Day 18: Australian Indigenous Youth Suicide Crisis
Intention
The suicide crisis among our Indigenous youth is a spiritual battle that we must fight with prayer and fasting.
Scripture
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
—John 10:10“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
—2 Corinthians 1:3-4“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
—3 John 1:2
Reflection
The epidemic of youth suicide, especially within the Indigenous communities of Australia, is devastating. It has reached such an extreme point that families and communities have become numb in their grief because of the frequency of deaths and suicide attempts — even by children who are not yet in their teen years.
With such high rates of suicide, this is clearly spiritual warfare, and it has to be battled through prayer and fasting.
There are many negative reasons why youth suicide happens in Indigenous communities — whether physical and mental abuse; sexual abuse; neglect; ongoing family violence; an inability of victims to defend themselves; or a lack of male role models because of high incarceration rates.
There are also many Indigenous youth who are high achievers, but who don’t have enough support within their families and communities to help them to further reach their goals. As a result, they get bullied and they see themselves as worthless and hopeless — all of which affects their mental health and spiritual life.
The evil one has plans to kill and destroy our lives. Often, his attack begins with negative thoughts that become stronger and eventually turn into strongholds that pull people so far down into depression, hopelessness and defeat that they want to take their own lives.
For young people whose minds are not yet developed to cope with depression, there can also be the involvement of demonic spirits, with voices telling them they are worthless and hopeless and that the only way out is take your life. This is too common.
We need to remember that we have a Comforter who is the Holy Spirit, who has shown up many times in life — especially in times of desperate need, and at the time of our salvation when we came to faith.
Though the enemy seems to show up uninvited to torment and drag us down, let us pray that the Holy Spirit will show up, not only to bring comfort but also deliverance to our Australian Indigenous youth who are facing this crisis of suicide.
Prayer
Lord, we know that You want us to prosper in all things and to be in health, especially in our souls. We pray for a prosperous, healthy soul for our Indigenous youth, and a healthy life and mind. We pray for strength in their lives and minds, and also that You would bring mentors and much-needed support like Elders, leaders, family and friends. We also pray for divine intervention and visitations for those who are constantly tormented by demonic forces commissioned by the spirit of death. We are believing the Lord Jesus Christ to transform these young ones in their minds, giving them hope and deliverance from their sense of shame and hopelessness. We pray this through the power of the Holy Spirit, and Christ Jesus who intercedes on our behalf. Amen.
Prayer Points for October 2020
1. Pray for a Breakthrough for LIFE, specifically an end to abortion and euthanasia in our nation. Exodus 20:13
2. Pray for a Breakthrough for INDIGENOUS LIFE, specifically an end to high youth suicide and premature death due to ill health. 3 John 1:2
3. Pray for new POLITICIANS for LIFE, especially pray for the upcoming elections in Queensland (31st October), ACT (17th October) + USA (3 November) & New Zealand (17 October). Proverbs 29:2
4. Pray for the Revitalisation of SPIRITUAL LIFE, namely repentance, renewal & transformation, that our nation might return to God. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Tim Edwards is an Australian Indigenous Christian leader who has been in ministry for over 30 years. Tim`s ministry, Australian Christian Indigenous Apostolic Ministry, is best described as a cross-cultural Apostolic & Prophetic ‘bridge building ministry` that God has anointed to link Australian Indigenous Christians, Community, and Churches to the wider Body of Christ. The ministry mission is to reach, teach, & release people for the Kingdom of God. Tim is an anointed worship leader who goes hard after the presence of God and teaches God’s Word with simplicity and profound insight. Tim’s powerful testimonies of ‘visit in Heavenly places’ & ‘surviving a tragedy at sea’ have led many people to the Lord.
We invite you to join the daily 1-hour Zoom video National Prayer Call every night:
DATES: 1st– 31st October 2020
TIME: 8pm-9pm AEST
ZOOM URL LINK: https://zoom.us/j/776881184
ZOOM MEETING ID: 776881184
See Zoom tutorial here.
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