A prayer drive - cleansing our roads

The penny finally dropped when yet again, the A1(M) was closed because of an accident. This motorway runs north past the town where we live and is a major route to surrounding towns and villages, as well as the first and only road between London and Edinburgh.

The increasing regularity of closures, often for hours, or even a day, caused by accidents or breakdowns was becoming a huge source of inconvenience to us all. In our church circles, the road closures meant people unable to get to church or connect groups apart from the irritation of hold-ups and delays to our normal lives.

We might check the road before we left home, and all was clear. By the time we were 10 miles or even less down the road, we were stuck in yet another long queue for which there was no exit in the foreseeable future. 

Something had to be done.

We are great believers in prayer walks and regularly pray over our town centre, the shops and businesses, praying for them to prosper, praying good businesses into the empty premises and generally blessing the area.

What the A1(M) needed was a prayer walk or better still a prayer drive. We felt that our part of the road was from Baldock services to the M25 on both sides. Driving during the day, when the road is very busy was not an option, so we set out at 9pm. We drove at about 50mph – not too slow to irritate other road users but not too fast to miss what God might be saying.

As we drove, we listened to God but at the same time blessing the road and praying for safety on it. We prayed against demonic interference in any shape, curses that may have been made and looked out for tell-tale signs of fiendish presence such as lengths of video or audio tape by the side of the road.

We felt God told us to call the road to its original purpose as a major arterial highway between the north and south of the country. Historically, many had used it to travel north / south including those on foot such as the Jarrow marches. It is a significant route that needs to be kept clear of accidents and breakdowns as hold ups and delays negatively affect the whole nation, not just those of us living locally. 

We blessed the road to safety and applied the blood of Jesus to the particularly bad patches where there always seemed to be accidents. Another couple, who had been unable to join us on the night, travelled down the road later with wooden stirrers (used in coffee shops) with Scriptures on them which they tossed out of the window onto the grass verges. They should cause no harm to anyone or animals and over time the wood will rot. 

We finally encouraged any church member travelling on the road to continue to bless it and pray for ongoing safety. So far, our prayers have been answered.

I would encourage you, if you have a major road or motorway or even train line nearby to where you live to follow our example, especially if you have been experiencing delays, for any reason. Choose the stretch that you feel is part of your area and travel both ways along it, praying safety and cleansing and blessing the road or rail.  Declare its purpose to join north / south or east /west or connect significant towns or cities and declare the road or rail off limits to the demonic but cleansed by the blood of Jesus.

In our crowded isles, we need every transport connection to function well so our goods and people can travel easily around the country. Everyone, whether they realise what we have done or not, will be delighted when transport flows easily and it can only benefit us all. 

Let your Kingdom come Lord Jesus.

Worth fighting for?

 

As Covid starts to spread through our societies again with yet another variant, I don’t know about you, but I feel disappointed that we are still not through this virus. We seem to get through one phase, optimistic for the future, and then we are knocked back by the latest development. This virus has certainly changed everything in our generation. 

There is hardly a corner of the planet that has not been impacted by it, and every time we think normality is returning, something challenges that. There is a new variant, the vaccines are not proving as effective, we must wear masks, socially distance, in fact everything we hoped we might never have to do again. 

It always reminds me of my parent’s generation who had to fight through the Second World War in the prime of their lives. It must have seemed to them that this War would never end. Instead of getting married and creating a home, starting families and developing their careers, they had to lay aside every personal preference to fight literally for their lives and their nation. For six years, their lives were completely turned upside down and society was never the same again. Whenever I feel like having a little pity party, I remember my parents’ generation having to wave their loved ones off to fight, see their children separated by evacuation, run to the shelter, eat a very limited diet, bath in a puddle and in every way have their personal preferences laid aside. 

I never imagined that at the end of 2021, we would still be battling with virus issues. I hope it won’t take six long years before we overcome this virus or rather it dies its own natural death. But if it is, how will my faith come out of this? 

The nations may be irrevocably changed but our God is unchanging. This last week or so the phrase And He shall reign for ever and ever has been resonating in my spirit. Leaders, kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers, even dictators come and go but our God reigns and he will never be overthrown. He is King of kings and Lord of lords, and he loves us, and has all our best interests at heart – the rich, famous, infamous, poor, extremely poor, displaced, refugee, alien, he desires all should know him. 

