Abba, Father, I …

Hear me first before you make those judgment calls.

Prayers of a group of people (“two” is the minimum number Christ commanded) must have unity of purpose for it to be answered.

Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. (Matt 18:19)

The situation is Kenya has divided Christians. Some have lost their loved ones or know their friends who have lost a loved one. Some have lost property or know a friend whose family has been evicted from their homes. It is therefore to be expected that where Kenyan Christians come together in a church or for a prayer gathering, there is bound to be people with different feelings and beliefs on how the political crisis in Kenya should be handled. There is no doubt that some support the government of the day, while some are very much against the government. So, how do you get such traumatized and angry people united in one accord for prayer? Can they all agree on what to pray for?

Christians are being trapped

First, let me say that had Kenyan Christians obeyed their Lord, the above situation ( disunity of saints ) would not have arisen. Why?

1. We are expected to pray for the government and people in authority over us. See this last post. It does not matter that the government is evil or good ( see below what i think we could do about an evil government )
   1. Christ did not take it upon himself to comment on the political situation. Israel, “his” people were under bondage and great oppression from the occupying force. He never condoned sin, yet not once did he raise his voice to attack the occupation of the Romans and the hardships they had subjected “his” people to.
   2. We must understand that no one has power over you, unless your heavenly Father allows them to. “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above…” Jn 19:11
2. We are commanded to love one another, whether Kikuyu or Luo or Luhya or Kalenjin or Muslim. We do not have the luxury to hate. We do not have human enemies. Our only enemy is the Devil. When you hate or can not stand another person, you have fallen into the trap of your enemy, and you are not operating as a son of God, but as a child of the enemy.
   1. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus”, Gal 3:28
   2. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. Matt 5:44 -45
3. We fail to see that the Kingdoms of this world are controlled by the prince of air, and no matter what we want to believe about the Christian-ness of our favorite leaders, the governments of this world mostly serve the causes of the enemy, not Christ. We somehow think that we can make society good by having a good political system. Some ( e.g. the USA Christians ) spend lots of time trying to influence government policies and get excited with the prospect of a Christian in the white house. The idea seems good and appealing. But it is a deadly trap. For example, one of the result: the great backlash against Christianity that is now very evident in the US! I talk to people and when i introduce the topic of Christianity, they go “Christians hate other people who are not like them!”
   

   In reality, i do not think we are really supposed to be consumed in taking sides ( Of course you have social obligations to only support leaders with less evil policies-or as the Lord leads you, but ultimately, we should never be surprised if they fail, for after all, they are fallen human beings ). Our number one task is pointing people to Christ, not suggesting to them certain political views.

So, lets get back to the issue at hand: united prayer. Since there is so much disunity, to get an effective prayer going, find a common agreeable item and pray on that. So, what are the agreeable items that such a group could pray on? I do not know ( I only know that i would pray his way ). Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Do not make assumptions. How do you know whether the Lord is purging the country? How do you know whether the Lord is doing a work that requires this current commotion, and that his hand is in this situation? Or maybe the happenings are the result of answered prayer of some Christians? What if the Lord was allowing this in order to cause a greater good somewhere? Or you think the Lord is “too Good” to order evil to be fall a nation?

How not to pray

Finally, here is a controversial proposal that should work, despite its pathetic nature. Since no one has come out and claimed that they have been told ( via true prophecy e.t.c. ) what direction Kenya is going, let us not pretend. The Lord knows our hearts. So let us be real and do the following:

For those who agree with the current government, get like minded Christians ( Lets refer to them as Brethren K ) and pray for what you would like to happen. I can imagine even prayers such as this:

“Father thank you for having Mr Y. lead us. I know he will do your will. Stop the work of those who oppose him..” and after a sigh

“And Father, not my will, but your will be done”

For those who think this is the worst government ever, get like minded Christians ( we shall refer to them as Brethren R ) and tell the Lord what you would like to happen. Even such prayers as:

“Father, i do not like Mr. X. He is a thief. See what he has caused to happen. Remove Mr. X from..” and after a pause

“But, Father, not our will, but your will be done..”

At least now, we have Christians K being united in a common prayer, without the seeds of doubts of Christians R, and Christians R being united in prayer, without the doubts from Christians K. It is upon the Lord who receives the prayers to rebuke or answer the petitioners, based on his plans for the nation Kenya.

Really, if Christians K and Christians R are that disunited in purpose, can they all be obeying the Holy Spirit? Of course not. They may be real in their beliefs and are true to their hearts (which is deceitful above all ..), but they ( all or some ) are still being disobedient to the Lord. Which takes us back to what we started with, that we should be Christians first, then Kikuyus and Luos and Kambas later. Anything else, my brethren, and we would have given the enemy a foothold and we are at his mercy ( of which he has none).

My Prayer

This is my own prayer:

“Father, i do not understand the happenings in Kenya. You say there is no peace for the wicked, but i pray that there may be calm in the nation. That those in leadership may make decisions that results in there being quietness in the Land. That justice and equity may prevail in the Land. That there would be structures that make it hard for the wealthy to trod down on the weak and the orphans. That the Church in Kenya may be of one purpose, seeing themselves as Christians and not tribes, and being a light to the nation. That the Shepherds over your flock may be found seeking and ministering to the needs of the lost and not using the flock to help them build their own little kingdoms.

I pray for my family and those dear to me. That, as you promised, in time of calamity, they would be spared, taking claim that:

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

My brethren and sisters in Kenya (be you Kikuyu, Kalenjin, Luo, Luhya, “for there is neither Jew nor Gentile..”) this is one pillar to hang onto:

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”