A prayer for the Elections in South Africa

 

As we embark upon another National Election, this is what is on my heart at the moment. These are just a few words that express my prayers for South Africa.

Lord, we pray for our elections in South Africa, and for all involved in monitoring that they are undertaken in a free and fair manner.

We pray that peace would prevail in our beloved land, despite the short-sighted people that seek to be disruptive and divisive.

We pray for all who will vote, believing that our individual vote can make a difference.  

We step forward in hope, trusting that our voices will be heard and that political parties will start to make good on their promises.

Our deepest longing is for trustworthy leadership in South Africa. For men and women who would not bribe us for our votes and then take advantage of their positions for the next 4 years.

We pray for servant leaders, who are willing to roll up their sleeves and help us provide solutions to the myriad of problems we face. (At the moment, it seems that most leaders rather want to roll down their sleeves to protect their Rolex’s and expensive jewellery.)

We pray for a miraculous outpouring of love, grace and unity in our communities. Where people with divergent opinions and political viewpoints, can use our collective humanity to change our world.

We pray for a reawakening in the spiritual lives of all South Africans, so that we would see how Your hand can guide us and lead us into the future.

We pray that Faith, Hope and Love, would permeate the breadth of our land and that we would experience Your peace.

Lord, in your mercy,

Please hear our prayers. Amen.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Make me Lord

Alan Paton loved this prayer from Mother Theresa, which he subsequently adjusted for our South African context. I hope you enjoy it and are able to use it for your own prayers.

Make me, O Lord, the instrument of your love, that I may bring comfort to those who sorrow and joy to those who are regarded as persons of little account. In this country of many races make me courteous to those who are humble and understanding to those who are resentful. Teach me what I should be to the arrogant, the cruel, for I do not know.

And as for me myself, make me more joyful than I am, especially if this is needed for the sake of others. Let me remember my many experiences of joy and thankfulness. And may I this coming day do some work of peace for thee. Amen.
— Alan Paton

Living in Grace
D3LM3

It starts with ME!

It has to start with me!
I am speaking about making a difference in our nation and speaking out against abuse, violence and the rape of women and children. What we are seeing in our country is devastating and leaves everyone feeling outraged. But, like many people we are asking:

"What can I do?"
"What difference can I make?"
"I want to add my voice, but I am only one person?"

If you are feeling like this, then let me encourage you to add your voice. Don't be concerned that your voice may not be heard - it will be!
A waterfall is made up of millions of drops of water.
A beach is made up of billions of grains of sand.
Each tree boasts thousands of leaves covering it's branches.

We all can make a difference in this world no matter how small it may seem to be.

HOWEVER, it must start with me.

I should lobby government to act, but not at the exclusion of looking at my life.
I must wear 'Thursdays in Black' buttons and pray against this evil, but not just for one day a week.
I definitely must stand up for people who are down-trodden and abused, but not just when it suits me.

And so, it started this week with me! I checked my own attitudes and heart.
And then we sat down with our 3 sons and spoke to them about this situation.
We told them how important it is to treat women with dignity and respect.
We encouraged them to stand for those with no voice.
We urged them not to use derogatory or lewd language in speaking with any woman.
We will tell them again and again, that a women's body is to be respected.
We will continue to tell them what Jesus expects from us.
Our 3 young men must learn how to change the nation and to live differently. 

It started with us.
Any change and revival starts close to home. It has started in our household. The hope is that if everyone does this, then change will be seen in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

In his song, Send Revival, Start With Me, Matt Redman bases his lyrics on 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Isaiah 6:5-8. The words speak for themselves.

We're looking to your promise of old
That if we pray and humble ourselves
You will come and heal our land
You will come, You will come

We're looking to the promise You made
That if we turn and look to Your face
You will come and heal our land
You will come, You will come
To us

Send revival, start with me
For I am one of unclean lips
And my eyes have seen the King
Your glory I have glimpsed
Send revival, start with me

Living in Grace
D3LM3

P.S. - Pray for our nation like you have never prayed before.

Prayer for Peace

"Oh Lord, sometimes my insides feel like a battle zone, where missiles are falling too close to home. Other times I'm caught in an endless storm, with thoughts flying out of control. Confusion reigns, and defeat creeps in to steal my joy. 

I need your peace—the deep-down-in-your-heart kind that stays with me day and night and speaks confidently into the wind. Calm my anxious spirit, Lord; all the attacking "if-onlys" and "what-ifs" fill me with needless worry.

I know that trust is a big part of experiencing peace and that fear has no place in my life. Most of the things I worry about or dread don't even happen. So I'm declaring my trust in you. I'm releasing the reins of my life again and asking you to take control. 

