There are 2 dark clouds gathering around our country Nigeria – this new variant of COVID 19 & the need to be proactive and sensitive in the nation, government and our prayers in the church
The second cloud is the fuel subsidy removal plan – not the fuel subsidy itself which is a problem- it’s the planning and execution that we have always struggled with until now.
And now we have to pray for divine strategy from God that understands our weakness and strengths as a nation but brings strategy and execution that would be fair and just for the common man to stabilize our country for us to live a quiet and peaceful life to preach the gospel of the kingdom as a witness to this nation
**Theodore Cuyler, in 1882 wrote God’s Light on Dark Clouds and I quote:
“Today as I sit in my lonely room, this passage of God’s Word flies in like a white dove through the window, “And now men see not the sun which is in the clouds; but the wind passes and clears them.” Job 37:21. To my weak vision, dimmed with tears, the cloud is exceeding dark, but through it stream some rays from the infinite love which fills the Throne with an exceeding and eternal brightness of glory.
By-and-by we may get above and behind that cloud—into the overwhelming light. We shall not need comfort then; but we do need it now. And for our present consolation, God lets through the clouds some clear, strong, distinct rays of love and gladness.”**
Mark Vroegop whose book is the title of this post is on a mission to revive the neglected practice of lament.
By looking at the Psalms of lament, Vroegop walks the reader through these four steps of lament, explaining how honest, humble, biblical complaint is different from grumbling against God. He shows readers how to base their supplications on God’s good character, and gives examples of the types of prayers that he has prayed in times of grief and trial: “God, you are good! You are merciful! Act mercifully in this situation!” “God, this is hard. Yet I choose to trust you today”.
So often we are faced with struggles and grief and pain in our Christian lives, and yet the language of lament is missing from our prayers. We might feel uncomfortable telling God that things are hard, as if that were displaying a lack of trust in him. We might feel like we need to handle the situation ourselves, and in our pride, won’t turn to God with our pain. Or maybe we just don’t know how to pray when we are overwhelmed with sorrow or anxiety about a situation.
Pray for the Healing of your Nation’s Unhappy Divisions and Success Against your Nation’s Enemies
For the healing of our unhappy divisions and the making up of our breaches.
For the divisions that are among us, there are great searchings of heart; Judges 5:16(ESV) for there are three against two and two against three in a house. Luke 12:52(ESV) But is the breach as vast as the sea, which cannot be healed? Lamentations 2:13(ESV) Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of our people not been restored? Jeremiah 8:22(ESV) Lord, repair the breaches of our land, for because of them it totters. Psalm 60:2(ESV)
We beg in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that there may be no divisions among us, but that we be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10(ESV)
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant us to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together we may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 15:5-6(ESV) and promote the common salvation. Jude 1:3(ESV)
Lord, keep us from judging one another and despising one another, Romans 14:10(ESV) and give us to pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding; Romans 14:19(ESV) that living in love and peace, the God of love and peace may be with us. 2 Corinthians 13:11(ESV)
Let nothing be done from rivalry or conceit, but in humility let us count others more significant than ourselves; Philippians 2:3(ESV) and grant that our reasonableness may be known to everyone, because the Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:5(ESV)
12.3.6
For victory and success against our enemies abroad who seek our ruin.
Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you, but return, O LORD, to the ten thousand thousands of your Israel. Numbers 10:35-36(ESV)
Grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man. With God let our forces do valiantly; yes, let God himself tread down our foes, Psalm 60:11-12(ESV) and make them like dust with your sword and like driven stubble with your bow. Isaiah 41:2(ESV)
Let us be a people saved by the LORD, as the shield of our help and the sword of our triumph; Deuteronomy 33:29(ESV) and make our enemies sensible that the LORD fights for us against them. Exodus 14:25(ESV)
Those who risk their lives to the death for us on the heights of the field, Judges 5:18(ESV) train their hands for war and their fingers for battle; Psalm 144:1(ESV) give them the shield of your salvation, and let your right hand support them, Psalm 18:35(ESV) and cover their heads in the day of battle. Psalm 140:7(ESV)
Pastor Francis E Madojemu
