“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34

We are in a season when our nation gears up to celebrate National Day. The noise of helicopters and planes practicing formation thrills the avid aircraft spotters while it sends reverberating soundbites of assurance that this tiny island is well defended. The colours of the national flags hung in schools, constituencies, and flats engage our sights and fill our hearts with the togetherness we strive to possess as one people. And yes, what about those NDP songs that tug the heart and move us to tears? This is home truly…we are Singapore, Singaporeans! Yet behind the visuals and sounds of our national celebration the days leading up to 9 August ought to focus Christians to the best gift we can give our land, our prayers for her.

Someone provocatively remarked, “the church will always get the government she deserves.” Now while the statement may be too simplistic as we all know that life is seldom as clean as input equates output, nevertheless it does relay to Christians the potential of our contribution and the effect it has on our leaders and our nation. Scripture supports this view. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, “Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in godliness and reverence.” The link between our prayers and its impact over a country is clearly stated. When Christians pray, the grace and mercy of God are over a nation as we supplicate for his righteousness to exalt the land. When Christians don’t pray, we can reason conversely the blessing may be withheld.

Let the days ahead be filled with many gifts of prayer for Singapore. Do that in your quiet time, at your family devotion, together in corporate prayer meetings. The mystery of our intercession is as such that we would not know how it moves the hand of God but our obedience to pray as directed from scripture assures us that it would. As this year’s NDP theme song inspires us to “shine your light”, let us do so, the Spirit’s way.

Ps Loke Chi Shyan