“He has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations.” (Ps. 111:6)

“Ask of me and I will give you the nations as your inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth as your possession.” (Psalm 2:8)

“Burundi shall be saved!” Those were the Spirit’s words spoken in the sweetest, most assuring voice I heard, accompanied by what seemed like the soft beating of a dove’s wings next to my right ear. I was seated on the platform listening to Burundi’s ambassador for peace and reconciliation give a final word at the end of a three-day prayer initiative our team had facilitated in the strife-torn nation in the year 2000. About 200 Christian leaders from the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa tribes had spent many hours humbling themselves, crying out to God with deep emotion and broken hearts for their war-shattered land in which tens of thousands were being killed through intertribal warfare much like neighboring Rwanda. They had taken part in times of moving reconciliation between their ethnic groups and denominations. It seemed like the Great Physician Himself was in the room doing His own kind of heart surgery on all who were present.

In the months following, we witnessed what that sweet, heavenly voice said actually come to pass as a government of national unity was formed and Hutu leaders in exile flew back into the country. Eventually, the current president, who had come to Christ in the jungle as a rebel leader, came into office. He has continued to work for unity and the development of the nation, wholeheartedly serving the Lord as a man of prayer and worship in all he does.

In this case, and in the rest of the over 50 national prayer initiatives my colleagues and I have had the privilege of facilitating, we have observed and used a number of key practices we have that may be of encouragement to those of us wanting to see God’s transformation of our own or other nations we are concerned about. Here are some of the most important ones:

1. Gather the spiritual leaders and intercessors (be inclusive of all denominations) together for a sustained time for no agenda except the Lord and one another. 2-3 days in a retreat setting is ideal if possible, otherwise a few hours or a process enabling participants to go deep enough.

2. Come in a spirit of humility, confessing our personal and corporate sin, seeking to get on the Lord’s wavelength (Isaiah 55:7-8).

3. As needed and usually it is, facilitate an unhurried time for reconciliation of denominations and ethnic groups that are present so representatives can ask for and receive forgiveness on behalf of their groups.

4. Locals who are knowledgeable about political, social, economic or church needs share issues for prayer, including anything uncovered about the way the powers of darkness are influencing the society.

5. Bring these issues and situations to God, listening to and waiting on Him for His strategy to deal with them - both through prayer and actions proceeding from it. Pray with unity and faith, dealing with evil spiritual powers in His authority which He shares with us (Matthew 18:18-20, Luke 10:19, and Ephesians 6:10-18)

6. Listen to the Lord corporately, being open for prophetic input like words from Scripture, impressions, dreams and visions He may give to participants.

7. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead the process and don’t preprogram it. “Let God be God” in the midst of His people!

8. Include children and youth as equal ministry partners. Let them pray and give prophetic words. Often God will speak through a child more clearly and powerfully than through an adult!

9. Where appropriate invite government leaders and officials to take part to be prayed for or to share prayer concerns but not to give political speeches.

10. Pray with authority and unity as those who sit beside the one who has all power, Jesus Christ, joined to Him through the Spirit who lives within us. Expect that history will be changed and it will! (Matthew 18:18-20). “History belongs to the intercessors, who believe the future into being!” (Walter Wink)

May the Lord use you to do exploits for Him wherever you are to witness the “power of his works” and along with Messiah receive the nations as your inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth as your possession!

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