“Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.” —Jeremiah 29:7
The above verse was spoken in an era of political unrest. God’s people had been taken captive under an oppressive and wicked leader and forced to live in a foreign city. Yet it was to exiles that God gave the above instructions as well as the promise that He had a plan to give them “a future and a hope” (Jer. 29:11).
As Christ followers, we can only ever be exiles and foreigners in this land. Our ultimate hope is in the New Jerusalem, whose architect and builder is God (Heb. 11:10). While our spiritual welfare is secure, our human welfare isn’t guaranteed. Our mission is to pray for our cities, our nation, our world.
As you pray, keep this perspective: God has promised us a future hope that can never be shaken. But God is attentive to the needs of His children, even as we live in exile in this place that is not our home.
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31-Day Cry Out! Challenge (ReviveOurHearts.com, 2020)
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
Pray for the leaders in your local community and country, that they would follow the Lord and obey His Word.