How we view prayer.
Prayer is engagement. At the very opening of Scripture, God chose to walk with humanity in the cool of the day. That vision of communion and partnership has always been the heartbeat of prayer. Not retreat from the world, but aligning with God in the midst of it.
When Jesus prayed, heaven opened. When the early Church prayed, cities were rocked. Whenever nations have been renewed throughout history, they were renewed because men and women lifted their voices together before the throne of God. