Dave's Diary

This Psalm is “a prayer for the nation”. I am using it to pray for South Africa. If you are not South African, please simply insert your own nation’s name and pray for it instead.

Psalm 85

LORD my God:
When I look back,
I see how You have blessed South Africa
time and again, in Your mercy:
forgiving our wickedness,
pardoning our rebellions,
and not treating us with
the wrath our wrongdoings deserved.

So now, I pray, once again –
Please draw us back to Yourself,
not because we are worthy
but because of Your unfailing love.
Please forgive us, revive us
and restore our well-being again.

In my heart I sense You gently whispering
that if we, Your people in this land,
will remain steadfast,
in honouring and obeying You
and calling on You in prayer,
then
Your immeasurable blessing,
Your saving grace and
Your beautiful presence
will rest upon our land.

And then,
surely,
South Africa will be transformed
and will become a place of
love,
faithfulness,
righteousness
and peace –
as her people
reach for You,
return to You,
honour and obey You,
and as You, LORD,
bless us with
Your presence,
Your prosperity
and Your peace.
So let it be! Amen.

As we pray for our land, here’s the beautiful hymn/prayer for South Africa by John Gardener, recorded by my friend and colleague Rowan Rogers