Sunday, April 15, 2012

A Prayer for South Africa

Hi All,


Today we have a new Format. 

Introduction


All this morning’s Scriptures refer directly or indirectly to prayer. Each one speaks of what was happening in the respective places in their day. Perhaps all of today’s Scriptures could be summarised in David’s words: 2 (O) You (who) answer our prayers. All of us must come to You. 3 Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, You forgive them all. Psalm 65:2-3 NLT
Prayer is often initiated by a particular situation; need; thanks-giving; intercession; praise etc. This is probably because ordinary everyday things are seldom mentioned. If the Bible included everything 24/7 imagine how many pages it would contain. It follows that it refers only to the incidents God considers as important for His people. It is right and proper for you or I to pray for granny’s sore toe. But it’s highly unlikely that God would include that in His Word!
On the other hand, in special cases, such as the prayer of Jabez and Asa’s war with the Ethiopians, the prayer and the outcome are both mentioned.
We have a similar situation in South Africa. It’s unlikely that we will ever know how many people of all nationalities and ethnic groups were praying for a peaceful election and transfer of power in 1994. Many people were very frightened of what might happen. Some went as far as to be out of the country over that period. Those of us who were in South Africa at the time witnessed an answer to prayer in a profound way. There was hardly any inter-racial conflict at all. For His grace to allow this to happen, still remains one of the greatest miracles in South Africa in the 20th Century.
Phyllida and I were living in Worcester in the Western Cape at that time. Our perception was that all would be well, so we were not overly concerned. What we witnessed was extraordinary. People came together peacefully and joyfully. The atmosphere was not quite like a carnival. But it was very close to it. People who had been separated for years came together rejoicing! I’ll never forget those three days.
Back then I composed a poem entitled, “A Prayer for South Africa”. It was my way of asking the Lord for a peaceful transition. The problems were stated and likened to the conditions in and around Jerusalem ±2000 years previously
There is nothing special in the poem that prompted the hand of God to bless our land. It must have been one prayer among millions! It was possibly a tiny contribution to the prayers of supplication of God’s people to Him. Small or large is not the issue; sufficient to say God responded to the need of our nation.
As we approach Freedom Day 2012 (27th April) please join with me in giving thanks to God for His South African miracle. Allow this prayer to assist you as you meditate on His goodness and generosity to our land and people.

Daily Light Evening Scriptures


14 The LORD says, "I will rescue those who love Me. I will protect those who trust in My name. 15 When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honour them.
Psalm 91:14-15 NLT

10 He (Jabez) was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, "Oh, that You would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!" And God granted him his request.
1 Chron 4:10 NLT

7 That night God appeared to Solomon. He said to him, "Ask for anything you want me to give you." 8 Solomon answered God, "You were very kind to my father David. Now you have made me king in his place. 9 LORD God, let the promise you gave to my father David come true. You have made me king. My people are like the dust of the earth. They can't be counted. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge. Then I'll be able to lead these people. Without your help, who would be able to rule this great nation of yours?"
2 Chron 1:7-10 NIrV

29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.
1 Kings 4:29 TNIV

11 Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God, "O LORD, no one but You can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in You alone. It is in Your name that we have come against this vast horde. O LORD, You are our God; do not let mere men prevail against You!" 12 So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians in the presence of Asa and the army of Judah, and the enemy fled.
2 Chron 14:11-12 NLT

2 (O) You (who) answer our prayers. All of us must come to You. 3 Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, You forgive them all.
Psalm 65:2-3 NLT





Father, I greet You this morning
And ask You, "What must we do next?"
We've taken to heart Your loud warning
That You are decidedly vexed

With all that You've seen in the nation;
You've watched while the people are robbed
Of all justice. You've seen how inflation
Is stealing from us. Lord, You sobbed

The day that You came to the outskirts
Of Jerusalem town, for You saw
A system of national perverts
Who'd twisted and flouted Your law!

The Romans were really the masters,
Controlling the country by force.
But, the source of Your grief was the pastors,
Who'd led all the people off course.

You saw all the people in prison
Resembling a great flock of sheep,
Aimlessly lacking a vision.
'Twas enough to make even God weep.

Today, there is little distinction
Between all the things that You saw.
Our leaders all lack the conviction
That THEY are what's wrong with our law.

The pastors are all busy fighting
Each other with doctrine and word,
While agitators are inciting
To violence, humanity's herd.

The answer’s not found in uprising,
Nor telling the people, "Revolt!".
Like then, it was really surprising,
You rode into town on a colt!

God’s Son, on the back of a donkey
Was the answer to all of their ills.
Political power was the wrong key
To bring peace once more to those hills.

But, none of the people would heed Him
And shouted aloud, "Crucify!”
“After all, who is God? We don't need him!"
Are the words that our modernists cry.

But, all our elaborate solutions,
We've tried for two thousand years,
Our human inspired revolutions,
Make things far worse it appears.

Mankind is intrinsically twisted;
His mind is distorted by sin.
The forces of God are resisted
For 'love' of the mess we are in.

Only the Lord God can alter
The wickedness in a man's heart.
Only through You will he falter
From doing what he did at the start.

So Lord, won’t You come to our nation
And change every heart. Even mine!
Alter our basic equation
And remedy our design.

Help us start loving our brother,
Regardless of colour or creed.
Show us there isn't another
Way by which we can succeed.

Give us a heart that is caring.
Make giving, our permanent aim.
That, in You, this land we're all sharing
Will be Christian in more than just name.

Jim Strickland 

Written  Before 1994 SA Election





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