 I am challenged today to stop worrying about my discomfort and inconvenience, my change of plans and instead start aligning myself with what God is saying in this day. Are my prayers, service and finances bringing about His plans and purposes? Like a small child crying for the moon because they realise they may not get what they want, can I stop crying for my way of life that may never return but instead realise that God’s plans for my life, your life, the planet is worth fighting for. God is calling his Church to fight to come out of this viral war stronger, more focused on him, better equipped in every way, changed irrevocably for Him.

The inspiration of Simeon and Anna

When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord Luke 2: 22 

Jesus had been born in Bethlehem as prophesied and eight days later Mary and Joseph went the five miles to the temple in Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice in keeping with the Law of Moses. 

In the temple they met a pair of elderly, devout people who had been waiting patiently for the Messiah. Simeon was a devout man waiting for ‘the consolation of Israel’ - the Messiah and he had been promised that he would see him before he died. He rejoiced that this day had come and very accurately prophesied to Mary that ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’  I wonder if Mary remembered that as she watched the horror of her own beloved son being beaten and crucified. 

Mary and Joseph marvelled at what was said but more was to come. The very elderly Anna, a lady whose life was devoted to prayer and fasting also came up ‘at that moment’ and told anyone who would listen that this child was the Messiah (the redemption of Jerusalem). 

I love the patient faithfulness of these two elderly people, devoted to the Lord. They had not given up as the years passed by. They had not settled down to a passive, inactive, elderly lifestyle. They were as fervent in their faith as ever. The Bible is full of the very elderly being significantly used by God; Abraham, Moses, Gideon’s parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth. So often the elderly laid the foundation for the next generation to build on. 

Simeon and Anna are a source of inspiration for us. They had been waiting for years to see the fulfilment of their dreams, not just for themselves but for their nation. They hadn’t given up nor had they doubted and they were not disappointed. Their hope was placed firmly in God. 

Perhaps today you have been waiting for years to see the fulfilment of your dreams – the salvation of a loved one, a healing, a miracle or for revival and a great outpouring of God’s love and miracle working power in your church, community or nation. 

At the start of a new year, may we, like Simeon and Anna, not give up but with fresh faith believe again that God is working on our behalf, that he has heard and is answering our prayers.

‘And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not’ 

Galatians 6: 9 KJV

Prayers that change nations

As Winston Churchill famously said during the Second World War ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.’ 

I believe that when the books of heaven are opened at the end of time when Jesus returns, these words will be aptly applied to praying Christians. These are vital days in our nations and the people need our prayers. Our friends and relatives need to be saved. People need to be healed, lifted out of debt, marriages restored, families become places of love and nurture. 

But over all these we need to raise our eyes to the bigger picture. Our nations need God. In these uncertain times we must lift our eyes from our personal preference to what does God desire for our nation. And what God desires is that his Kingdom come and his will be done because he has great plans for them.That is what our nations need. The Kingdom of God and it is the prayers of faith filled Christians that will accomplish this.

Your immediate response may be that this is too big, too hard but if we as a faith filled church and praying Christians don’t do this, what is the alternative? One that is too awful to contemplate. 

The prophet Isaiah said, ‘Here am I Lord, Send me.’ It starts with a willing heart and time carved out of our busy schedules. It begins with a life of devotion to our amazing, loving God, worshipping, reading the Word and praying. 

If 120 praying Christians on the Day of Pentecost could shake a city and 3000 were saved, think what a praying church could do. 

Simple, earnest faith filled prayers will change a nation. 

The power of individual prayer

But what measure could amount to Your desire
You’re the One who never leaves the one behind

So will I (100 billion) Hillsong

God is so interested in the one, a thought that pursues me.

In all of the immensity of God’s creation, He never loses sight of the one, the individual. I know I can get overwhelmed by the problems in the world, in Europe, in UK, in my town but God doesn’t call us to try and fix everything but to partner with him in helping change the life of the one.

As I’ve written before each of us can have a profound effect on one other through kind works but the effect of our prayers on situations can be profound. I sometimes think we don’t truly understand how vital our prayers are.

A Christian praying in a church destroyed by IS

As individual Christians I believe we need to grasp again the enormity of the impact we can make through prayer into individual circumstances. The devil would have us to believe we make no difference, our prayers are not important.  On the contrary they are essential.

God is not paternalistically listening to our prayers, patting us on the head and then going on with the big business of sustaining the universe. Nothing could be further from the truth. God takes each prayer and puts it into action if he possibly can. As we partner with his heart for other people and situations, God acts.

