An Article of Faith

The people of Uganda endured over two decades of misery. First, the brutal dictatorship of Idi Amin in the 1970s was responsible for as many as 500,000 deaths. After he was deposed, the country was racked by civil war, and entire regions of the country controlled by vying warlords.
One of these warlords, Joseph Koni, terrorized the country through his practice of raiding villages and kidnaping children for his army. Young girls were raped and made child-brides while the boys were forced to watch and commit unspeakable mutilations and murders.
At the height of the suffering, believers in the country began to gather to pray in the only place that afforded protection: the swamps. A cry began to be lifted to God, and the Christians believe they prayed the oppression and darkness off of the land. Today, the dictators and warlords are gone, the country is democratic and rebuilding, and their president is an outspoken Christian.
The prayer pattern of the Ugandan believers is instructive. Based loosely on the Lord’s Prayer, it has three parts.
First, prayer begins with an extended season of “hallowing” or honoring God’s Name. Before rushing to God with a list of requests, the idea is to cultivate a sense of God’s presence by giving praise and thanksgiving. This practice helps the focus be on God, fills the imagination with the greatness and power of God, and roots everything that follows in active faith.
Second, prayer continues with a season of asking God to deliver from evil. Because we live in a fallen world where Satan is active, all kinds of darkness is oppressing our world. This darkness can be external as well as internal, corporate as well as personal. But because Jesus defeated Satan through His death and resurrection, He can push the darkness off and out of our lives (James 4:7).
Finally, payer concludes with a season of asking for God’s kingdom to become established in and through us. The kingdom of God is the sphere where what God wants is done. It is God’s power, presence, and activity in action. And Jesus taught us to pray that it would be extended in our lives. In other words, wherever the King is, there is the kingdom! And since Christ lives in us as believers, we spread His righteous influence wherever we go. (Taken and adapted from: OneCry: A Nationwide Call for Spiritual Awakening. Visit www.onecry.com.)
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV.)
“If My people,” declares the LORD, “who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV.)

Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.