Praying Strategically for the Nation
By Karen Tan
Photos courtesy of FGA KL
HOW should we pray for national transformation? While we are asked to pray for rulers and those in authority (1 Timothy 2: 1-4), there is also strategic prayer that targets the pillars of any nation.
God has promised in Psalm 2: 8, "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession". Read together with Matthew 28: 19 to make disciples of all nations, it is clear that if the nations of this world are to be Christ's inheritance, Christians must be involved in discipling others, and in nation-building as part of discipling nations.
At the National Prayer Summit on Nation Building Through Prayer in November 2013, Pastor John Mulinde from Uganda talked about prayer that builds and disciples nations. There are five spheres of a nation that should be addressed when praying for transformation.
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 Pastor John Mulinde |
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Five spheres
The first is the religious system of the land. According to Mulinde, this is the most powerful force as it determines the moral value system and the unwritten code of conduct of a place. It is more even powerful than politics as it affects the spiritual climate. See in this context, the role of Christians as a "priesthood" in a nation becomes vitally important. We have a spiritual influence over the land if we exercise our priestly duties by interceding for the nation.
The second is the sphere of family, marriage, parenting and the state of the family. These, as we know, form the foundations of society. The third is the economic realm. The fourth is government, and the church's role is to function as a conscience and guide so that government submits itself to God's authority.
The fifth is the corporate belief system of a nation. This value system is found in the corporate culture of the nation, in the education system, in entertainment and the media. The corporate belief system of a nation influences the mindset of a society.
When the Church in a nation is not strategising and not uniting in prayer to uphold these five spheres, we have then failed our mission.
A holistic transformation strategy
Prayer is one part of a holistic strategy for discipling nations. Mulinde stressed that it all begins with the state of our hearts. True intercessors allow God to renew them on the inside. They are aligned to His will and pray according to His heart. When this happens, they are confident that God will answer (1 John 5: 14-15).
But prayer (and fasting) comes first and foremost. This pattern is seen in the life of Jesus and in the early Church. Jesus prioritised the disciplines of prayer and fasting. He also prioritised the Word which he used against his Temptation in the desert. Then, he prioritised missions - preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom.
The same pattern is seen in the Acts of the Apostles of the early Church in Jerusalem. They were committed to prayer and fasting, and the Holy Spirit came. Peter then stood up to quote Scripture and preach the Word, after which we are told 3,000 believers were added to their number. Then, the apostles went out to do missions. An added priority was giving.
In summary, the strategy must begin with prayer and fasting, which attracts the abiding presence of God. It must also include the Word, preaching (missions) and giving.
Over time, many Christians have lost the discipline of prayer and fasting. Yet, these habits are so vital if we want to see God's breakthrough and if we want to move with His timing. Let us return to these basic disciplines in order to:
- Be spiritually awakened- ask God for a heart that sees and hungers after Him. Covenant ourselves to Him in love and allow Him to work through us. These will bring us to three types of revival - passionate revival, church revival and family revival.
- Build a culture of abiding in God's presence - learn the art of prayer and fasting, pray with insight and discernment, be in tune with the needs of communities around us.
- Reach out for God's destiny for your nation, city, church and family.
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