What will change Africa?

The LIVE 8 experience was a phenomenon a few years ago. Estimates of up to three billion people watched the concerts on TV whilst a staggering 2.5 million were privileged to be at the concerts themselves. Whilst this has been a major success in creating awareness for poverty throughout Africa, what will it really take to change the future course of a nation?
Awareness raised and money given is a great feat! The parable of the Good Samaritan as told by Jesus highlights the importance of doing something ‘IN THE NOW!’ The Good Samaritan stopped alongside the man who had been attacked; he placed him on his donkey & took him to an inn where the injured man was cared for until he recovered. The LIVE 8 experience was just that! It is man doing everything he can do in the NOW to affect the course of a nation. It is a commendable & honourable in every way!
The real change to African nations however, will not merely come by, raising awareness to poverty, cancelling debt and handing out free condoms to combat the AID’s pandemic. Real change can only come through a change of heart!
In Proverbs 4:23 it says, ‘Above all else, guard your heart, for out of it flows the issues of life!’ The heart effectively determines the issues (or more accurately) the boundaries of life. We do according to what our heart dictates. It is a sad fact that many people who win the lottery in our nation, end up bankrupt! The reason is because they have shrunk their wealth according to the boundaries that their hearts have set in place. African nations can have debt cancelled & receive great amounts of monetary aid from the wealthier nations (and they should do), but the real issue is the heart of those who lead a country.
Only God can bring life long heart change. Scenes of poverty & deprivation move us ‘IN THE NOW’ – but God can change hearts and give us passionate causes to live for on into eternity.
They greatest thing we can do for Africa & all the nations of the world, is pray that God changes hearts! 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, ‘…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land!...’ In Psalm 51, David prayed, ‘Create in me a clean heart God & renew a right spirit within me.’ David prayed that prayer, because he knew that a changed heart means a changed life! A changed heart means a changed nation!
We should PRAY for changed hearts in those who lead the African nations!