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by Tim Edwards, Australian Indigenous Christian Leader.

Intention
God is a merciful God who gives us all a chance to return to Him.

Scripture
“I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD. “I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up. People staggered from town to town for water but did not get enough to drink, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.
Amos 4:6-8

Reflection
How many times do people make requests for God to do something significant in their life, or this case in our nation, and expect a response without asking for forgiveness?

Over the past year we have traveled extensively by road nationally, and seen the many drought-stricken areas, but also seen some lush flourishing land that seemed to be blessed by God.

Our question is, how can some parts of Australia receive abundant rain, and yet there’s also severe drought in our land?

As we read in these verses from Amos 4:6-8, we see how God caused rain to fall on one area and withheld the rain from another area before harvest time.

The reason God withheld the rain is because people had turned away from Him. In our nation over the past years, ungodly people of Australia in agreement with our Governments voted and made some major decisions that opposed the Word of God, which could have caused this drought.

Nationally there are discussions about climate change, but there’s also been a major spiritual climate change.

But God is a merciful God, who gives us all a chance to turn from our wicked ways and return to Him; this is called repentance.

I believe rain will come when intercessors pray and repent on behalf of our nation, and believe not only for a natural harvest but a great spiritual harvest.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we stand in the gap on behalf of the land in Jesus’ name, as You asked in Ezekiel 22:30, “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land.”

We pray for the gift of repentance. Give us a heart to change, because as we do, you will hear our prayers, forgive our sin and heal our land and send the rain. Thank you for changing the spiritual climate across our nation in Jesus’ Name. Amen.