Prayer for the Kingdom of Eswatini
IN this article I felt I should just pray to God who is able to do the impossible. This was prompted by depressing situations at global and continental levels. The war between Russia and Ukraine is inflicting so much destruction especially among civilians and their livelihoods. The international systems, such as the United Nations (UN) and the Security Council, seem incapacitated to address this conflict. The recent announcement of NATO’s expansion from 40 000 to 300 000 troops seems to point to hard times ahead.
The African continent is also blighted by misrule and poor governance, human rights violations, conflicts, unemployment, young people perishing in the oceans in search for a better life in Europe, as their countries’ economies tumble. Many countries, especially at the horn of Africa, are threatened by famine.
Our own country has continued to face an uncertain future since the fateful civil unrest in 2021; violence has reached unprecedented levels. People’s hearts are unfortunately hardened on all sides.
Young people are deprived of opportunities to even start their families because they are trapped in poverty and unemployment. Thousands of emaSwati are also facing food insecurity. We have heard recently that food shortages have affected schools to an extent that they are forced to ration food. Some schools have resorted to release children early while some pupils even skip classes as they depend on school meals. Trust between those in leadership and ordinary people is at all-time low.
Prayer for our nation
Father God, we come to you because the people of this nation and everything in it belong to you. Eswatini is not here by accident; You are the one who placed us in this nation at this particular time for the glory of your name. But Father, people in this country. We are ravaged by poverty, hunger and disease. We are divided between the haves and have nots. Leaders have turned against those they lead. But your word says that if we humble ourselves and turn from our wicked ways you will heal our land. Lord, heal our hearts and heal our land. Remove bitterness and resentment from our hearts and help us to live as brothers and sisters.
Oh God in heaven, we pray for our leaders in government and traditional authorities to walk in humility and integrity. May they put the needs of others before themselves and be true servant leaders. May they not be so proud that they cannot hear the cries of emaSwati, but instead seek out good counsel and follow it. May they be modest and not self-promoting. May they be honest, morally upright, and have strong principles in line with your standard of righteousness. May they not accept bribes or work for their own ends, but for the benefit of the people.
Father who art in heaven, good leaders come from you. This nation, Lord, needs leaders with discerning hearts and wise minds. We come to you today asking you to give us wise leaders who will lead this nation in the right direction. Remove wrong people who are corrupt and living against your word from influential positions. Let our leaders be people who honour your Holy Name for it is only from you that they will get true wisdom. Let our leaders be servants than being masters. Let them have empathy especially for those who are suffering from the indignity of poverty.
Lord, we are living in times where people do not have love for one another. Most people have chosen to put their selfish interests above the interests of our nation.
Lord, uproot these people from government, traditional structures, civil society organisations and private sector positions and replace them with people who serve others. Appoint people who will encourage us to love one another. Let your unconditional love overflow in our hearts that we may also pour it on each other.
Father of all, we lift up our troubled nation to you, asking for justice to prevail. We pray for all people in our nation to be treated fairly in all avenues of life, but especially the Judicial system. We ask that you raise up judges who are men and women of high principles. We pray for our court justices and for each judge in this land to bring justice to those who come before them. May they judge fairly, reasonably and righteously.
Father God we pray for those who are still hurting from the trauma of losing their loved ones during the 2021 civil unrest, and those who lost their limbs and are today disabled. May you also help our two Members of Parliament (MP) to get justice.
May our exiled former MP and all emaSwati come home. Lord God, may the all-inclusive national dialogue be held, as healing and rebuilding our country depend on it. We ask all of these in your name Amen.