WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?

• God hates injustice. (Isaiah 61:8)

• Jesus came to save the oppressed, and to set the captives free. (Luke 4:18)

• God hears and answers prayers. (I John 5:14-15)

• God is able to do all things. (Ephesians 3:20)

• Justice is a righteous cause.  (Isaiah 58:3-10)

• When the land prospers, we also prosper. (Jeremiah 29:7)

• God is looking for men and women to stand in the gap for their land. (2 Cor 16:9, Ezekiel 22:30)

• God promises that if we humble ourselves and pray, he will heal our land. (2 Cor 7:14)

ON WHOSE AUTHORITY DO WE PRAY?

We pray on the authority of Christ Jesus. (Phil 2:5-11, John 15:16)

WHEN SHOULD WE PRAY?

The time to pray is NOW. You can pray anytime and anywhere; in the morning when you wake up, in the shower, while driving, on the bus, during your lunch break, running errands etc. Depending on your schedule, here are 3 timing strategies that would help you stay consistent and effective in prayer:

1. Prayer Watches – There are 8 watches, every 3 hours to make up the 24 hours we have in the day. The prayer watches are 12am, 3am, 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, and 9pm. You can pick all or any of them that is convenient for you to pray daily. While fasting, I usually would pray 7 watches for about an hour each, so it is totally up to you to pick which time/s works for you and stick to it.

2. Hourly Prayer – You can pray for 5mins every hour. E.g Pray at 5am for 5mins, pray at 6am for 5mins, pray at 7am for 5mins etc. This is a very great way to carry God along throughout your day. It also would help you to easily pray for a longer amount of time daily; you can get up to 1-2 hours of prayer a daily if you do this, and really build your prayer altar. Set your alarm for every hour that you are awake and once you hear it ring, stop everything and pray for 5 minutes.

3. Stretched Timing – This is when you pray for 1 hour, 3 hours, 7 hours, 12 hours…at a stretch.. I highly recommend this for praying in the spirit. Praying in tongues is one of the most transformational spiritual practices you can ever engage in. It would change your life completely and massively.

HOW SHOULD WE PRAY?

7 Ways To Pray for Nigeria

1. Tongues (Prayer Language) – Praying in the Spirit is one of the most effective ways to pray as a believer. The bible let us know that we don’t really know how to pray. But who best to pray for us but the spirit of God who knows all things? There is no purer form of prayer than praying in tongues. The Holy Spirit will speak mysteries through you, reveal things from the past, present and future to you, and cause a raw shift in your situation. To pray for Nigeria, if you have no words, praying in tongues will help you properly pray, and see solid results.

2. Songs (Praise & Worship) – Music is an amazing tool for both spiritual warfare and prophetic declarations. Praise God. Worship God. Dance. Sing Songs. Write Songs. Jubilate. Celebrate. Cry if you have too. Shout a victory song. David was a prayer warrior who used music to praise, and also war. If you are too tired to pray, just feel really weak in your spirit, or if you find yourself in a situation where you can’t find words to pray, turn to music. Get good worship music that can usher you into the spirit and presence of God.

   Here are gospel playlists you may like: Spotify, YouTube

3. Scripture (Confess) – What better way to pray than by using God’s word? I have found praying scripture to be very powerful. God’s word is ye and amen. It is set in stone and irreversible. When we pray using the word, it carries a supernatural anointing of solution. Confess God’s word over any given situation and ask that the word of the Lord be made manifest in your life. In this instance, ask that the word of the Lord be made manifest over Nigeria. (E.g According to Deut. 28:13, Nigeria, you will be the head and not the tail, you will be above only and not be beneath in Jesus’ name).

4. Decree and Declare (Command) – What do you want to see? What is your prayer point? The Lord has said that whatever we decree in heaven shall be established, and that whatever we bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven. So command the shift that you want to see take place in Nigeria. (E.g. I decree that for Nigeria, no more bloodshed, in Jesus’ name).

