Call for prayer in times of anxiety

Call for prayer in times of anxiety
The Standard, 22 May, 2011

Every May on 25th Zimbabweans gather together for national day of prayer. We have already seen adverts to that effect and the nation is waiting for the big moment at the City Sports Centre. The three umbrella bodies, the Catholics Bishops’ Conference, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches are inviting all and sundry to pray for the nation. The Intercessors of Zimbabwe have put up an advert to the same effect. We hope they will work together.

Indeed we have much to pray for. There is a lot to thank God for since the last gathering last year. In spite of the hate, anger and uncertainty that comes from the political divide of this nation we have not lost hope as a people who fear God. Such a tumultuous situation like ours is the fertile soil for fervent prayers. Places of worship are full to the brim every worship day. Such is the nature of the people who inhabit this beautiful land called Zimbabwe.

The challenges we face as a nation needed the church to join hands and intercede for the nation. The great leaders of our faith used to do the same. Jesus himself took his disciples aside to pray together. In times of desperation he even went out on his own to seek the face of God. I am certain our church leaders do the same for we see the hand of God leading us even in these uncertain times. When the world was anticipating disaster a few years ago in our nation it was only God’s intervention that calm prevailed.

There is also need to pray for our political leaders not only to think of themselves, their survival in power at the expense of the people. For we know that when elephants fight it is the grass that suffers. The nation is anxious. The call for elections just makes people think of the past. It does not matter whether the elections are this year or in years to come the past experience haunts every Zimbabwean.

There are people thinking of visiting with their relatives abroad during the time of elections, whenever they come. Instead, Zimbabweans should be saying, they will not make any trips during that crucial time. But the violence during elections in the past has left many fearful of what can happen during this period.

Why should we spoil this golden opportunity to redeem ourselves of being so selfish as to think of nothing else but preserving our positions? God forbid!

Rev Dr Levee Kadenge