DAY 25. Environmental Destruction Is a Threat to Acholiland, Acholi Peace.

DAY 25 OF 40 DAYS. Environmental Destruction Is a Threat to Acholiland, Acholi Peace.

85) Prayer Against Environmental Destruction in Acholiland.

Heavenly Father, we are aware that Explosive weapons can devastate a landscape. They can reduce buildings to toxic rubble and destroy long-cherished trees. They can contaminate the soil for decades and cause poisons to leach into once healthy rivers. They can decimate ecosystems and disturb the harmony of nature. They kill humans and animals without reflection and tip the world out of balance.

We pray, Lord, that Acholi people protect the environment around them with equal zeal as they protect other human beings or their own relatives around them. The destruction of creation inevitably alters our ethics and our worship. A creation care advocate Matthew Sleeth points out that, whether one understands or not, they affirm anthropogenic climate change, so the Acholi People can intuitively understand that the world is dying. Therefore, should mourn the emptying of their skies and detest to see damages not only of the earth but also their faith.

We know that every disappearance of plant and animal species is a loss of something made with infinite love and creativity. Nature is an icon—a window into heaven. When humans destroy the icon, we can no longer hear its call to worship. We should remember that God has clearly placed humans in a position of responsibility over the creation.

Genesis 2:15
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

Heavenly Father, we recognize that all created things belong to you our God, and that we are accountable to You, as stewards of the creation. Our God; You commission us to rule over the creation in a way that sustains, protects, and enhances your works so that all creation may fulfil the purposes of what our God intended for it. Help strengthen us to manage the environment not simply for our own benefit but for God′s glory. Amen.

We are aware, that Humans being more important than the rest of the creation; help strengthen us and give us more of your wisdom, so we may make efforts for both meeting the needs of people and addressing environmental issues. However, many of our environmental problems negatively impact people. Strengthen the Acholi to take good care of the environment in which we live, so that Acholi people may not suffer because of not caring for the non-human parts of the creation and not preserving the intricate interactions among them as an important part of seeking justice and divine favour for the Acholi people.

Heavenly Father, whether others argue that protecting the environment is unimportant in comparison to other God-given tasks such as sharing the gospel. But God is concerned with the physical world as well as the spiritual world, and restoration of the creation is part of the good news of Christ. We pray that as the Acholi people will not neglect the task of sharing the good news of Christ′s redeeming work in our lives, they should not also neglect the work of “tending the garden.” Caring for the land and God′s creation is part of our human service to God and an integral part of our role as servant leaders in God′s kingdom. We worship You, our God and Creator more fully as we see Your Glory in Your creation and as we participate in Your work of sustaining and restoring proper relationships within the creation.

Genesis 1:25-28
“God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. ′ So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground. ′”

Heavenly Father, we understand that we as much as the children of Israel have been given the same mandate to take care of the earth, multiply and subdue it. Therefore, we pray that the Acholi people take this charge to protect Acholiland against land degradation and pollution with all that they have. We pray for better investors who are not only after money but will also care for and protect the land. You loved us so much Lord, that you gave us Acholiland and made it the food basket of Uganda, to till forever and leave it unscathed for our children’s children. Father, thank you for Acholiland, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 8:3-8
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, The moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4. What is man that you are mindful of him? and the son of man that you care for him? 5. You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honour. 6. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: 7. All flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, 8. The birds of the air, and the fish if the sea, all that swim in the paths of the seas.”

Heavenly Father: “When we consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, The moon and the stars, which you have set in place; Who are we the Acholi people that you are mindful of us. For you have given us good land without any land destroying agents. God of blessings, The universe sings of your glory. Deepen our gratitude for all you have made; And awaken in us a renewed commitment; To care for the earth and each other. Inspire leaders with openness to listen to those most affected by climate change; And with courage to act urgently and wisely, so that our common home may be healed and restored; And all people, and generations to come, may delight in it, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 24:1-2
“The earth is the Lord′s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.”

God of love; We praise you for the magnificence of creation. We marvel at both its grandeur; And the intricacies of its smallest microscopic life forms. As we reflect on the creation, help us to take in its true significance. This is your work in which you have invested deeply of yourself. It is the costly outpouring of your creativity. So, we ask you to instil in us a proper reverence for all that you have made – a genuine respect for all environments and all creatures. Lord, we are in awe of the formidable power of nature, But, in these times, may we also come to comprehend its complex fragility. Almighty God, you created the world and gave it into our care so that, in obedience to you; We might serve all people: Inspire us to use the riches of creation with wisdom, and to ensure that their blessings are shared by all; That, trusting in your bounty, all people may be Empowered to seek freedom from poverty, famine, and oppression, in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Romans 8:22-23
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

All praise be yours, My Lord. Through all that you have made. And first my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day… How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendour! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness. All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars; In the heavens you have made them, bright and precious and fair. All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air… All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water, So useful, lowly, precious, and pure. All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire; Through whom you brighten up the night… All praise be yours, my Lord, through Acholi land, our mother, Who feeds us…and produces various fruits With coloured flowers and herb. Praise and bless my Lord, and give him thanks; And serve him with great humility Reverence; For God’s Creation

Your Creation O Lord, grant us the grace to grow deeper in our respect of And care for Acholi land. Lord, hear our prayer, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

O Lord, help us to recognize the sacredness of all your creatures as signs of your wondrous love. Lord, hear our prayer. Lord, help us turn from the selfish consumption of Resources meant for all and to see the impacts of our choices on the poor and vulnerable. Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, we pray for an end to the Waste, and desecration of Acholiland, For access to the fruits of creation. To be shared equally among all people; And for our communities and nation to find sustenance; In the fruits of Acholi land, and the water God has given us Wisdom to Care for Acholiland, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lord, grant us the wisdom to care for Acholiland and till it. Help us to act now for the good of future generations and all your creatures. Help us to become instruments of a new creation, Founded on the covenant of your love, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

We Thank You, Creator God; We thank you, creator God, for the goodly heritage you offer us, from green Acholiland, to the deep salt seas, and for the abundant world we share with your creation. Keep us so mindful of its needs and all those with whom we share, that open to your Spirit we may discern and practice all that makes for its wellbeing, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Gardens of Acholi land are Rich; The gardens are rich with diversity; rich with plants of a hundred families; In the space between the trees; With all the colours and fragrances. Basil, mint, and lavender; Great Mystery keep my remembrance pure; Raspberry, Apple, Rose; Great Mystery fill my heart with love, Dill, anise, tansy; Holy winds blow in me. Rhododendron, zinnia; May our prayer be beautiful; May our remembrance O’ Great Mystery; Be as incense to thee; In the sacred grove of eternity.

As we smell and remember, The ancient forests of earth. The Beauty of Acholiland; O’ God, we thank you for Acholiland, our home. For always the wide and blue sky and the blessed sun; For the everlasting hills; And the never-resting winds; For trees and the common grass underfoot. We thank you for our senses; By which we hear the songs of birds; And see the splendour of the summer fields; And taste of the autumn fruits; And rejoice in the feel of the snow; And smell the breath of the spring.

Grant us a heart wide open to all this beauty; And save our souls from being so blind; That we pass unseeing; When even the common thorn bush; Is aflame with your glory, O’ God our creator; Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

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