Pray for Australia as flood water continues to rise The Phantom Intercessor - 18 Jan 2011
Our friend June Knop from the Salvation Army in Australia writes to ask us to pray for her country as they experience unprecedented flooding across many states.
Record breaking rains since December have resulted in devastating floods across vast areas of Australia. Flooding in the state of Queensland alone covers an area equivalent to Texas, or France and Germany combined.
In Queensland floods have inundated 22 towns and stranded more than 200,000 people, causing the closure of major coal mines and one of the country’s major sugar export ports. Floods are also being experienced in the states of New South Wales, Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.
Residents of Victoria are bracing themselves today for a major flood event. Some 4,000 people in more than 40 towns are already affected by rising flood waters.
Many people have had to leave their homes, travellers are stranded, and so many across states are struggling to come to terms with the loss of loved ones, the destruction of homes, and an uncertain future.
To date hundreds of Salvation Army personnel have served thousands of meals and provided vital support to affected communities and emergency crews, comforting the grieving and assist wherever is needed.
The Salvation Army has now launched a Flood Appeal to help direct financial aid to flood-affected communities. To make a donation please visit www.salvationarmy.com.au
Please Pray
In an event like this people can be overcome with a sense of complete loss and overwhelmed with their situation to the point that they lose hope for the future. Please pray that a sense of hope will be released over them. That even in this desperate situation they feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and therefore have a sense that they are not alone.
Many, although insured for storm damage, are not insured for flood damage. Please pray that the generosity of donations will cover the personal cost of property recovery and allow for all to get back on their feet.
Entire communities have seen loved ones and neighbours swept away to their death and are forever changed. Pray that they will be ministered to by the Holy Spirit and comforted in their time of extreme loss and that their security will be restored.
Pray that courage will be released individually and communally, to rebuild and start again. For those who are incapacitated, pray that others will come alongside them and help them in this area.
Lord hear the cries of your people and release healing in every form in the areas affected by flood. Open their ears and eyes to hear and see you at work around them and within them. Let them be aware of the moving of the Holy Spirit and although devastating, allow this situation to open up everyone to an experience of you that cannot be denied, that will reshape forever their outlook for the future.
Amen