NEHEMIAH 9:2 and 1:6: “They stood and confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors. Listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel (Jamaica). I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned!” (NLT). Nehemiah told the nation of Israel that before they could rebuild they must repent.

Nehemiah, one of the most powerful people in leadership at that time, chose to take the lead in confessing and repenting of their sins. He said that before they could rebuild they must spend hours daily in prayer, not making excuses or vain requests but sincere confessions. What a picture! Can you imagine the leaders of government, industry, law, entertainment and education doing that? “If my people… will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will…heal their land.” (Chronicles 7:14).

The nation changes when God’s people change. We are vocal when it comes to what’s wrong with our nation, but silent when it comes to what’s wrong with us. We most times behave like the man who prayed: “God, I thank you that this nation has people like me. The man on the corner needs welfare, I don’t. The prostitute on the street has AIDS, I don’t. The drunk at the bar needs alcohol, I don’t.” Next to him is a broken man who whispers: “Lord, like my friend on welfare, I am desperately dependent on Your grace. Like my sister with AIDS I am infected with mistakes. Like my friend who needs a drink I need something to ease my pain; have mercy on me.” Jesus said this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God (Luke 18:14).

Arrogance points at others, humility points at self and acknowledges the need for repentance. It must begin with us.

Eternal Father, we confess that we as a nation have sinned against You and are in desperate need of Your forgiveness. We realise that the only sustainable change comes from You. We therefore yield ourselves to You and pray that You would change our hearts and come heal our land.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

celtakirk@yahoo.com