There is a call of God on His Bride, to intercede for our nation at this time. For He is rewiring South Africa’s heart, giving her a new heart for this new season dawning upon our land.
There are two areas that can hinder our prayers: unconfessed sin and unforgiveness. We all have a role to play in the rewiring and restoration of our nation. We need to repent of the sins of our forefathers… so that our generation is cleared from that iniquity. Every race and culture group in Southern Africa have sins to confess, as there was fighting in and outside of their own camps.
Exodus 34:6-7
6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands,a forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
It takes humility to repent from the sins of our forefathers, to stand in their place and ask for forgiveness. But it takes even more humility and courage to forgive those who have wounded us. Forgiveness is the key to freedom. When we let our offenses and hurts go, we are cut free from the chains of oppression, and we become empowered to live our lives free from our past.
We can only embrace others and love from a pure heart, when we’ve encountered forgiveness and extend it to others.
The Bible is very clear, that God cannot hear our prayers if we walk in unforgiveness. Through the Grace of Jesus that has been extended to us – forgiving us when we didn’t deserve it – we must forgive others, regardless of the pain they’ve caused us.
Matthew 6:14,15
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
When a relationship has suffered great heartache and suffering, the pieces can’t be put together the same way as before. If those involved, commit to walk the road of repentance and forgiveness, putting love first, they’ll have a new relationship that will blossom over time. This is the same in South Africa today… God is giving South Africa a new heart. One that is no more bound and tied to a past of pain and suffering. He is wanting to cut her loose from the bondage of sin and bitterness.
South Africa, this is your time to be free. To sing your song of joy and victory. To walk in a unity that is your testimony to the world. For what the devil meant for harm, God will turn for good. Joseph stepped into his destiny when he forgave his brothers, setting both him and his brothers free from the sin of their past.
Genesis 50:15-21
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many peoplebshould be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
