Let Us Thank God For His Peace Over Our Nation

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. …Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations – Psalm 100:1-5.

As individuals and as a nation, we have countless reasons to thank God and praise His mighty name. Some people go about life without knowing what they really should be thankful for. Unlike those people, we can list, among other things, that we are thankful to God for our lives, for the air we breathe, the food we eat, the shelter over our head, our families and friends as well as for our various jobs. We are grateful to God for His steadfast love, mercy, faithfulness and protection for us.

We thank God that we live in a country that grants us the right and freedom of worship and association, thereby allowing us to worship Him. We are grateful for all the resources He has given us and most importantly the peace that He has bestowed on Ghana amidst our ethnic and ideological diversities, and the tensions created by this political season.

Before the December 7 elections, some people were really apprehensive that there will be widespread violence on the day of elections and afterwards. They were therefore between and betwixt. They did not know whether they should risk going to their polling stations to cast their vote or staying in the comfort of their homes. The West was skeptical about the country going through the process peacefully. For instance, there were debates in the media as regards whether Ghana could hold credible and peaceful elections or present another typical case of post election violence in Africa.

However, in those moments of indecisiveness and doubt, God reminded us of His promise to us as a nation: You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you,…Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you'- 2 Chronicles 20:17.

God admonishes us, just as He did with the people of Judah who feared an impending attack from a 3-nation alliance, to call on Him in their hour of need: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know- Jeremiah 33:3. Like the early Christians, He asked us allow His power lead and direct us instead of our fear of man: “Do not be afraid,…I am your shield and your very great reward- Genesis 15:1-3.

In light of the forestated scriptures and many other assurances of God, we went before the throne in prayers with our anxieties, apprehensions and doubts to receive confirmation from Him that He will indeed protect and deliver us from those who want to cause mayhem as well as bless Ghana with His peace. The Lord heard our prayers and plea, and His answer is the general peace we enjoyed during and still enjoy today.

As Christians, we should be confident that His peace will continue to reign over us amidst the tension of a Presidential Run Off because of other assurances He makes to us. At this crucial time in our political history God promises us that: Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10. “…My eyes and my heart will always be there. - 1 Kings 9:3. Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you-Hebrews 13:5. Again we read from Psalm 145:18-20 that: The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; He hears their cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love Him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

Our God is good. He has compassion on all He has made- Psalm 145:9. He does not owe us anything, yet He gives us everything. He opens His hands and satisfies the desires of every living thing. He is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all He has made. His faithfulness continues through all generations. His covenants with the early Christians at various stages of their redemption are the same wonderful covenants He makes with us as we follow Him every day: If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love…- John 15:10

With this surety and promises from God, let us go out again and vote massively during the run off on December 28, while we allow the Spirit to direct us and His peace reign over the entire nation. Our individual prayer before and after the election should be St Francis of Assisi's prayer for peace, and this is as follows:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy; O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. Beloved, let your mouth speak in praise of the God. Praise His holy name for ever and ever.