Australia’s Largest Christian News Site

by David Jackson, Western Air Care Inc, Farmers Relief Charity, Gilgandra NSW

Intention
Why are our farmers suffering?

Scripture
Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”
John 9:1-3 NKJV

Reflection
This chapter in John deals with the man who was born blind. Verse 1 says that Jesus passed by and noticed a man who had been blind from his birth. His disciples then asked Him a question, “Who sinned, the man or his parents that he should be born blind?” Jesus answered their question by not answering their question but rather by making a statement that bought healing to the blind man as well as giving us a promise for the future.

That promise is just as effective today as it was when spoken by Jesus Himself. He said, neither the blind man nor his parents have sinned, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. The disciples were trying to work it out with their own reasoning and hence find somewhere to lay blame, but Jesus had the mind of the Father and spoke accordingly.

I see a very similar situation with the severe difficult times we are facing in our nation today, particularly with the devastating drought conditions we are seeing across this Great Southland of the Holy Spirit.

One of the most frequently asked questions I am confronted with as we work amongst those deeply affected by the drought is WHY. Why are stock dying, why are good people suffering, why doesn’t it rain?

We could ask twenty different people the same question and get twenty different reasons why. But rather than trying, like the disciples, to get the answer, why don’t we as Christians who are called by His Name, take responsibility for the state of our nation and get on our knees before Almighty God, humble ourselves, repent and ask God to heal our land.

I know there are many things our nation has been involved with that grieve the heart of God. We have tried to move Him out of so many places, we have agreed to and voted in the affirmative on issues that are totally opposed to the word of God, but He still loves this great nation dearly.

I believe it is up to us at this point in time to do as 2 Chronicles 7-14 says: humble ourselves, pray without ceasing, and turn from our wicked ways.

HE will hear, HE will forgive, and HE will heal our land.

Prayer
Our Loving Father, we acknowledge today that we as Your people have sometimes fallen short of our responsibility of being about The Father’s business. Your Word tells us that if we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, that You will take care of everything else.

Today Father, as Your people who are called by Your name, we humble ourselves, we repent of our lethargy and we seek Your face on behalf of this great nation of Australia, that we would see a wave of repentance and revival with an outpouring of spiritual rain, as well as the natural rain right across this dry land. We ask this in faith believing for great things to happen in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.