Nigeria is not well.

Nigerians in Nigeria instinctively know this.

Nigerians abroad are keenly aware of it.

Heck, even non-Nigerians can probably attest to this.

I could make a long list of the ills troubling our nation or even point fingers at the usual suspects, but I find it more prudent to get right to my point.

In Daniel 8, the prophet Daniel was shown visions of successive kingdoms that would ascend to world dominance through history right up until the future return of Jesus Christ and establishment of His future kingdom. Unlike reactions to words of prophecies one might hear today, Daniel explains in (8:27 - MSG) that in response to the overwhelming revelations shown to him, “I, Daniel, walked around in a daze, unwell for days. Then I got a grip on myself and went back to work taking care of the king’s affairs. But I continued to be upset by the vision.”

For reasons I can’t fully unpack in this blog post, I have had a similar “troubling in my spirit” for the nation of Nigeria, especially as we stand on the brink of 2019 and prepare to launch into 2020. It would seem the Holy Spirit is indicating there is a time of abrupt change about to take place in the nation where the old order of things are about to be shaken up.

I am not a prophet, so I dare not go any further than my inkling, but simply urge all Nigerian Christ-followers that if there ever was a time for us to get on our knees and seek YAHWEH’s face in repentance for our nation, NOW IS THE TIME!

In response to the prophet Daniel’s troubling dream, and in combination with his studying of the scripture, which revealed that the time was set for God’s promise for His nation to unfold, Daniel got on his knees, repented on behalf of his countrymen, and sought the Lord’s favor in prayer. A prophetic prayer, which by the way, resulted in an immediate heavenly visitation where the visiting angel expressed to him (v.20-23), “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.“

I understand that the context for Daniel’s prayer is radically different than what ails Nigeria, but there is much that is transferable in what He sought God for and what we as Nigerians must now seek God for as we enter into the year 2020. I have adapted Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9:2-19 for our nation, Nigeria. So, please pray this prayer with me in this new year, (everyday if you have to) that our homeland becomes an oak of righteousness, a mighty lampstand in Africa, and a kingdom-beachhead from where the Gospel goes forth to the rest of the world.

A PROPHETIC PRAYER OF REPENTANCE FOR NIGERIA

“I beheld the shame and suffering of my brothers and sisters and the state of moral corruption my people had fallen into, therefore I turned to the Lord God of heaven and pleaded with Him in prayer.

My Lord Jesus and my God, hear my prayers and confession on behalf of Nigeria.

Jesus, you are my nation’s redeemer and king. You are the author of life and the creator of all things. Your love endures forever, and you have never, and will never forsake those who are called by your name. It’s to you, O Lord that I confess my sins and my people’s sins today. 

We have sinned and done wrong before you. We have been wicked and have made a mockery of your Holy Name. We have invented a god of our own imagination - a god we can command at will and insist moves according to our timing and plans. We have done so pridefully and called it “faith prayer.” We have not listened to your Biblical instruction to humble ourselves before you and turn from our wicked ways. 

Lord, you are righteous and we are unholy. Today, our nation is covered with shame. Every one of us, in the land, spread across the continents abroad, both near and far, all carry the stigma of our nation’s sin. Our sins follow us wherever we go. We, our leaders, and our ancestors, have been unfaithful to you. 

We have engaged in murder, both in the wicked act itself and in the way we have treated our neighbors. We have engaged in idolatry, both in the man-made images we have bowed to and in the pursuits we have placed ahead of you. The corruption we blame our leaders for has also been present in our interactions with one another. We have lied, cheated, and engaged in every form of sexual immorality. We have selfishly chased after our own individual glory and neglected to care for the needy among us. We have claimed to speak in your name and on your behalf, when in reality, it was our own vain ambition we were pursuing. 

O Lord, how great is our sin! Were we to write them all out, the earth itself could not contain it. From our oldest to our youngest, we have ALL sinned against you Lord. Were you to pour out your wrath on our land, we acknowledge that you would be justified and right in your judgment on us.

So Lord, today we humble ourselves before you. We bow our hearts and our heads in repentance before you O great king of kings. Forgive our sins and have mercy on us according to your unfailing love and according to your great compassion. Against you, first and foremost, have we sinned and done evil in your sight.  Cleanse us with the blood of the Lamb, your Son, Jesus Christ. Turn our hearts to Him in repentance, and cancel the great debt we owe you. Cover us with the righteousness of Christ that we may appear faultless and blameless before your throne. 

Create in us a pure heart and make us a pure nation. Restore to us the joy of your salvation, and may a song of gladness rise from our land again. Grant us a humble and willing spirit to sustain us and keep us continually in tune with your Holy Spirit. 

O Lord God, look with favor on our land and replenish us. May our borders once again overflow in abundance and may our children dance freely in the streets. Give ear, our God, and hear. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because YOU ARE merciful and loving. 

Lord, listen. Lord, hear and act. For your sake and for your glory, do not delay, for we eagerly desire to bear your name and be a witness of your goodness to the nations watching. Hear us O Lord, and heal our land.

It’s in the name of our Lord, Savior, and King, Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.”