Five Ways to Transform Your Community

“Seek the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you . . . Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7).

Have you considered that the town in which you live is part of your kingdom inheritance, and how you exercise your spiritual authority in it determines the rewards you’ll receive in the age to come (See Matthew 24:45-47, Luke 19:12-27, 1 Corinthians 6:2, Revelation 2:26) What we say about, pray about, and do in our community impacts eternity.

Here are five practical ways to revitalize your city:

1. Prayer walk. By yourself or in a small group, walk through the streets of your town and bless them, the houses, and offer any other prayers God puts on your heart. A group of us did this one summer, and by our third prayer walk, it felt like the walls of Jericho had come down, and we were actively praying for (and seeing physical healing) of several residents!
2. Find out the names of the local pastors and pray for them and their congregations. Healthy communities prosper through healthy churches. Pastors can always use more prayer, and asking for more of the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13) is a great way to start.
3. Contribute to the food bank, fire company, and/or any para-church organizations (pregnancy centers, etc). Caring for widows and orphans in their distress is pure and faultless religion (James 1:27).
4. Pray for the mayor, chief of police, and any other local authorities. Authority is under attack like never before in our land, and safety and wisdom on behalf of these public servants is vital to a peaceful town.
5. Ask The Lord how He wants you to get involved. Perhaps God would have you get involved in mentoring in the public schools. Maybe there is a neighbor whom He wants you to reach out to who needs salvation. It could be that He wants you at the playground to speak life into single parents and give love to attention-starved children by taking an interest in what they have to say and pushing them on the swings. Anything He asks you to do will require a sacrifice of your time and convenience, but He will reward you.

Your neighborhood is one of your primary spheres of influence. One or two Christians can transform a town (James 5:16). God has appointed you where you are. If revival can come to a town, it can come to an entire nation.

What is God asking you to do in your community?