Pray for our City

The importance of prayer for cities!

The first time we encounter intercession in Scripture, we read about Abraham praying for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Gen 18:17-21

¹⁶Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. ¹⁷And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing… ²⁰And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, ²¹“I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.

Cities bring together many people in a relatively small area. Sin abounds and wickedness often thrives. Like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah God is looking for righteous individuals who would intercede for these cities, that souls may be saved and godliness be made possible.

Cities are important to God

Whether we look at the story of Jonah being sent to Nineveh or the prophets that were sent to Jerusalem, God often raised up His representatives to minister to cities and pray for them.

What is the solution God looks for when Jerusalem is spiritually defiled. When leaders, priests and the common man walk in sinful ways, thus endangering the city as a whole. He looks for someone that would intercede.

Ezek 22:1,30

¹Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ²“Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Yes, show her all her abominations!

³⁰“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

UPF has committed to praying for cities so that divine judgement would be averted and a way to salvation would become possible. Several Scriptures show that God commanded His people to pray for the cities they lived in.

Even in captivity, the prophet calls God’s people to pray for Babylon:

Jer 29:7

⁷And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

Isaiah reminds the watchmen to not be silent, but to remind God of His purposes for Jerusalem day and night.

Is 62:6-7

⁶I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, ⁷And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

May we as New Testament believers also be found faithful in prayer for our cities until God is glorified and His purposes are manifested in our urban communities!

Pretoria / Tshwane:

There is a promise for the capital city of South Africa that was given to intercessors and pastors. These verses form the basis of our prayer for the city of Tshwane. Pray with us that this promise will come to full manifestation.

Jer 33:9 (NIV)

‘Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honour before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.’