NaijaPositive.com

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Pray for Nigeria

1] Change in character for both leaders and the populace at large.

2] Change in character for the leaders and aspirants who in their quest for absolute power have and will sacrifice the masses.

3] Change in disposition for the masses who are suffering and whose daily lives are usually at stake, depending on the temperament of the leaders and any aspirants who may at anytime want to seize power.

4] Mercy from God for our continuous sins including absolute greed and disconcern for our fellow human beings which have contributed to the disposition of Nigeria today.

5] Increase of those who can influence our children and youth positively, so they too won't fall into the greed, corruption, DISCONTENT, love of self, love of power, love of money and 'accumulation of wealth at all cost' mentality, etc., which have put Nigeria into the current mess it presently is in now.

6] Increase of prayer warriors who would pray for the betterment of the country at large and not just for prosperity for their individual pockets.

7] Holy Spirit filled Pastors/Shepherds who will lead and guide their sheep (including the leaders who attend their services) to humble themselves, learn to wait on the Lord and show genuine love for their fellow human beings, rather than amassing influence, wealth and popularity for themselves. (More so, stressing to the leaders it is more important to be recognized as positive ambassadors of the Nation, rather than as those who clamour to seat in the front rows, but contribute nothing of value to society at large.)

8] Humility of all Nigerians alike, whether at home or abroad.

9] Compassion of Nigerians and non-Nigerians abroad, and not just for their immediate families and friends; business partners and investments only; but for the welfare and stability of the country as a whole.

10] That God should open our eyes to see that unless we change as a populace all the wealth he has bestowed upon the country will be worthless if country becomes another disobedient Sodom & Gomorrah at the brink of self-destruction.

In our prayers we can ask for God's perfect will to be done, as we beg for his mercy and compassion because of our family and loved ones. When intercession was made in the bible, Abraham begged God's compassion beginning with a plea that if only 50 were found, right to the point of his pleading that if only 10 righteous people were found God should not destroy the Sodom but spare it, and God showed compassion.

Likewise Nehemiah stood in the gap as an intercessor for his people in Nehemiah 1 and because he confessed their sins before God and begged for His compassion vowing that 'the people would return to God's commandments and change their character', God showed compassion and restored them.

My concern is that if we all give up on Nigeria or only expect those back home to pray for their own safety and well-being, just because some of us are privileged to be abroad (which is not an assurance of paradise either), the armchair attitude will only add to the despondency of those who reside in Nigeria and have to endure the hardships and oppression daily.

It's easy not too feel the plight of those who are feeling the direct heat, and some people think sending money home to relatives is the solution, but their well-being deserves a lot more than that and the way things have been and are presently heading we all need to intervene whichever way we can, and if prayer intercession is what we can collectively contribute, I believe it will go a longer way than any amount of money we can send to our relatives. Their peace of mind will be our peace of mind, and only God can do the restoration necessary to effect such change.

Thanks once again.
Cxsm
21st Aug. '02

© Cxsm 2002

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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Pray for Nigeria - 2

I feel led to share someone's concerns, which some of you may also share.

On a more personal note. To give more direct responses to your listed issues of concern, I think our attitude about prayers is what matters.

Re: "Does Nigeria really need more prayers?"
I believe Yes, we do. Prayers are never too much, esp. in a situation where significant results have not yet materialized.

Re: "God must be getting tired of people who only pray but will never change their ways."
That is why I recommended that we pray for change of character in leaders and masses alike.

Re: "Is there any hope that the present politicians who are all bent on retaining power will bring any succour to the common Nigerians?"
God can give anyone a change of heart, and if we pray for this I believe though it may take time, it is a possibility. After all we pray for our loved ones to stop sinful habits, for healing, deliverance, etc, and God answers our prayers.

Re: "If the poor continue to pray for the unity of the country, there seems to be no end in sight for their liberation."
Yes, although there may seem to be no end in sight, but even the Israelites were eventually set free, and led to a land of milk and honey. God said He is a Father of the oppressed and sometimes to change our ways of sin, he permits captivity to draw us closer, and he shows His power when he turns our captivity around to make us into chief cornerstones and then our captors to ashes under the soles of our feet.

Re: "The leadership doesn't pray but they reap the benefits of all prayers."
Remember in ps. 37, God said do not fret when you see the wicked prosper, there end is usually in demise and ps. 73 is the prayer of hope for the oppressed against the oppressors described in ps. 37.

Re: "What about those who are feeling the heat back home? Can they sincerely pray for the continuation of their suffering?"
We can choose to pray for the recovery and restoration of our people and country, rather for continual suffering as you stated. I'm sure none of us wants our beloved ones to suffer, nor those we're unrelated too. If we selfishly prayed only for our loved ones and assuming only they benefited from the results of our prayers, then still others besieged will remain in their present disposition and crime etc. will rise due to inequalities, feelings of oppression, unworthiness and/or isolation.

Re: "If the truth must be told, things were not as bad under the military."
We should not believe satan's lie that the military is a better option. The experience of the past is that, PAST. Nigeria has travelled many roads since then, and we can only PLAN for our future journey.
I pray that we never return to oppression under the military regime, esp. after a recent revelation involving them yesterday morning. Bloodshed is something we should always pray we never have to encounter. It was bad before things got to this stage, but with the present mindset of the present generation, where life has become valueless and it cost nothing to assassinate our fellow beings, even without being a member of the military, such a collusion can only be extremely disastrous.

Re: "Military regime is not desirable but this present crop of politicians are evil; to be sincere with ourselves."
Yes, there are some very evil people walking the face of the earth, Nigeria included.
Unfortunately even some so-called Christians, leaders and populace alike do not fully rely on God, but believe in idols as their 'insurance' policy, some even replace God with their pastors, thus making them their idols.
God has said He is a jealous God, and our worship of money (which some even refer to as the almighty dollar), power, influential people, material possessions etc., and our running to herbalist etc, rather than to the Lord our maker is the reason why Nigeria is in the predicament it presently is.

Leaders who depends on powers different from God cannot be defeated with powers of darkness, because belzubel will not fight itself. The people using its power will only self destruct and devil can always find other willing candidates.
We can pray for our pastors and our leaders, that God should give the former the strength to pray for the leaders and convict effectively, while we can pray for the latter to receive a change of heart. Hardened hearts have been known to change even from biblical examples.

Finally, re: "If the military should take over tomorrow, anyway they have all the reasons in the world to do that and I can see them do that, there will be jubilations on the street of Lagos, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Akure and Ibadan."
I seriously pray that is not the case, because what we envision is usually not the case. What was revealed yesterday morning without having followed up on any Nigerian news in quite a while, was very distressing to put it very mildly and I pray we do not become lambs being led to the slaughter, because we've allowed ourselves to believe satan's lie 'that the military will be a better option, than what we currently have.'

I pray God is merciful, for having revealed the plans of satan, we already know the problem and the intended havoc, but we can pray to reverse what satan meant for evil against the whole nation, and have God turn it around to good to the glory of His holy name. Information is power, but only if we use it well.

We have a vision of what Nigeria can become if it continues along this path, we can pray for a change and a positive vision that can eventually be actualized. Ghana when they were in their hot seats never could have envisioned being where they are today. So there is hope even where others feel there's none.

Take care and remain blessed.
Cxsm
21st Aug. '02

© Cxsm

_________________
May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm