Cover se C tion
How to Pray for Comm A
By Elaine Helms
lthough there are churches in most of the towns and cities across North America, our communities for the most part do not reflect their existence. Nor is the impact of the salt and light of followers of Christ being realized. Jesus summed up the problem in Matthew 5:13-16: The salt that has lost its saltiness is worthless, and a light is not to be hidden under a bushel.
Are we exuding the sweet aroma of the knowl- edge of Christ in every place as described in 2 Cor- inthians 2:14? Or could a big cause of the problems in our communities rest on our shoulders due to our disobedience and inaction? The problems are real, but there is something all of us can do to see our communities transformed by God’s marvelous grace. The most effective effort we can make is to take the problems to the only One who can solve them. When we pray, we join God in doing the work He desires to do. Ezekiel 22:30 reminds us that God is searching for an intercessor to stand in the gap for Him. Further in Ezekiel 36:36-37, God says, “Then the nations that remain around you will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken and I will do [it]. This is what the Lord God
says: I will respond to the house of Israel and do this for them.” God invites and desires for us to be involved with Him in His work, so that His Holy Name will not be profaned. We don’t deserve His grace, but for His name’s sake He is willing. (See Isaiah 43:25, and Ezekiel 36:22-23.)
Since God initiates, empowers and answers prayer, there are ways in which we can pray confidently and see our communities transformed by God. Consider the following suggestions and ask God how He wants you to pray specifically for your community.
Acknowledge that God has placed you where you live for His purposes. Seek the welfare of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it has prosperity, you will prosper (Jeremiah 29:7).
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onmission.com
Pray for pastors of all Christian churches in your community to get to know each other and pray together for the community. See John 5:19, 30, 44, 10:14; and Titus 2:7, “Set an example of good works yourself, with integrity and dignity in your teaching.”
Pray that there would be such love for one another in the faith community that lost people would be drawn by the sweet aroma of Christ. Jesus
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