ISAIAH 62 PRAYER MINISTRY

Amidst the heartbreaking news that so often floods headlines when speaking about Nigeria, news has come that sheds light on Nigeria’s potential in fighting corruption, war, and crime. In August, it was reported that Nigeria had contained Ebola, and was working hard to prevent future cases. The effectiveness of their strategy has shown the world what Nigeria is capable of in regards to healing their nation.

This news is welcomed, as it is an encouragement to those observing the happenings in Nigeria. Nigeria’s potential has also been showcased in their successful attempts at taking back cities from the nation’s notorious terror group, Boko Haram. This fall, several cities were taken back from the terrorists, including the cities of Mubi and Damboa.

Yet, despite all their success, Nigeria still suffers from kidnappings, raids, and the mass killings of “infidels” by Boko Haram– which have reached increasingly evil levels of barbaric violence. Corruption has also spread to the Nigerian military; low morale has seeped into military ranks, with privates and corporals staging mutinies against their commanders. The military has claimed to be ill-equipped for facing the terrorists, causing many to refuse to fight. Why then, when a country has such potential and seemingly “functional institutions” (Source), is Nigeria still struggling with the disease of corruption within it’s nation, as well as terror from groups like the Boko Haram?

Although Nigeria has solved their issues of the physical Ebola outbreak, they are still dying from the spiritual illness of sin. Jesus spoke of this spiritual illness in Mark 2:

“While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw Him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’”
(Mark 2:15-17, NIV)

The spiritual illness of sin, apart from knowing Christ as Lord and Savior, always causes death. Thankfully, Christ came for those who need Him– that being the whole world, and in this case, the people of Nigeria. As stated in a past post, corruption has corroded the Nigerian church and government– but it started within the hearts of the Nigerian people. It is obvious that revival is needed, but this revival cannot come without true confession and repentance. Nigeria cannot get well until it’s disease is seen by The Doctor– that is, Christ. Oh, how Christ wants to see this nation well!

“’Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.’”
(–Jesus; Matthew 23:37, NIV)

Please pray with me, that the people of Nigeria’s government and military would come to Christ; it is only in revival that this nation’s resolve to faithfully govern and fight will be found once again.

Please pray for the people of Nigeria, that revival would be desired within their hearts. These people must come to the point of knowing their need for Christ for revival to occur.

Pray for those in the Nigerian government, that they’d come to know Christ and would resolve to honor Christ in all their dealings. Pray also for the Nigerian election coming up this February. Truly Christian leaders need to be elected, or Nigeria’s resolve will never be regained.

Pray for Nigeria’s continued success in containing Ebola, as Ebola isn’t fully wiped out of West Africa yet.

Pray for the Nigerian military’s continued success in pushing back the Boko Haram, as 185 people were kidnapped and the town of Gwoza has recently undergone mass killings of their elderly.

The nation of Nigeria is in dire need of The true Doctor. Please pray that their church, military, and government leaders come to know Him soon. It is only in Him that they can ever find true healing.