4:14 am
We had a 12 hours of prayer as a squad. I signed up for 4-5 am thinking I would see the sunrise (I didn’t). This was my prayer over Swaziland that was on my heart that hour. Realizing it’s really applicable to every country.
Lord, I just want to lift up this country. This whole continent. That they all see you in a miraculous way TODAY. But right now I just want to pray over Swazi.
This is your country. Your land. the Lord’s people. Your handiwork. Where your gospel was first spread. Why is there so much poverty? Poverty of heart. Of mind. Of soul. In a family, in a home, in a child’s eyes; poverty. If this is just how you’ve chosen them to live physically, fine, but why is the church so prevalent yet so many of them not know how to be your friend? Or how to have a deep and real relationship with you? Why do so many grow up not believing that they are loved, not believing you’re right there next to them? This feels so big and vague but I come before you asking for eyes eager to see you. ears tuned to your voice. Hearts attentive and enacted. That today, tomorrow, this week, new and beautiful revelations would stir in each heart that’s touching swazi dirt. That they would see you. That they would feel you. That they would wake up each day and know, without a doubt, that you are good. A good father. Their father.
Lord, my heart has been breaking for my kids. Melesive and Ogu and Mbala and Albert and Anele. Senzelwe and Thando and Snazo and Ryan and Jesse. Even Mfantini and MZ and Alex and so many more. Just all of them. I pray that their hearts would never grow older, just wiser. That the growing pains of living this place, this culture would never dull their smiles.
I pray that they would dream bigger than they ever have. God dreams; big and wild. I pray for opened doors, that those dreams would actually unfold in front of them. Vision coming to life right before their kind eyes. But mostly, I pray that they would feel the relentless knock of your pursuit. That they would open their should to you, Lord. I pray that these kids never go another day without the knowledge that they are your creation being in the back of their minds. That they are wildly and unimaginably loved by One greater than the barren place life may have them in. I see so much of you in their wide brown eyes.
I pray that they would be lights – the brightest ones. Beacons of hope trailing right behind you, leading them anywhere and everywhere. That all who encounter them would know that they had just met you.
I pray that their hearts would grow in empathy, kindness, gentleness, and love. That you would place of calling on their lives that each of them would all gladly and thankfully pursue. Accepting with action. That they would know the purpose you have created them for. That they make walk out their lives like they were handcrafted. Hardwired to love you. Masterpieces who deserve nothing but wonder and beauty because they’ve been bought with your own blood. Saved. Their names on your lips while you hung on that cross. It doesn’t matter where they come from, what them or their families have done. That where they’ve been doesn’t discount them, but proves your redeeming grace. They are sons and daughters, yesterday, today, and forever. That they can break every cycle of brokenness with you.
I so desperately want them to be encourage and empowered. I just want them to have every thing and every opportunity and feel loved and known and cared for. For them to grow into wonderful mothers and fathers. To see their wildest dreams come true. To each be a testament of your mighty hand. It breaks my heart that some look at them and see little other than lacking. Unworthy, useless, hopeless, stuck. Only capable of accepting handouts. I pray their potential would be undeniable. Their diligence and determination unmatched. I pray for leaders and shepherds and mentors to be raised up in each of these kids. To grow to be a new generation of kingdom bringers; warriors. That they themselves would be lead and mentored and poured into. A cup overflowing, down through each generation.
I know your work goes way beyond my prayers. That your power is so much greater than my mind and comprehend and your heart for them so much wider than mine can ever be. Awaken and transform the hearts of this country through those already here. Bring revival and restoration.
Thank you for loving them.
Amen.
2 weeks left… still not used to this.
– L
