Your Land and My Land
Who does own our land? Years ago, an American Folk singer Woody Guthrie made a scathing condemnation about the idea that land can be owned and treated as property in his song This Land Is Your Land This Land Is My Land. “When the sun comes shining, then I was strolling and the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling. The voice was chanting as the fog was lifting this land was made for you and me” He wrote about USA, but it is also true about our sunburnt country, our land of sweeping plains, of ragged mountain ranges, of drought and flooding rains. (Dorothea Mackellar) But we know the earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Ps 24:1)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have wanted formal recognition of their historic sovereignty over this land. So, they hope that the passing of the Voice to Parliament will give them a new way to influence policies and legal decisions that affect their lives. They believe the special place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have had in Australia’s history needs to be acknowledged as well as some of their cultural laws, and spiritual beliefs. For many years there have been discussions as to how the First nation peoples could be acknowledged in our nation. This included a possible treaty or a Makarrata which is a Yolngu word meaning resolution by payback not forgiveness. It was proposed that a Makarrata Commission could supervise an agreement-making between governments. ‘Garma’ is another Yolngu word about a two-way learning process like the mixing together of saltwater and freshwater. This place where the waters meet is significant. It is a rich environment where life and ideas can thrive. It represents a balance between competing ideas that reveals a future that is better than the past. Last year Yunupingu said: “At Uluru we started a fire, a fire that we hope burns bright for Australia a negotiation of peace. A referendum is a chance to unite the country, not divide it”. What will that fire be like? Like many things involved with the Voice there are those who are not sure what will be the consequences of voting yes. It is only after a positive vote that we will be told the details of the government’s response to the Uluru Convention’s call for greater cooperation with the First Nation peoples.
Recently, Christian First Nation Leaders have heard God’s Call for them to gather in Solemn Assembly at Uluru in September 2023 to have a time of deep and solemn repentance before God. They have been convicted that they need to repent of all sin and break any ties that remain from idolatry – specifically the ancestral worship of fallen angels – ancestral spirits, demons, powers, and principalities. We know “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before Him.” (Psalm 89:14)
Let’s pray:
*For the Lord’s righteousness and justice and steadfast love and faithfulness to be shown in our government and that we as His people will embody the virtues of justice and compassion, and we will hunger and thirst for righteousness.
* That as members of His family we give to the LORD glory and strength. Give to the LORD the glory due His name. So, let’s worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! (1Chr 16:28-29)
* That Christian First nation leaders will know which are the ties from the past that need to be broken and what sins need to be repented of. That God will reveal what has been affecting our nation for many generations.
Praying for the Voice
As the referendum comes ever closer and debate over the Voice intensifies it is time to pray into the issue which will have a huge potential impact upon the future of our nation. Over coming weeks, we will highlight areas where we believe we need to concentrate prayer in order that the result of the referendum is the best outcome for Australia and in line with God’s perfect will.
Let us pray:
* For wisdom and grace for the Australian people as they vote on the referendum between October and December this year.
* Pray that wisdom and grace be also given to our First Nations people as they decide on how they will vote in the referendum.
* Pray that in the final push to the line that any motives or plans on either side of the debate will be brought out into the open and exposed for all to have the opportunity to vote with full knowledge of what is planned beyond the voice referendum.
Praying for Issues in the News
* The ALP’s National Conference is expected to harden its position on Israel in an attempt to placate the party’s left wing from attacking the AUKUS agreement thus embarrassing the Government in its relationships with the USA and Britain. The left wing of the ALP has a hatred of Israel and is seeking to have Government policy changed to recognise areas of Israel occupied by Palestinians to be referred to as “occupied” territories rather than “disputed” territories. Pray that God would overrule in the debate at the Conference and that the excellent relationship that Australia has enjoyed with Israel will not be damaged as a result of any policy change on Israel.
* The repercussion of the Brittany Higgins case continues to reverberate in ever increasing circles with more and more people being impacted by the revelations coming out on a regular basis. Please pray that the full truth will eventually come out and that everyone impacted by the case will receive full justice relative to how they were impacted by the case. Pray especially that any interference or attempted interference with our legal system will be dealt with in the strongest possible terms.
Praying for Others
This week let us pray for Somalia. Pray for those who are responsible for attacking and killing Christians. Pray that they would come to know Jesus and be transformed.
Source: Australian Prayer Network
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