Pray for Australia
The Canberra Declaration community across Australia is very excited at the major turnaround in the nation because of the united prayer for the election. That turnaround seems to be continuing looking at the secular newspapers since the day of the election.
Headlines like “God Help Us” in the Daily Telegraph, referring to Chris Bowen’s statement that Labor must reconnect with people of faith, are not unusual in the secular media anymore. The ongoing persecution of Israel Folau continues to elicit support from both Christians and unbelievers. Best of all, ordinary people are discussing faith and the importance of Christian values like never before.
The team at the Canberra Declaration has never seen such a level of unified pushback against overtly evil political policy in an election. Furthermore, we have never seen such united, fervent prayer and fasting for an election in the history of our nation. The prayer effort for our nation in the 18 May 2019 Federal Election was unprecedented — and so was the miracle!
All of the Christian leaders, individual prayer warriors and Christian reformers and activists we talk to say the same thing. We have to keep moving forward. We have to keep on praying. We have to keep on making a stand for the truth.
We feel the same imperative, and so does Ps Margaret Court. She proposed a strategic plan to Pray for Australia to the Canberra Declaration team. Our team has held consultations with key church leaders, Christian groups and prayer leaders. Together, we have sharpened the spear of united prayer into an agreed document that will become the overarching constitution for our prayers for the nation over the coming years.
We know we have to encourage more prayer in local churches and more combined church prayer in our communities, regions, towns and cities. Moreover, we need a united focus for our prayers. Jesus said in Matthew 18:19, “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”
To see such a revival and renewal of faith we believe we have to see eight strategic areas addressed:
- Gospel explosion
- Raising up of godly political leaders
- Greater freedom of speech
- Regeneration in education
- Restoration of families
- Rebirth of sexual integrity
- Revival of the dignity of life
- National transformation through spiritual renewal
When thinking about these strategic prayer points, the words attributed to Martin Luther come to mind: “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battle front besides is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”
We are encouraging people to fast once a week much like John Wesley did. We suggest Wednesday but the day you choose is up to you. Secondly, we are calling for people to celebrate communion daily in prayer for our nation, centred around these eight strategic prayer points. This is not a legal impost rather an invitation of the heart to join in prayer for our nation in a coordinated and united fashion.
It is our hope that this united prayer strategy could be owned by all as was the 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting for the election. The ensuing miracle on election day in May was strong testimony to the power of united, focused prayer and fasting.
