This year, South Africa celebrated her 21st birthday as a democratic country. Like many 21-year-olds, she has much to celebrate. Also, like many 21-year-olds, she is still getting to know herself and dealing with what appears to be, her rather significant number of inner struggles. This year has been a trying time for our country. Many have grown disillusioned, and have forgotten about the good things – even the huge victories that have been won. Our leaders have, at times, appeared to be unguided, and our people, at times, unguarded.
It has been both encouraging and saddening to see the way in which people have responded to our country’s struggle to “figure herself out”. Encouraging, as this has caused some to show a strong resolve to be proactive citizens, and to stand for what was fought for, and won, during our country’s dark days. Saddening, as people have become more disillusioned, fearful of what they perceive to be a very uncertain future.
It is from this vantage point that I’ve wondered why I don’t take praying for my country more seriously. I take praying for other things very seriously, so why am I not more diligent in crying out to God for this hugely important matter? It has, in some ways, reached a point of desperation. Committing our country to God in prayer should have been my default reaction. I want to pray from a position of trusting His power and His authority over our country rather than praying desperate parachute prayers because every other option seems to failing. Starting today, I’m going to be more diligent, and invite you to do the same if praying is something that you do.
Getting started - some things to encourage, inspire and guide:
- More about the remarkable man, Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, who wrote the prayer for Africa that I previously mentioned. I also like the fact that he served as the Archbishop of the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean – pretty cool title to have!
- What the bible (and Franklin Graham) say about praying for leaders
- For more prayer points focused specifically on South Africa (although the events mentioned on the page have passed, these are always helpful things to pray for).
- On being peacemakers
- Eugene Cho on praying for his president