Friday 9 July, 2021 – Lords will on earth as it is in heaven

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Heal Country, heal our nation

July 4th -11th 2021 is Naidoc week in Australia. It is a time to listen, learn and celebrate together the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year Naidoc week is themed “Heal Country, heal our nation.” Heal Country is a call to seek greater protection of lands, waters, sacred sites and cultural heritage. Our daily digests this week will focus on God’s creation and our part in it.

God has entrusted this earth to the people he has made, to both enjoy the earth and be responsible for it. Some of my deepest moments of awe and praise of God have come as I am stunned by the beauty of this land. I am daily renewed by its freshness.

But we have all been led astray by the evil one and made pacts with him. I have forsaken the good gifts of God for the counterfeit gifts of evil. The earth has suffered some of the consequences of my sin and groans as a result.

But Jesus made a way! A way to be forgiven, a way to be healed, a way to be guided past the schemes of the evil one. He is the bridge between heaven and earth, he brings heavenly realities back into my life. I belong to Jesus and that means I am a child of God!

This means that I am now bridge, and that I have the ability (and responsibility) to call on God’s will to be made visible on the earth, for the earth to feel his healing. God’s Kingdom encompasses all of creation, “Lord bring your Kingdom onto the earth, heal our country, and where needed, heal our hearts first!  Amen.”

Written by Andrew Mellor