The recent call by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on all Deltans to pray for the will of God to prevail in the state ahead of the 2023 governorship elections, again reminds us of the strategic role prayer and faith play in the election of leadership. Gov Okowa going by media reports made the call at a thanksgiving service for the blessings of God upon his family and the state at the Government House Chapel, Asaba.
“If you are to succeed in what you are doing, you must abide in God. “As a family, we will continue to abide in God because by His grace, we are able to continue and finish strong to the glory of God. “It is our belief that God will provide the resources and the men to accomplish all that we have started,” “We are not stopping people from playing politics but we need to realize that there is a purpose and we must remain loyal and committed to governance until May 29, 2023. “This is a year of politics and as politicians, we cannot avoid it. Pray with us, pray for us and pray for the state.
Indeed, Governor Okowa’s call for prayer, in our view, is in line with what is expected of a good leader. The masses and particularly Deltans must take these responsibilities seriously, as they need to imbibe this new awareness of praying for their leaders. They must principally pray for wisdom/grace to make the right choices and the direction of God as the nation races to the 2023 general election.
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In the same vein, as Nigerians pray for our public office holders, they (the masses) must also take it as a duty to pray for themselves, their household particularly their children bearing in mind that it is through them (children) that the future leaders of this great nation called Nigeria will emerge.
However, as we fervently pray, they must all (both public office holders and the masses) not fail to remember that prayer/faith without good work is dead.
For a better understanding of this position, let us cast a glance at the Christian Holy Book, the Bible; James 2:14-26, New King James Version.
It says; what does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have work? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have work.” Show me your faith without [a]your works, and I will show you my faith by [b]my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is [c]dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works, faith was made [d]perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was [e]accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
As we, therefore, journey through the year 2022, work tirelessly, and hope faithfully for a great nation where peace, unity, and justice shall reign supreme, let us look up to God our maker and talk to him through our positive actions.
Let us join our faith with that of James Weldon Johnson, to say ‘Oh God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou hast brought us far on the way; Thou who by the might lead us into the light. Keep us forever in the part, we pray. Lest our feet stray away from places, our God where we meet thee. Lest our heart is drunk with the wine of the world, and we forget thee; Shadowed beneath thy hand, may we forever stand true to our God, true to our native land’.
God Bless Delta state!
Peace Be upon Deltans!!!
God Bless Nigeria!!