5. Gratitude (Thanksgiving Prayer) – Many things we pray for today, in God’s timeline has already been done. Because God sees the end from the beginning, he knows that your current situation wouldn’t be the end of you and that better days are ahead. This is why we can pray with gratitude. We pray through thanksgiving. (E.g thank you Lord for turning Nigeria around and restoring her glory).

6. Personal Intercession (Praying with names) – This is a very intimate type of prayer, where you pray for individuals specifically. For the current #EndSars situation in Nigeria, you can write down names of persons in your prayer journal and intercede for them daily. (E.g find the name of anyone who has lost their lives from Sars and begin to intercede for their families, that they experience peace, come to know Christ and be comforted. You can also do this for the leaders, current victims, protesters etc.

7. Journal (Write, Doodle, Draw) – Pray by writing. Certain things may be too heavy for you to speak, you may find comfort in prayer journaling. Journal your heart desires, wishes and prayers just as you would talk to God. Be as creative as you like. Doodle, draw, list, paint…feel free to express yourself. Prayer is communication with God.

   Don’t have a a prayer journal? Get one here

WHAT SHOULD WE PRAY?

10 Prayer Points for Nigeria

1. Mercy – Ask the Lord for mercy for the nation (the people, leaders, laws, idol worship etc.)

2. Change – Pray for the change you want to see. What do you you want the future of Nigeria to look like? Ask God.

3. Strength for this generation – Ask for strength for this generation, that we would not be tired and we would have grace to push until change comes and Nigeria is better.

4. Safety for protesters – Pray for protection for protesters, that God shield and cover them, keep them safe from every harm.

5. Wisdom for leaders – Pray for the leaders that God give them wisdom to do the right thing and lead Nigeria to its next level.

6. Justice for lost lives – Pray for justice to be served and for judgement to be brought on the wicked and on every system of oppression.

7. Comfort for families of the departed – Pray for families of the departed to be comforted and kept by the love of the Lord. Pray that God provide for them, wipe their tears and be with them.

8. Peace – Pray for peace to flood the nation, and for every form of fear and anxiety to be removed from hearts and homes.

9. Victory – Pray for victory, that the fight for justice, and a better Nigeria would lead to a victorious shout.

10. Revival – Pray for revival, that revival fire would flood the land with souls won, pain removed, bodies healed, minds healed, spirits ignited, people of God freshly anointed, new prophetic voices of healing and transformation brith.

SCRIPTURES TO PRAY

FOR THE NATION – NIGERIA

PROVERBS 14:34

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. 

JOB 12:23-25

He makes nations great, and destroys them;
he enlarges nations, and disperses them.
He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he makes them wander in a trackless waste.
They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.

PSALM 22:27-28

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,
or dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.

PSALMS 24:7

Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.

PSALM 2

Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
“Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
“Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.”

“I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”

Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

PSALM 102:15 

The nations will fear the name of the Lord, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.

FOR THE LEADERS

DANIEL 2:21

He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

PSALM 2:10-11

Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling.

PROVERBS 11:14

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.

PROVERBS 21:1

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,
Like the rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes.

FOR THE PEOPLE

PROVERBS 2:8 

For he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.

MATTHEW 6:10

Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

1 KINGS 8:28

Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.

ISAIAH 43:5-10

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf.
All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right, so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.

THE WORD OF THE LORD FOR NIGERIA

EZEKIEL 18:1-3

Then another message came to me from the LORD:

“Why do you quote this proverb concerning the land of Israel: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste’?

As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel (Nigeria).

EZEKIEL 13

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: ‘Hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins. You have not gone up to the breaches in the wall to repair it for the people of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord. Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words. Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The Lord declares,” though I have not spoken?

“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign Lord. My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.

“‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?”

“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury. I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord. So I will pour out my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord.”’

“Now, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own? You have profaned me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live.

“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds. I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall prey to your power. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives, therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will save my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

Hope this helps you and gives you a good starting point on why, what, when, where and how to pray for Nigeria. May God hear our hearts cry In Jesus name. #ENDSARS.

Don’t forget to share to help someone out! xo

To read my prayer for Nigeria, click here

God bless you, and God bless Nigeria!