EMELDA MUSONDA
TOMORROW, October 18, the nation gathers again at the Showgrounds in Lusaka to pray and fast in fulfilment of the National Day of Prayer, which was declared in 2015 by President Lungu.
October 18, which is a public holiday, has been set aside for the nation to seek God’s intervention over its affairs.

This year, the day of prayer and fasting is different from the previous ones held so far.

Other than just waiting for the actual national day of prayer for the nation to gather together, the National House of Prayer board declared a 40-day period of prayer and fasting leading to the day.
While it is commendable that some clergy and other citizens adhered to this declaration seriously, there are many Zambians who took the period to be business as usual.
This is an indication that many people were either not fully sensitised on the programme or they do not just understand how much the nation desperately needs these prayers.
The nation now than ever before is faced with so many social ills, among other vexing challenges.
One does not need to be a prophet to determine the need for the nation to seek God’s intervention. One just needs to look around or turn to the media to see that the nation is indeed in need of prayer.
This year’s theme for the National Day of Prayer is ‘Promoting peace and reconciliation and consolidating national unity in diversity’. This is one area where we need God’s intervention.
Today, there is so much rivalry among politicians which is a threat to continued peace. It is expected that politicians should differ in ideologies, but beyond that, they are all sons and daughters of mother Zambia.
But what we are experiencing today is rivalry beyond ideologies where others now seem to take politics as a matter of life and death.
As the nation gathers tomorrow, it will be prudent for all politicians, regardless of political party affiliation, to put their differences aside and seek God in unison. The Bible tells us that it pleases God when brethren dwell in unity and there He commends a blessing (Psalms 33:1-3).
As we petition God tomorrow, let’s ask Him to heal the hearts of politicians from the wounds they have inflicted on one another and for them to reconcile one with the other.
We should not also take the peace we have enjoyed for over five decades for granted. Tomorrow should therefore be an opportunity to thank God for the peace we have enjoyed so far and ask him to sustain it.
The rate at which the moral fiber of our society is degenerating is terrifying.
Our young people today are an endangered species due to moral decay and social ills.
Recently, the country was taken aback when 70 teenagers hosted a sex party. We have also heard of how young people have been using shopping malls over weekends as sex dens. The level of alcohol and drug abuse is like never seen before. Our young people no longer have an iota of shame and their consciences seem seared.
This is why we find a lot of young people patronising bars while others freely move with bottles of alcohol on the streets. Such and many more occurrences are but a tip of the ice-berg pointing us to the need for prayer so that God can transform and preserve our future leaders.
We are living in times where older generations and parents in particular are also failing in their duties as role models.
Stories of adultery, divorce, corruption, murder, and gender-based violence seem to be the order of day.
Lately, we have witnessed an increase in passion killings where both men and women are dying at the hands of their spouses. We therefore need to ask God to not only heal and reconcile politicians but also couples and families at large.
Last year alone, it was reported that the cases of divorce recorded were 28,000 and the main cause being infidelity. This means 28,000 families disintegrated in 2017 alone. If families, which are pillars of society, crumble, it means society cannot hold, too. We need God to strengthen and preserve families and our nation as a whole.
Holding positions of leadership, especially at national level, is not an easy task. It comes with enormous responsibility which at a certain point eludes human capacity and wisdom.
We therefore need to pray for God’s wisdom and guidance over our leaders as they make decisions affecting millions of Zambians. The Bible obligates us to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Amid high levels of unpatriotism among citizens who are ready to sacrifice national interest at the altar of self-expedience, we need to pray for God’s intervention. It is impossible to develop if citizens do not love and believe in their country and as such cannot sacrifice their personal interests for the greater good of the nation.
We should also take time to pray for the body of Christ to be strengthened to be able to provide spiritual guidance to the nation.
At a time that the devil is clandestinely packaging sin and social abominations such as abortion, and homosexuality as rights, we need the church to be strong to offer uncompromised spiritual guidance.
In the era of increased false prophets and strange religions leading many astray, we need to pray for God to preserve souls by raising more true Christians who are going to preach the undiluted gospel of Jesus Christ for the salvation of souls. We also need to pray that God will preserve Zambia and align it with the declaration of a Christian nation. The list of things to pray for is indeed endless.
Let us therefore gather in numbers tomorrow to call upon the name of the Lord – our ever present help in times of trouble.
As we gather tomorrow, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”.
Above all, we should be comforted that we are praying to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.
God bless Zambia!
The author is Zambia Daily Mail editorials editor.