Pray for Rain Day 17: Authority in Christ
by Andrew Scarborough, Youth for Christ (YFC) National Director, member of executive, National Day of Prayer & Fasting.
Intention
The authority we have, in Christ, to pray for rain and renewal.
Scripture
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!
Mark 4:39-41
Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.
John 20:21-23
Reflection
Australia is in a spiritual and physical drought. We are setting records in the rates at which we youth, in particular, are leaving the church or growing up with a complete lack of knowledge of God. Sin is rampant, and our nation’s values are trending further and further away from the Kingdom of God.
As we all know, we are also setting records in our weather trends as well. Dams are running out of water, whole towns are now planning to live off trucked in supplies.
So what are we to do about the state of our nation, spiritually and physically?
Through Jesus, God has shown us that we can make a difference. Throughout His life, He cast out demons, healed the sick, shifted weather events, and forgave sin.
Jesus says in John 20:21 that He is sending us as He was sent. We are being sent out with the same authority He had over sin and over the weather (1 John 4:17 also reminds us that we are in this world as He is!!)
We as Christians have great authority, and it’s time to use it. Pray for national repentance and spiritual renewal for our nation. Pray also for rain, pray with confidence, and pray with authority. It is no longer you that lives, but Christ who lives in you. So pray as Christ did, pray with authority! (See also Galatians 2:20)
Prayer
In the name of Jesus Christ, I call Australia to repentance.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I call the rain to fall on this nation, spiritually and physically, across all the regions that need it. Amen.
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