I may need to pray this same prayer daily, but I'm tired of the frenzy of life that leaves my schedule and my thoughts without any margin. I need more of you, Lord, and less of me."

This is part of a prayer written by Rebecca Barlow Jordan. We thank God for these wonderful words of encouragement and honesty. For the full prayer click here.

 John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace i give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Thank you Madiba

There remains something remarkable and deeply influential about the name of Nelson Mandela. Perhaps we don't all realise yet, because he only passed away recently, but the impact of Madiba is uniquely profound.

It is interesting that the stories of most of the"great" names of history have filtered down into our school books, oral traditions, community events (and even sermons), but none of us ever got to meet these people in person. However, Madiba has lived in OUR time, and even if we have never met him in person, we can't deny his Legacy. 

As you know by now, I am huge fan of quotes and so to remember Madiba's 100th birthday I want to share a few of his lesser known words:

"I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances."

"Man's goodness is a flame that can be hidden, but never extinguished."

"I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps trying."

"There can be no greater gift than giving ones time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return."

May God bless you as you seek to follow JESUS and leave your own Legacy for Jesus sake.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Reconciliation - Advent Word

The 16th December is known as the "Day of Reconciliation" in South Africa. This day has a long history in our nation, but this new name seems appropiate, especially in a world where there is so much brokeness and hurt.

This Advent season we remember that Jesus Christ came to reconcile us to our Heavenly Father and to each other. May we find the resolve to forgive those who have wounded us and the humility to turn to Jesus.

Romans 5:11 - "... but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Remember being Young?

As we celebrate Youth Day (16 June) in South Africa it is nostalgic thinking back to your childhood. I have many fond memories of growing up in South Africa, but I recognise that not everyone has good memories of their youth. What are some of your childhood memories?

Please share a memory today - what do you remember about your Youth?

I remember the freedom of being able to play until dusk, in the forest near our home. We would fish in the dam, build forts, shoot katties (slingshots) and come home for supper - safe and sound!
Going to the "Drive-In" for the first time.
Riding my BMX everywhere!
Walking down Church street on a Friday evening with the Youth group.
Hiring a Video Machine and a video for the evening.
And many, many more.


Proverbs 20:29 - "The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old."

"Forty is the old age of youth; fifty the youth of old age." -Victor Hugo

Of course we need to pause today and remember all the children who have had their lives cut short by war, violence, abuse and neglect. Even though our world claims to be the most progressive and civilised generation EVER, we still have to deal with child-trafficking, child soldiers, child prostitution, child headed households and the abuse of our children.

What happened in Soweto on the 16th June 1976, should have been a lesson to us as a generation, but sadly we continue to repeat our mistakes over and over again. Every child has the right to be protected, respected and educated. As adults we need to do all we can to honour our young.


Living in Grace
D3LM3

Why I still pray for Jacob Zuma

In our Sunday services we often pray for our State President and for leaders around the world. Sometimes it is really hard to do this when I see some of their political decisions and their lack of responsibility and governance. I wish that they would take ownership of their mistakes, but that doesn't seem to be the way politicians work. However, I still believe in the power of prayer and I recognise that every leader is just a human being.

President Zuma needs our prayers, regardless of whether I think he is a good leader or not. One of the reasons why I believe the Church should hold Jacob Zuma accountable is precisely because we pray for him. He has asked a number of times for the Church to pray for him, which many denominations have willingly done. But I strongly believe that with pray comes accountability. If I am praying for you and you are still living a life that is off the rails, then I need to hold you accountable. I would expect the same of you, if I had asked you to pray for me.

I am reminded of the story in John 8 this morning, where the woman was caught in adultery. It was only Jesus who showed her grace, yet he never condone her actions. He told her to "go and leave her life of sin."

I believe Christians in South Africa need to try and find a careful balance between offering grace (perhaps through prayer) to our leaders, BUT ALSO holding them all accountable for their actions. I fully support the Catholic Churches response to the Nkandla issue and I would expect my own denomination to come out with some strong statement soon. Injustice is NEVER RIGHT in the eyes of God. The political spin doctors can try and create wonderful reasons as to why Zuma needs a homestead worth 250 Million, but it will never be JUST in a country like South Africa.

Deuteronomy 16:20 - "Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you."

Psalm 11:7 - "For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face."

So, in the meantime, I ask you to continue to pray for our beloved country, for her people and especially for her leaders. May God intervene and change the hearts of even the hardest of our leaders.

Living in Grace
D3LM3