Yes, he did.  In fact, not only did the Lord hear our prayers but I believe he was also right there with us, because where two or three or thousands are gathered in his name, there he is in their midst.

We met as a nation to give thanks to God, for we recognise and acknowledge him as the Almighty and Sovereign God, the Creator of the universe.

God has been good to Ghana.  From pre-independence as Gold Coast across liberation to Republic and beyond, God has blessed us.  

We are a small country with huge resources.

Name them—the Atlantic Ocean, the arable land, rivers and streams, mountains and valleys, forests and grasslands, crude oil deposits, minerals, rocks, sunshine, rainfall, and a host of other resources.

Ghanaians at home and abroad, highly-talented people, who have blessed this nation and the world with art, literature, music, business, engineering, education, agriculture, health delivery, and other expertise are part of our heritage.

Counting our blessings as a nation and naming them one by one, we cannot overlook the peace we enjoy, the unity among our people that foster national cohesion, and the hospitality we extend to other nationals.

Therefore, on the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, we brought our gratitude to God, praising and thanking him for his goodness towards us.

Each of us must have our personal moments of gratitude to the Lord.

Later that day on July 1 when my co-workers and I gathered in response to this national call for prayer and thanksgiving, we read 2 Chronicles 7:14.

This popular scripture must have been read and analysed at all the prayer locations, and the message it contains speaks volumes to us.  

Let’s examine this scripture phrase by phrase:

• “If my people, who are called by my name . . .”

The main reason why God calls any people “my people” is that his name is on the people. 

Not only did he create us, but he also wants us to relate with him as Father and children.

It is great to approach God in prayer, and greater still to relate with him as our Father.

That way, we would reach out to him regularly, not just once in a while.  His invitation has always been, “Come to me” (Isaiah 55:1).

• “. . . will humble themselves . . .”  We should not be proud and boastful if we relate with God and draw close to him.

 For “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

• “. . . and seek my face . . .”  One psalmist wrote, “One thing I ask of the Lord, and that will I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 27:4).  This must be our desire also, so as to have God turn his face towards us, be gracious to us, and give us his peace.

• “. . . and turn from their wicked ways . . .”  In Ghana, our “wicked ways” include corruption, sexual immorality, bloodshed, injustices, indiscipline, occultism, idol worship, pride, robbery, looting, hatred, and deception.  Those who walk with God should not walk in such wickedness.

• “. . . then I will hear from heaven . . .” God hears us when we pray as individuals and as a nation.  The only thing that shortens his arms from saving and blocks his ears from hearing is sin—the short word that carries dreadful consequences (Isaiah 59:1, 2).

• “. . . and I will forgive their sin . . .”  When we bow before God our Father, we need his forgiveness for our wickedness.

Therefore, true repentance and broken-heartedness must accompany our national prayers for God to forgive us and answer our prayers.

• “. . . and will heal their land.”  We are sick physically, spiritually, economically, emotionally, and mentally.

When we spend large sums of money to begin infrastructural projects only to abandon them, aren’t we sick?  

When we destroy our rivers, forests, and the land that feed us, are we all right?

When we throw rubbish into gutters that causes flooding, aren’t we sick?

God wants to heal us and our land if, while we pray as a nation, we turn away from our wickedness, humble ourselves, and seek his face.

May the Lord heal us of our shortcomings and rid our country of the diseases that plague us!

It was great to come together to pray, for the nation that prays together stays together.

May God bless our homeland Ghana, and make our nation great and strong.

The writer is a publisher, author, writer-trainer and CEO of Step Publishers.

E-mail: [email protected]