“Just last Sunday (in Ghana), the President addressed the nation and informed us about various interventions being implemented to prevent to spread of this epidemic. One spiritual intervention introduced was a nationwide prayer and fasting coming off this Wednesday, 25th March, 2020.
It is wonderful to see that Christians are really eager and ready to pray and intercede for the land. It is however important to undertake this prayer exercise in the right way, in order to get the desired results.
2 Chronicles 7:14 gives us a blueprint to follow, as we prepare to intercede for our land:
“If my people, who are called by my name, will HUMBLE THEMSELVES and PRAY and SEEK MY FACE and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, then I will hear from heaven, and I will FORGIVE their sin and will HEAL their land.”
It is good that we are praying and seeking His face, but what is the content of our prayers? Are we praying in repentance and turning from our wicked ways? That is what God expects us to do!
Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.”
How then should you pray?
1. GENUINE REPENTANCE (Turning away from our wicked ways)
In interceding for their nation, Daniel, Nehemiah and Ezra all began on the foundation of repentance. We also need to do the same.
Have we sinned against God as a nation by allowing immorality, corruption, greed, lack of reverence for God, violence and others to subtly take root in our country?
Have we sinned as a church by chasing after breakthroughs, prosperity messages📢🗯💰 and motivational declarations from the pulpit while still living in deep sin❌ and immorality?
Have we sinned as parents👨👩👧👦 by ignoring our role of raising our children in the fear of the Lord, and handing them over to be raised by TV📺, social media📱 and friends?
Have we sinned in our workplaces🏬 by condoning corruption💰❌ and dishonesty, and even partaking in it sometimes? We need to repent and ask God for mercy🙏🏾!
2. GOD’S GLORY
When God threatened to destroy💥🔥 Israel in Numbers 14, Moses asked God what the heathen nations will think and say about Him. This is an opportunity for us to pray that God’s glory be seen by the whole world.
The European nations and journalists keep saying that Africa cannot survive the Corona virus attack. But if we go on our knees and call on God, He will show the heathen nations that He is God, and can deliver us!
How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
3. RECALLING GOD’S ATTRIBUTES
Make reference to God’s attributes of faithfulness, mercy and steadfast love. Plead for God’s mercy and grace. He is sovereign and omnipotent, and He can save us! Let us plead for His mercy, that He will heal our land of this pandemic, and the spreading of this virus would cease!
4. CONSECRATION
We need to consecrate ourselves to Him, asking Him for grace to stay devoted to Him and not turn back to our sinful ways after He delivers us (like the Israelites used to do).
Let us intercede on behalf of our nation and the world at large🙏🏾🔥 This is not the work of only pastors and prayer warriors. All Christians are needed on board! To those Christians who do not even care to pray for the nation, remember Amos 6: 1a – “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion‼”
God is a faithful God, and His Word is true. If we repent and call out to Him, He will surely deliver us. Let’s keep the prayer altar burning🙏🏾🔥.
God bless our homeland Ghana🇬🇭. Together we shall prevail!🙏🏾✊🏾
Stay blessed. It is well.”
~ Papa Victor Eghan (Gateway Bible School)
#AWGDevotional