Huge world problems are overwhelming but focusing in prayer on the one whether that be someone struggling in poverty at home or abroad, a politician or a persecuted Christian we can make such a difference to their lives.

The most important thing is to prioritise our prayers and learn how to pray from God’s perspective not ours. That leads to effective intercession. It starts with regularly connecting with God. This in itself can be a real battle with the other demands of our busy lives.

In my last few years of work, I was incredibly tired and God kept gently urging me to get up earlier and spend time with him. I felt that was impossible. I was already exhausted. Finally I gave into his nudges and set the alarm for half an hour earlier. Those precious half hours supported me through my last years at work. I was able to pray for all sorts of things that before had been impossible. I found these verses from Isaiah 40 so true.

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

I had had a similar experience years earlier when our four children were small and I felt I just could not find the time to pray and read my Bible. God showed me how and when I could fit that into our demanding schedule. Again the benefit and blessing was immense.

God cares about the one – you and me – and our relationship with him. He so desires that we too have a heart for the one. As we prioritise the One, he will show us how we can pray effectively for the one, whoever that may be. We truly can change the world one prayer at a time.

What do we make of Donald Trump

So what do we make of Donald Trump? 

This blog may at first glimpse seem off the wall from my usual blogs concerning Walking in our God given destiny in 21^st century but this is not political but an honest attempt at trying to find a Godly response to what is happening in USA right now under President Trump.

My question is neither rhetorical nor is it an occasion for vitriol or vilification or even for blind adoration. It is a question asked by a Brit who having listened and read many of the arguments for and against President Trump, Christian and secular is feeling very confused.

Some seem to think he is the answer to all American woes and will lead the nation into her prophetic destiny, indeed some have gone as far as to proclaim that he is a Cyrus, come to do God’s will. Others see him as the devil incarnate – self-seeking, misogynistic, racist and all manner of other evils who will lead the nation down the slippery slope to hell.  However nothing is straightforward.

On the positive side he has appointed, I believe, nine Christians to his cabinet. Vice President Pence used 2 Chronicles 7: 14 at his swearing in. President Trump is also pro life and pro Israel – two incredibly important issues on God’s heart. Surely it is time to reverse the terrible slaughter of unborn children and maybe this is a start. It certainly is a turning point.

The matter of Israel is even more interesting. America may think it is the leader of the free world and the most important nation on the planet but on reading the Bible it seems clear that Israel is at the centre of God’s plans – it has been from the start and it most certainly will be at the end. The Jews are God’s people and Israel is their nation and the land was given to Abraham and his descendants thousands of years ago. Nations that support Israel are never disappointed.

However on the negative side, there is much to criticise apparently and everyone is doing so. Most issues though need to be looked at far more closely than the press or anyone else is doing. The latest is his ban on immigration from seven Middle Eastern countries. There are howls of protest from across the planet yet an excellent alternative view can be seen here:

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/444370/donald-trump-refugee-executive-order-no-muslim-ban-separating-fact-hysteria

Why is it that Donald Trump is stirring up so much hysteria?  He is certainly different and does things differently. He is no politician and as everyone keeps repeating he has no political or military experience. But so many things just do not add up.

If he is a misogynist why did he have Kellyanne Conway as his successful presidential campaign manager? She is now a presidential aide. Can he be anti immigration – when he himself and his wife are immigrants?  Are his protectionist policies an attempt to protect American jobs or foolishness in today’s global economy? Surely as a businessman who has a global empire he has thought about these things? The Mexican wall paid for by the Mexicans sounds the height of folly bearing in mind it was started once before and ground to a halt over the cost. 

There are so many questions with no answers. So many loose ends that do not tie up and much that on the surface does not make sense. Is Donald Trump leading the nation into the abyss or into its God given destiny?

So as Christians what should our response be? Firstly we can and should respond, especially if you are American, by writing in a respectful way to the White House expressing your concerns. I do not believe criticising, carping or even hate speech on social media or from our mouths is appropriate as Christians.

Secondly we all must pray – the Bible is quite clear we should pray whether we agree with our government and the people sitting in power in our nation or not. So with the permission of Suzanne Ferrett who wrote the following as part of her prayers and declarations for a nation (www.passionforthenation.uk) I respectfully suggest we pray this or something similar regularly and consistently and then let God do what only God can do.

