50 days of blessing the nation through prayer: Week 4
Each week of the #50Days2BlesstheNation Alf James introduces the week’s theme. This week he introduces the week’s focus of “Education and Health Care Systems”.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Proverbs 4:23-24 (NKJV).
A blessing or curse originates in our hearts, according to the #50Days2BlesstheNation initiative.
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If our hearts are filled with bitterness, anger, hatred or revenge, then we cannot bless: ‘But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies’. Matthew 15:18-19 (NKJV).
Jesus said that if we believe in Him, rivers of living water will flow from our innermost being: ‘He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’. John 7:38 (NKJV).
“Pronouncing a blessing does not condone sin. It places the sinner and sinful institutions into God’s hands. He is a just and righteous Judge, who will execute justice and righteousness on our behalf.”
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The time has come to place South Africa in the Lord’s hands praying for a righteous country that reflects His will and hands and for the Holy Spirit to cleanse the hearts and lips of Christians living in South Africa.
Focus on education and health – Week 4 theme explained
The fourth of the #50Days2BlesstheNation weekly focus areas from May 7 to 13 centres on education and health at a time when we as a country are experiencing many challenges in both sectors of our society, from issues around quality to access, equity, and costs.
Healing and education are at the heart of our faith as Christians and key sectors in the process of cleansing the hearts and lips of South Africans.
There are many references in the Bible to Jesus healing and the word disciple means a “learner” — Jesus’ disciples were those who were always learning more about Him. We too are disciples of Jesus.
Tony Cauchi writing in The Voice of Healing says Jesus healed because he was opposed to anything which bound or enslaved men.
Cauchi says wherever Jesus went he ministered healing to hurting people.
He points out that nearly one-fifth of the Gospel accounts are devoted to Jesus’ healing ministry, including the circumstances, the methods used and the effects on the patients and those who were onlookers.
“Out of 3 779 verses in the four Gospels, 727 relate specifically to the healing of physical and mental illness and the resurrection of the dead. It should be noted that the attention given to the healing ministry of Jesus is far greater than any one kind of experience recorded, including salvation,” says Cauchi.
God encouraged the education process
On the importance of education in the Christian life Steve and Teri Ong writing in The Teaching Home says that education is a process encouraged by God. God created our minds and designed that a child who grows to maturity should increase in knowledge, wisdom, and skills (Proverbs 1:1-5).
They point out that education is not an automatic process; it must be sought and obtained. Our brains are made to acquire new information until the day we die. God commands us to seek wisdom and understanding.
“Education should give us a better knowledge of God. Paul counted all things, including his prestigious education, as loss compared with knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8-10). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of true knowledge (Proverbs 1:7). A study of natural phenomena and scientific laws should give us a greater knowledge and appreciation for who God is (Psalm 19:1-4, Romans 1:20). Salvation and a right relationship with God require knowledge of God and his Word (Romans 10:14).
“Education should help us live in conformity with God’s will. God desires that our minds not be pressed into the mould of the world, but be transformed according to His standards so that we can carry out His will in our bodies (Romans 12:1-2).”
During the fourth week of the #50Days2BlesstheNation we pray for an education and health system that produces healthy, discerning, aware, and knowledgeable citizens, and that God’s will is done in South Africa through our health and education institutions as it is in heaven.
The daily prayer blessing for the week is: In the name of Jesus Christ we bless South Africa’s educational system. We bless the development of godly curriculums for schools; we bless our schools, colleges, universities, teachers and lecturers, with the ability to shape the minds and attitudes of our youth with godly truth, wisdom, responsibility and competence. We bless the youth of South Africa with a teachable spirit. We bless South Africa’s health industry with compassion for the sick and needy; with healthy medical practices and responsible use of pharmaceutical products. We bless medical personnel with insight into physical, emotional and spiritual causes of disease and sickness, and to bring healing for the suffering. We pray for the restoration of the gift of healing to the Body of Christ, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We bless South Africa with physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual health.
How to participate
- Download the Prayer Guide to Bless the Nation from http://ifsaprayer.co.za/category/resourcesmedia/ or http://www.jwipn.com/50-days-to-bless-the-nation-16-april-to-4-june-2017/
- Receive a daily Whatsapp message from +27 817161203 with practical prayer-walk suggestions;
- Receive a daily video clip with inspirational message from +27 798791848;
- Prayer-walk with a friend. Pray for the present needs of people and places you see. Read Scripture aloud. Turn biblical phrases into prayers. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and to pray according to the Father’s heart. Address your prayers to God when contending with evil. Ask God to restrain spiritual enemies so people can be redeemed.
