Days of Prayer: Day 35

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Video Clip Link

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

https://youtu.be/wiN1CmNWrFM

Text Version of Video Clip

Introduction:

Welcome to Day 35 of the ‘Bless the Nation 50 Days of Prayer.’ As we head into what is sure to be a sport-filled weekend for most South Africans, we will all be greatly inspired by Gary Kirsten’s testimony of how God answered his prayer at a very low time in his cricketing career. This turnaround rejuvenated his career into not only ranking amongst the best opening batsmen South Africa has produced, but also going on to become one of the world’s most successful coaches.

Devotional by Gary Kirsten

I am Gary Kirsten and prayer has always been incredibly important to me. It is my communication with my Saviour. I like to make sure that it is as regular as possible. I find that relationship is a 2-way process and for me it is important to have that time to be able to connect with God on a one-on-one basis. Yes, we have a lot of challenges out in the world at the moment, but I would like to share with you a personal story of prayer and why it is so important in my life.

So, I have had a particularly interesting experience in my career where things were not going so well. In fact, my form was pretty bad as a cricket player. There was a lot of talk around me not belonging in the team anymore, in the South African team, and it was time for me to move on and let some one else come and play in my position. It was kind of becoming pretty much to the end. In fact, I was down to my last innings, I thought, and I got picked to play in the test side. I went into the match with very low confidence. In fact – to be honest with you, I was hoping that I was not going to get picked to play in the side. Anyway, my name came up and I went out into this test match. I batted in the first innings.

I remember saying to my wife that evening, that I think tomorrow will be my last day of test cricket. We had some time in prayer and we just asked for guidance through the next day, through what God would have for that day and almost to submit to God’s ways for that particular day. That I was going on to play probably, what I thought, was going to be my last day. Anyway, I went out to bat, we were following on and we were in desperate trouble as a team. I’ll never forget facing those first few deliveries. I had not hit a ball in the middle of the bat for a long time and I remember playing a shot of on of their bowlers, who had a particularly good tour. And I hit it for four. I looked at my bat and there was a big, red mark in the middle and I thought well that’s the fist I have done that for a long time. I kind of carried on these innings and batted and batted and batted and I got lucky and I missed a couple of balls and I edged a few over the slips. This innings just continued and as it continued I began to build a bit more confidence in my own abilities. I remember saying to myself: Well if it is God’s will for me to bat for the whole day, then I am going to do it. But I did not only last for a day, I batted for 2 days and scored a big, double 100 and saved my career and we saved the test match. I ended up playing for another four years. That was only by God’s grace that I was able to do that.

I would encourage all South Africans and especially sportsman, who are my contemporaries in many ways to really pray into this nation and all aspects of this nation. To pray for integration of our communities, as best as we can. To pray for our leaders, who show tremendous courage, a lot of them in terms of confronting issues and trying to make right a lot of the injustices and imbalances of the past and that there is a real drive towards making this country one of the most prosperous countries in the world for all its people.

Daily Prayer Guide:

In the name of Jesus Christ, we bless the health clubs, sport clubs and other sport activities in our nation. We pray that the people of South Africa would be healthy and actively involved in exercising their bodies, as well as exercise their minds and spirits through activities that will bring honour to our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray for a solution to the growing challenge of obesity, diabetes and other sicknesses because of wrong eating habits and lack of physical exercise.

Continue to pronounce the 3 blessings of Num.6:24-26, Mat.5:2-12 and Eph.1:3-4 over South Africa.

PRAYER-WALK/DRIVE: Local health and sport clubs. Take a WALK or CYCLE through your neighbourhood while blessing the people and homes around you. And may God bless you with long life. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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