Pray for an end to the drought - Jericho Walls
Pray for an end to the drought
Our country is experiencing a long and devastating drought in many areas – especially the Eastern Cape, Karoo, Northern Cape, as well as the Southern and Western Cape regions. Many other parts of the country also urgently need rain.
Few people are aware of the extent of the problem. In some areas this drought has been going on for nearly 5 years. Farmers daily watch their livestock dying, fields withering and harvests going to waste. Visiting these regions and seeing the reality of the situation is traumatic.
Let us repent before God and, as the church, plead for relief.
2. That a 24/7 prayer watch be established in communities during the week of 8-15 October, where congregations, prayer groups, prayer watches, as well as individuals will come before God’s throne to intercede for this matter day and night.
Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” NKJV
Prayer Guidelines *
When emergencies and disasters occur, God looks for someone to stand in the gap. He is seeking men and women to intercede for their nation. Let Christians come before God to pray for rain. Ezekiel 22:30 – And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
1. Everybody should search their own heart and ask God to forgive any sins He shows them. Isaiah 59:1-2 – Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
2. Our country turned away from God and is not seeking God’s Kingdom. We all seek our own interests and gain. Open your eyes and see – we have become a corrupted, godless nation, rebelling against God and living wicked lives. Scripture states clearly: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33). This verse is also relevant to our situation: For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:13).
3. Pray about any past and present injustices between employers and employees. Both groups are guilty. Pray that people will not blame each other, but will repent together and ask God’s help. These poor relationships are not only on farms, but in every sector of society.
4. Pray for farmers who have lost hope and have become bitter and mutinous. Pray that nobody will take matters into their own hands. We need a divine solution, not a revolution.
5. God often uses natural disasters to get our attention. Pray that God will show us through his Spirit what He wants us to see and hear.
6. Pray that God will give us thankful hearts. Despite the drought, we still have much to be thankful for, and we can and must thank God for everything. Let us thank Him for the rain that fell in many places. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
7. Let us in one accord pray to God to be merciful and to give us rain. Let us approach the throne of God with prayers and supplications, to obtain help at the right time. Hebrews 4:16 – Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
8. Pray that there will be no storms, hail and devastating winds when the rains come.
9. Pray that the Government of the Western Cape Peninsula will take definite steps towards meaningful solutions for the water supply and the use of available water resources.
10. Psalm 68:9-10: Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished; your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy. This Psalm celebrates the results of the manifest presence of God on earth; How his presence caused abundant rain and the dry ground received life. Let our words, deeds, thoughts and life-style be such, that we may carry his presence in us. Ask God to manifest Himself to South Africa in His Church.
11. 1 Kings 18. In the time of Elijah, there was a country-wide drought. It was God’s punishment because of idolatry. This chapter describes the dramatic confrontation between Elijah and the Baal prophets. The result was a national confession that the LORD is God. Let us pray for people nationwide to return to the God of the Bible. Let us also all examine our hearts and get rid of the “Baals”, and exclaim like Elijah: “Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 1Kings 18:37.
12. Prayerfully read through Psalm 37.
Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished; your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy. Psalm 68:9-10
*These prayer pointers are available daily on the Jericho Walls Prayer App to remind you to pray with other believers who are part of this prayer watch.
Download these English prayer guidelines as PDF
Oproep tot gebed vir die verbreking van die droogte en vir mense om terug te draai na God toe
Ons land beleef tans ‘n uitgerekte en vernietigende droogte in baie gebiede in die die land – veral die Oos-Kaap, Karoo, Noord-Kaap, asook die Suid- en Wes-Kaap. Daar is ook ander dele waar reën dringend nodig is.
2. Dat die week van 8-15 Oktober 2017 gebruik word om ‘n 24/7 gebedswag op te rig waar gemeentes, gebedsgroepe, gebedswagte, asook individue dag en nag voor die troon van God sal kom om vir hierdie saak te bid.
In Psalm 46:2 lees ons: “Hy was nog altyd bereid om te help in nood.”
In die 1953 Afrikaanse Bybel word dit so vertaal: “As hulp in benoudhede is Hy in hoë mate beproef.”
Wanneer daar nood en rampe is, soek God altyd iemand om in die bres te staan. Hy soek na manne en vroue wat voor Hom sal kom staan en vir die saak/sake sal bid. Bid dat Christene voor God sal kom staan en as intersessors/voorbidders sal optree oor hierdie saak. Esegiël 22:30 – Ek het iemand tussen hulle gesoek wat ‘n muur sou bou en vir die stad in die bres sou tree dat dit nie vernietig word nie.
