Your Prayers
The book Jeremiah, in chapter twenty-nine, verse seven, says prayer is the one thing you and your City need. The monumental hidden gem in this verse is, your prayer is the need for change. Your mail carrier, grocery clerk, city council members, first responders, and more, need your specific and regular prayers. As do you, for them.
I know, it can sound like a mind twister, but it isn’t?
Jeremiah 29:7, promises peace for you and your fellow City neighbor. Do you want peace, prosperity, and safety? They are waiting for you on the other side of your prayers.
Don’t You Already Have Peace as A Believer?
Yes, we all receive peace because of our guarantee through Christ for heaven. But, do you gripe about your neighbors or complain about people’s driving? I don’t know what God’s full promise of peace will be for you, but if you choose to pray for your City, you will gain a peace living in your zip code you have not had before.
Prosperity Is Wrong for A Christian
In the original word used for peace in this bible verse, prosperity is an optional meaning. As is the word safety. The most basic meaning of prosperity is the good you gain working toward a goal. This definition reveals we each have more prosperity than we can count. Would you say rewards and safety are a bad thing to pray for your neighbor? I wouldn’t either, and that is the compassionate component of Christianity.
What to Pray for Your Neighbor
Is it really okay to ask for earthly peace for someone? Our Scripture tells us to. Would you really pray for a rotten day for people who don’t know God and have no hope? Just as we would instruct our children to play nicely with everyone, let’s pray nicely for everyone. Because the one thing you and your City needs are your prayers.
Have I Convinced You?
Your prayers are the one thing your City needs, and you need them too. You can start by reading your local news and thanking God for all the recent graduates in your City. Or you can pray about a specific local news event. You will soon find there is no shortage of people and topics to pray for yourself and your City. May God bless you and your neighbor with peace, prosperity, and safety.
Keep Walking on Mustard Seeds,
Michele Weisman
P.S. I am not responsible for the new friendships and volunteer opportunities you’re drawn to once you do the one thing you and your City need, prayer. However, I would love your testimony about praying for your City. Let me know in the comments. 😊
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Great post! And I LOVE the P.S. 😂 …not responsible for the friendships…
Thank you, Deana! It is so true! I have found it impossible to pray for others and NOT find myself in the middle of community. 🙂 Thanks for chiming in!
Praying for the new graduates in our city: I have read this less than an hour after participating in a graduation ceremony for special-needs students.
One of the members of my fife and drum corps is a special-needs teacher, and years ago he asked our corps to come and perform at the ceremony. This is NOT your dad’s graduation, or yours, or mine. These students – graduates! – are having the best time celebrating themselves – it is their day: they’ve worked hard to achieve their diplomas, and they’ve earned the right to be proud and shout it out. (Actually, this year’s class was a little rowdier than in previous years, which the audience all found amusing and endearing.) The program, which was established 50 years ago, provides schooling for these students in half a dozen school systems, and some students from towns without a local program commute from as far away as 40 miles daily to attend one of the participating schools.
The program collaborates with local businesses so that students can learn how to get and keep a job, so when they graduate, they have a resume. Every graduate receiving his or her diploma and crossing the stage is wildly cheered by fellow graduates, family members, still-matriculating students.
My corps has provided music for at least ten years, maybe longer (I can’t remember). It is huge fun, and I consider it one of the highlights of my year. I think this participation is a form of prayer from everyone involved – the love and support for those members of our society who need a helping hand to find their unique way to shine.
Sally, this is a beautiful picture of loving your neighbor. I would agree you are all answered prayer to one another! This was a joy to read and brought be back to a very special, special-needs class in my elementary school years ago. I will be thanking God tonight for these ‘rowdy’ graduates. Thank you for sharing a window into this great and most touching graduation.