Blessed in the City

You will be blessed in the city. - Deuteronomy 28:3

Some people think of cities as dirty, necessary evils. Sort of a cramped and smelly version of the good life we’re supposed to live out in the suburbs or perhaps even out in the wild. But the Bible sees it differently.

Early on God makes it clear that there is a blessing for the city dwellers as well. In fact, when the Bible pictures heaven, it consistently is described this way: ‘I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God’ (Revelation 21:2). Heaven is described as a city.

So when we pray, “Your kingdom come on earth as in heaven” it’s reasonable to pray specifically for your city that way, since in heaven God’s kingdom comes in a city!

Take some time today to pray around the shape we call The House of Prayer (below) for the city you live in. The shape is just a visual reworking of the Lord’s Prayer. Here it is for you to pray for your city today:

The Premise: pray that those in your city experience deep connection and belovedness with God

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,

Priorities: for God’s ways and values to be established in the city

your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Provision: for all the people in the city to have work, health care, and food

Give us today
our daily bread.

Peacemaking: that people in your city would work out their conflict in health ways

And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Protection: that God would reduce crime and help those in your city to avoid destructive decisions

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

• (Matthew 6:9-13