How My Mindset Changed From Cursing and Blaming the Government
I joined God’s Lighthouse in 2021/2022, and this was where I heard teachings on government and leadership strongly for the first time. Not that I hadn’t heard about 1 Timothy 2:1–3 before, which says:
Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Saviour.
But, I had heard preachers speak about it lightly, just read it, or use it to raise dangerous prayers, claiming that the Bible didn’t specify the kind of prayers we should pray for our leaders. But the first day I heard Pastor Ita speak about it, I was just confused, shocked, and even a bit angry. Like, “You mean I should pray for my president now? Hmm.” Well, I thought he was probably joking, or maybe he was political and indirectly worked for the president.
On second thought, I assumed Pastor didn’t know any better and was one of those who allowed Christianity to enter their heads too much, so they couldn’t reason well and become weaklings. Pastor would dwell on this topic for a long time, sometimes during Sunday meetings, and it didn’t go down well with me. I remember leaving church meetings thinking that all Pastor did today was just talk politics, and I ended up not getting anything from the meeting.
However, as time passed, the Lord helped me to begin to accept the things taught, and I prayed along whenever Pastor asked us to pray. I also started trying to pray for the government and leadership in my private prayer time. It’s not like I even tried hard, but I believe the events that followed this little and very weak obedience of mine were just God proving to me that His son was right, and that this was His will. This is because I still felt awkward about it. “How can presidents be God’s servants after all the dirty politics they play?” I wondered. I didn’t even believe that anyone involved in politics could be a child of God! Nevertheless, I still obeyed and prayed for them, though not passionately.
The Unexpected Blessings
After my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 2022, I came back to the East, and for the very first time, I got into an empowerment program. We were taken to a master trainer to train us on the skill we registered for. After that, we were taken to UNIZIK Business School to get training on how to turn that skill into a business and how to grow our business. It didn’t stop there; we were empowered with money to buy equipment. This was very strange because I had given up hope when it came to benefiting anything from this country or my state. Others would get it, but not me.
I also got the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 grant. My colleague and some of my family members started calling me “The Governor’s Daughter” because I always got the grants I applied for. Whenever I heard the Governor drive past with his entourage, I would immediately begin to pray and bless him, and ask that God should prosper his work for that day and keep him and his family safe.
I also bless God for using the Governor and the government of my state to address the bad roads we had in the state. There’s been a significant improvement in the ambience of my state. My state looks more organized and beautiful now compared to before, when I and my sister would be ashamed to call Awka our state capital because it was not organized at all.
Although these changes affected people’s businesses and I wasn’t really happy about that, it was around that same period Pastor taught that a good government doesn’t seek to appease the people or govern the way the people want, but does what’s best for her people. And this may not be pleasing to them at that time, but in the long run, it is for their good.
A Burden to Intercede
I also recall that months ago, I joined a prayer challenge to help my prayer life. One of those days, I think I fasted, and as I started praying with some prayer focus in mind, I had the impression to pray for the Governor and my state.
It felt weird because I never imagined that the Lord would want me to fast and then pray for my state. After much hesitation, I obeyed—and I noticed that I prayed with so much passion in my heart, and tears were just flowing freely.
I know it was the Holy Spirit because I don’t think I had that kind of compassion towards my Governor and my state. I didn’t know what to pray, so I just let the Holy Spirit lead me. I’d hear it in my mind, and I’d speak it with my mouth. But I remember asking that God should purify my state and arrest insecurity.
I think by the next day or two, the government launched a program against insecurity in the state. I had also asked that God should give the Governor and his team strategies on how to fight it. I was so happy and was sure that this was why the Lord led me to pray. Now I know that the Lord raises His children to pray, but I was shocked and also grateful that I could pray for my state!
More Changes in the Land
A few months ago, the Governor started going after native doctors and witch doctors who were encouraging yahoo boys, kidnappers, and armed robbers in the state. He gave instructions to remove shrines from public places like market squares, village squares, streams and rivers, and other places, stating that those places are meant for people to enjoy, not for them to be scared and avoid.
Then, just two months ago, the Governor went after indecent dressing in the state.
I thank God for all these things and even the ability to see anything good or say anything good about the government. Look at me testifying about the good work which the Lord has done through the government. This itself is a miracle, and I thank God for changing my mindset, helping me please Him, and for blessing me through the government. May the Lord be praised.
— Sis F. Ez
21st May 2025
© God’s Lighthouse
