Interested in making a difference or change in the lives of people in your city...Milwaukee...or any city or town in the country?
"...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14.
● What would a city look like if God were to build a city from the ground up?
● Does scripture describe such a city?
God describes the New Jerusalem in Isaiah 65:17-25
where his peace (shalom) is present.
From To Transform A City by Eric Swantson &
SamWilliams. Page 56
● There is joy V19
● Absense of weeping and crying V19
● No infant mortality V20
● People live out their full lives V20
● People build houses and live in them. VV21-22
● People will sow and reap. VV21-22
● There is fulfilling and meaningful work V22
● There is confidence that the next generation will
face a better life. VV23
● People will experience the blessing of God. VV23
● There is intergenerational family support with
family structures intact. V23
● There are rapid answers to prayer. V24
● There is an absence of violence.V25
Eric Swanson goes on to say that "A healthy
community is one where "the least of these" (Matt.25-31-46) are cared
for with the same love that we would offer to Jesus himself, were he in need of
our care."
Everything starts with Prayer!
We can pray at home alone at any time.
We could also get a friend or two and do a Prayer Walk
through our neighborhoods where we live.
If we can't or don't want to walk, we can drive down the streets and occasionally stop and get out and walk alittle or just stop and pray...get back in the car and drive to another spot. One can really cover alot of territory this way!
As we pray for our neighborhood and city, we can ask the Lord how we can be more intentional in our praying or talking with Jesus.
A few things we can pray about: Specific to Milwaukee: From 414 Live published by Milwaukee Health Dept. Office of Violence Prevention:
Vision: "Milwaukee is a safe and resilient city where the lives of all residents are valued, promoted, and protected."
We can pray Jeremiah 29.7. "Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
1. Stop the shooting
2 Promote healing and restorative Justice
3 Strengthen children, youth and families.
4 Advance economic opportunity
5. Foster safe neighborhoods
A few online resources on "Prayer Walking"
You can start right where you are...right now...and you don't have to wait for your church to get on board.
You can start alone or with a friend...
A few ideas:
Pick a day of the week and a time for a one hour walk. Start.
If your are retired, find a few friends and commit to a one hour time once a week.
Great if they are in your neighborhood.
They don't even have to be "members" of your church.
If your church is already doing prayer walks, join them!
This is what our church is doing.
Our city was divided into 15 areas
Over 100 people signed up to do the prayer walk.
25 people were in our group Territory 6. Zip code 53206
Just find some people who care enough about your city to gather together and pray for peace in your city and for the needs of all people.
Eric Swanson goes on to say that "A healthy community is one where "the least of these" (Matt.25-31-46) are cared for with the same love that we would offer to Jesus himself, were he in need of our care."
If we can't or don't want to walk, we can drive down the streets and occasionally stop and get out and walk alittle or just stop and pray...get back in the car and drive to another spot. One can really cover alot of territory this way!
As we pray for our neighborhood and city, we can ask the Lord how we can be more intentional in our praying or talking with Jesus.
We can pray Jeremiah 29.7. "Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
This is what our church is doing.
Our city was divided into 15 areas
Over 100 people signed up to do the prayer walk.
25 people were in our group Territory 6. Zip code 53206
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