1. Laat elkeen sy eie hart ondersoek en vir die Here vra om ons te vergewe vir enige sonde wat Hy vir ons uitwys. Jesaja 59:1-2 – Die arm van die Here is nie te kort om te help nie en sy oor is nie te doof om te hoor nie. Dit is julle oortredinge wat skeiding gebring het tussen julle en julle God, dit is julle sondes wat maak dat Hy Hom nie aan julle steur nie en nie na julle wil luister nie.
2. Ons land het van God af wegbeweeg en ons soek nie die Koninkryk van God nie. Ons soek na ons eie belange en eie voordeel. Wanneer ons rondom ons kyk, het ons ‘n korrupte land geword wat in opstand is teen God, goddeloos en godloos lewe. Die Skrif sê baie duidelik: Beywer julle allereers vir die koninkryk van God en vir die wil van God, dan sal Hy julle ook al hierdie dinge gee. (Matteus 6:33). Die volgende Skrifgedeelte is relevant vir ons situasie: My volk het twee sondes begaan: Hulle het My, die bron van lewende water, verlaat, en hulle het vir hulle waterbakke uit klip gekap, waterbakke wat gebars is en nie water hou nie. (Jeremia 2:13).
3. Bid oor enige onreg wat plaasgevind het en steeds plaasvind tussen werkgewers en werknemers. Daar is skuld aan beide kante. Bid dat die twee groepe mekaar nie sal veroordeel nie, maar hulle saam sal verootmoedig en saam tot God sal bid vir Sy hulp. Hierdie swak verhoudings is nie net op plase nie, maar in alle sektore van die samelewing.
4. Bid vir boere wat moed verloor het of wat bitter en opstandig is. Bid dat ons in hierdie tyd nie opstandig sal wees nie.
5. God gebruik dikwels natuurrampe wat plaasvind om ons aandag te kry. Bid dat God deur sy Gees vir ons sal wys wat dit is wat Hy wil hê ons moet sien en hoor.
6. Bid dat God vir ons dankbare harte sal gee. Ten spyte van die droogte is daar steeds baie waarvoor ons God kan en moet dank. Laat ons Hom dank vir plekke waar daar reeds reën geval het. 1 Tessalonisense 5:18 – Wees in alle omstandighede dankbaar, want dit is wat God in Christus Jesus van julle verwag.
7. Laat ons eendragtig tot God uitroep om genadig te wees en reën te gee. Laat ons met gebed en smeking na die troon van God toe kom, sodat ons op die regte tyd gehelp kan word. Hebreërs 4:16 – Kom ons gaan dan met vrymoedigheid na die genadetroon, sodat ons barmhartigheid en genade ontvang en so op die regte tyd gered kan word.
8. Bid dat daar nie storms, hael en vernietigende winde sal wees wanneer die reën kom nie.
9. Bid dat die regering in die Kaapse Skiereiland daadwerklike stappe sal neem om te werk aan sinvolle oplossings vir watervoorsiening en die gebruik van beskikbare water.
10. Psalm 68:9-10 besing die effek van ‘n manifestasie van God se Teenwoordigheid op die aarde; hoedat Sy Teenwoordigheid ‘n oorvloedige reën tot gevolg het, en die dorre land weer lewe kry. Laat ons met ons woorde, dade, gedagtes en leefstyle so lewe dat ons God se Teenwoordigheid in ons ronddra. Kom ons vra Hom om ons land op hierdie manier te besoek.
11. 1 Konings 18. In die tyd van Elia was daar ‘n landswye droogte. God het dit toegelaat as gevolg van afgodery. Hierdie hoofstuk beskryf die dramatiese konfrontasie tussen Elia en die Baälprofete. Die uiteinde was ‘n nasionale erkenning dat die Here God is. Laat ons bid totdat daar ‘n landswye bekering van mense na die God van die Bybel is. Laat elkeen van ons, ons eie harte ondersoek en van alle “Baäls” ontslae raak. Laat ons soos Elia uitroep: “Antwoord my, Here, antwoord my tog dat hierdie volk kan besef dat U, Here, God is, en dat dit U is wat hulle harte weer tot U bekeer.” 1Kon.18:37.
12. Lees Psalm 37 aanbiddend deur.
*HIerdie gebedspunte is beskikbaar op die Jericho Walls Prayer App om jou daagliks te herinner om saam met ander gelowiges te bid wat deel is van hierdie gebedswag.
Laai hierdie Afrikaanse gebedsriglyne af as PDF