“Behold I do a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and give heed to it. I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”

Isaiah 43:19

Lord we speak over America today – Your plans are for good and not for evil, that this new season has a new reason.

We lift up Donald Trump to you and we thank You for the Godly inheritance within his family and for the prophetic words over his life.  In the Name of Jesus, we decree that as he has been inaugurated into the United States Presidency, Your hand and Your mantle will come upon him.

We call him into Your will and into his destiny that You will make him and shape him, that he will speak Your words and fulfil Your desires.

Even as all authority is established by You, we decree through this president and his team, Your laws and Your standards will be put in place; that you will lead them and guide them, that they will work with transparency, integrity and honour and we speak Your wisdom to them in the Name of Jesus.

We decree and declare that in the days ahead You will position America according to Your will and purpose.

If you read this and do not believe that God is able, nor even want God to do this, may I suggest you pray it and let God show you what he wants and what he is able to do? If you read this and something positive stirs within you, may I suggest you keep praying till we see how God answers?

USA may not be our nation but we are all dependent on one another and it is in all our interests that America prospers and is not torn apart by hatred and violence.

God bless America.

There are two footnotes here. Firstly if I have over-simplified complex issues, I apologise. Secondly please respond if you have something constructive to add but I will delete inappropriate comments.

Welcome to Africa

A week after our return to South Africa and some of the differences between our two life styles have become apparent. Superficially and perhaps surprisingly we live in a very similar house, in a very similar tree-lined street in a fairly similar town to our UK one except the South African place boasts a kilometre of beautiful golden sands.

Fish Hoek beach

Shopping is by no means a Third World experience either. There is little that we cannot buy here that we might wish and there are some bonuses – great meat and buttery avocados to name two. With the impeding arrival of our two inquisitive grandchildren aged 6 and nearly 4 I have tried imagining the differences they might notice. In common with most of Africa, the ladies carry their babies on their backs not in pushchairs. People sell a wide range of products by the side of the road, risking life and limb at traffic lights and you may even have a man with a large plastic bag offering, for a few rand, to take away the rubbish from your car.

A more amusing occurrence is finding someone around lunchtime lying on the grassy pavement by the side of the road. In UK we would immediately phone 999 fearing a collapse or even worse. Here it is just someone having an afternoon nap after a hard morning’s work.

However one morning in church and the differences become very apparent. A lady told of some American nurses here on placement spending a night in the Emergency room at the local hospital. This is in our quiet town not in Johannesburg. It was a night of stabbings and drug and alcohol overdoses. The nurses were trying to process their unexpected experiences.

Another church member who works with Metro Ministries in Lavender Hill, one of poorest areas of Cape Town, told of the shocking incident of a gang shoot out which had left 8 dead and 32 injured and children traumatised.  He was about to go to a meeting between police and gang leaders so he could speak up for the children in the area and to ask the gang leaders to consider the effect of their lifestyle of crime and violence on them.

Finally, another church member, a former missionary to Libya, spoke about how a colleague had just been kidnapped in Niger where he had spent over 30 years working with the locals in providing more secure food sources for them. No one knew where he was though fortunately his wife and children were safe in US.

 

What could we do but pray and pray we did. It made the topic of Brexit in UK and the Trump / Clinton presidential election seem very far away. But all these events, here and abroad, can be overwhelming for the man in the street or the Christian in the church. Do we sit back and howl about the immensity of these problems or do we take them to the Lord in prayer?

These are pivotal days. Our nations need our prayers and considered thoughts. This is the time for the Church to arise with God given wisdom and prayer.  We can show God’s perspective for the poor and needy, his great love for them and his desire for the Church to share that love with those around them and in the furthest corners of the globe. Drought stalks Africa and the effect of Hurricane Matthew is most visible in Haiti. They need our prayers and aid. Haiti desperately needs some God given long-term solutions to their problems.

Haiti

Our politicians and governments also need our prayers and for the Church to speak with wisdom and compassion about God’s view on Brexit and the presidential election because, believe me, God does have a perspective.

When the problems of the world seem overwhelming, God has some answers and he is happy to speak to whoever asks and seeks him. We may not have access to the ear of government but we have access to the highest courts in the universe, the courts of heaven. There we can hear God’s heart and petition him for our communities and nations. There we can change our world through our intercession and there we can make the most profound difference both to the rich and mighty and to the poor and suffering of our world.