In those days, when certain abnormal thing or catastrophe begins to happen to a community, town or nation, the elders go into finding the root course. This is because it was believed evil does not just fall on everybody at the same time without a cause. This phenomenon is seen in traditional world and religious world. Usually, when the course is determined and either the gods of the people or the Almighty God is appeased, the catastrophe would cease. When chains of evil things begin to befall a nation, it is believed a curse might be responsible. This devotional is dedicated to Nigeria particularly, given evil happenings in Nigeria across some decades now. The devotional aims at enabling Nigerians identify if all Nigerians are under God’s curse.
The Bible says in Proverbs 14: 34 that “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to anyone.” It means therefore, that where there are sins what befall a nation is reproach (escalated shame, dishonor and disgusting happenings). Even though the stand of this devotional may be contested, opinion of the author subscribed to the claim that Nigeria as a nation might have come under a curse by God. In very brief explanations we have to see what determines that a nation is going through divine curses.
A curse nation retrogresses instead of progresses. This retrogression may feature in infrastructures, financial buoyancy, quality education for the citizens, provision of social amenities and others. Yes, we might think Nigeria has beautiful buildings and good roads but these features are only in the urban cities. Nigeria Naira has lost its value seriously and falling bellows other currencies in the past ten years now. Nigeria educational standard has drastically fallen too low. Our cherished Groundnut Pyramid gone, nationally produced quality textile materials gone, federal owned refineries not functioning and so many others. A nation under a curse goes through diminishing returns in almost everything. Nations that reject God’s words or make faith in Him useless usually attract God’s curses. God says Israelites rejected His knowledge; therefore, He rejected her (Hosea 4: 6 -7). God says in verse seven “…therefore, will I change their glory into shame.”
When God’s words mean much to Nigerians, everybody saw glorious turn around. Today much has changed, brotherly love changed to bitter hate. People who are practically not devoted Christians, Islam or traditional religionists have used religion to tear Nigeria apart. Thousands of lives have gone through wanton killings of innocent ones. The religious groups which supposed to salvage Nigeria have embraced false teachings, doctrines and practices. One of these which bring shame or reproach is false prophecy. This has taken a central stage of some of the major religious bodies in Nigeria. For allowing false prophecy by any nation God says: – “And I will bring everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten” (Jer. 24: 40 NKJV).This is the curse Nigerians are passing through these days. But we can remove the curse by turning a new but good leaf. Let us all humble ourselves and agree we have failed God. Let us all return to our maker. He will turn our curses to blessing.
PRAYERS:
1. Let us sincerely tell God we acknowledge rejecting His knowledge and ask Him for mercy and forgiveness.
2. We must agree that all of us contributed in one way or the other for the sins of Nigeria today. Let us cry to God for His mercy and Love upon us once more.
3. Pray and ask God to change our unbelief to positive believe in Him, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
POSITIVE CONFESSION:
I see God remolding Nigeria again for good. It will happen in my days!!
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch