Pray for peace of nation
Pastor Derek Prince teaches from the Bible that churches can shape the history of a nation through earnest and fervent prayer and fasting. In the Bible the people of faith are pictured as essential intercessors for their nation.
Advertisement
They stand in the gap between a God of love and justice and the people who are prone to rebellion and evil practices.
God says, “When I shut up the heavens and there is no rains, or command the locusts to consume the land, or send a pestilence in the land, and then my people whom I have named my own, submit and pray to me, and seek me and turn back from their evil ways, I shall hear from heaven and forgive their sins and restore their land” 2 Chronicles 7:13 &14 REB.
In 1 Timothy 2: 1&2, the Bible gives clear instructions on prayer in the church: “I urge you first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them. Pray this way for Kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity” NLT.
It adds, such prayer is right and approved by God our saviour” Clearly, it pleases God for Christian people to be intercessors and agents of peace in their communities and nation.
The churches are key stakeholders in peaceful 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. People belonging to the Christian faith constitute 72 per cent of the population of Ghana.
The churches are the most socially structured institutions across the country. They have huge potential to contribute to the nation’s peace and growth in development.
Christian people should pray earnestly and work hard for the good of the nation:
• Pray that Christian people will intercede aright: “It is God’s desire that in all congregations and assemblies, people lift up holy hands to pray” with pure intentions without anger or arguments” 1 Timothy 2:8 REB
• Pray for church synods, conferences and conventions taking place in the month of August across the country.
• That the Lord Jesus Christ will speak to His people clearly, they will hear and submit to Him
• That genuine transformation in people will take place.
• That there will be true repentance of sin and evil and turning back to God and His word.
• That the expression of true godliness, diligent work and love for harmony in our country will begin to blossom better from the House of God, the church congregations
• Pray for heads of churches and the Christian councils that they will mobilise their members for earnest intercessory prayers for Ghana and to urge them to pursue “ every good work” for “God and Ghana”
Pray for healthy and strong church governance:
• Ask God to give wisdom to heads of churches and church councils to lead their people well, without greed for money or lust of power but in humble sacrifice.
• The Presbyterian Church of Ghana elects a new Moderator this month. Ask God to choose for them a man who will fulfill God’s purpose during his tenure.
Pray for similar key church leadership elections in the various churches and church councils this year.
Pray for pastors:
• That they will live above reproach; and be examples of godly living and integrity,
• That they will rightly teach God’s word in their sermons and seminars
• That they will seek to develop church members into productive members of the community and agents of peace
• That their speeches and comments will be “seasoned with salt” and without controversy and provocation on local or national issues
• That inwardly, God will make them sound agents of His peace.
Pray for church members:
• To show true godliness and be examples to all people, in speech, in their conduct in genuine love, in faith and in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12) to be salt and light everywhere and every time
• To eschew laziness and give themselves to hard work.
• To seek the good of Ghana as patriotic citizens who love to do ‘the good” thing and to expose the evil to security agencies and other reliable authorities
• To be God’s instruments of peace in our beloved country.
The churches should mobilise prayer calls across the country to pray for the peace before, during and after the 2016 Parliamentary and Presidential elections.
A genuine Christian’s prayer “is very powerful and effective; James 5:16.
Let’s experience that in our dear country.
The author is a Leadership Development and Cross-cultural Ministries Consultant, an International, conference speaker and formerly General Director / CEO of Scripture Union Ghana. Email: [email protected] / [email protected])
