Trevor Huddleston – A Prayer for Africa
As we close this week looking at the words of influential South African Christian leaders, let’s look at a famous prayer written by Fr. Trevor Huddleston.
He was an Anglican bishop from London, who was called to South Africa in the 1940s to Rosettenville in Johannesburg. He became a passionate anti-apartheid activist, and in fact Nelson Mandela is said to have believed that no other white man did more for South Africa than Trevor Huddleston. He had a tremendous influence on the young Christians of his day, and famously he wrote a prayer for Africa which goes like this:
God bless Africa,
Guard her people,
Guide her leaders,
And give her peace.
This is a lovely prayer indeed, and I want to quickly expand on its words today.
Prayers for Africa
We pray God bless Africa because in this part of the world we need His blessing! And we remember what Jesus said about blessings in his sermon on the mount – that anybody can be blessed, even those who are poor, grieving, persecuted, meek. Blessing is not about material riches, it’s about closeness with God through His grace. So yes, let’s pray for God’s blessing – for His kingdom to come, His will to be done, in Africa, as in heaven – that we may be blessed.
We also pray God, guard Africa’s people. Here in South Africa there is much crime and violence. Places that were once safe to walk around in the middle of the night are not safe to drive around in the middle of the day. Stories of murder, rape, and other violent crime abound. So we pray guard our people Lord. Please protect us from harm. But we also remember Jesus’ words, that we shouldn’t fear those who can kill us and do no more, but we should fear the one who has power to condemn us after death. So we ask for His eternal protection for our people, by saving them through His grace alone through the work of the church.
Then we pray God, guide Africa’s leaders. This is particularly fitting this week for us of course. Whoever God calls to lead this country now, and in the years to come, we pray for them – as the Bible instructs us to. And we pray for good, godly people to infiltrate the system to bring godly values and into the leadership of our country. God can do it you know. Let’s pray for it day by day by day.
Pray for African Peace
And lastly we pray God give Africa peace. We pray for things to change, systems to change, peaceful ways to prosper. We pray for the Holy Spirit who is the bringer of peace to fill the hearts of people here, so that through God’s people, peace will abound.
What a lovely prayer. But may I remind you, friends, that when we pray, we must pray in faith. How pointless to pray for things we don’t believe can or will happen. We must instead pray and believe that God will hear our prayers and answer them in His way.
Fr. Huddleston’s prayer is prayed in many Anglican churches in our country every week. Perhaps you will add it to our weekly prayers.
Friends I pray that this week’s words of inspiration from godly South Africans has inspired and helped your faith. A big thank you to those of you who donate to my ministry, it keeps me going week after week, and I am deeply grateful. Go well, and God bless you this day.
