The Lord has been speaking to me the last two weeks about blessing. We are to bless. We are to bless those who curse us and revile us. We are to bless our children and our home. We are to bless to bless our city and we are to be a blessing. So how does that work?
Jeremiah 29:7 gives us an important piece of advice and prayer strategy. We are to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
The word “prosper” is the word “shalom” more commonly known as the word for peace. But it really means so much more. It means safety, rest, prosperity, wealth, health, favor and well-being.
Last week we prayed over our states, governors and leadership. This week, as we pray for our cities, let us pray over our mayors, sheriffs, police, city councilors, school systems and school board, families, etc. This is why city-by-city started in the first place—to take back our cities.
Father, we lift up our city (name) and declare that it is blessed. We pray first over the leadership that they will be filled with Your wisdom and seek Your face. May this city be established on righteousness and may the leaders, police, first responders, teachers, and all in authority recognize You as the supreme authority.
We pray over Mayor (name) and declare that he/she and their staff will make wise and righteous decisions that will benefit the citizens of this city. That the voting process in the city is not tainted and will not use machines that skew the vote. If there are any elected officials in the city who are seeking their own gain and benefit or desire to turn our city to ungodly behaviors, Lord we pray first that they will have an encounter with You and come to know You and be changed completely. If they will not, we ask that they be removed and replaced with one who will follow after Your plans and purposes.
We pray for our schools, the principals, teachers and staff that they will train up the students with righteousness. We pray over the curriculum that any curriculum currently in use that promotes unrighteousness and ungodly behaviors/ideas would be removed and replaced. We pray that the students will be protected and that schools will be a safe environment for them. We pray for teachers that will be free to train up students using the Bible as a foundation and will encourage, train up and speak godly wisdom to the students.
We pray over our sheriff, police officers and first responders. Lord we ask for a hedge of protection over them. We pray that all would do their job well and protect all citizens. They they would follow the law. We pray that any who are corrupt would be exposed and removed from the force. We also pray that they will have an encounter with You to know You.
We pray that our city is crime free, color free and murder free. We speak peace unto (city name) and say that you will prosper and so will the citizens within you. We say that you are a peaceable habitation and a quiet resting place. That in you the Lord will be honored and revered.
We declare that businesses, churches, schools and families will prosper within you. We call for revival to be poured out upon (city name) and that the spirit of division, pride, offense, deception, anger and rage be uprooted and that any evil assignment and demonic strongholds would be abolished.
Father we thank you that this city will prosper and as it does, so will we.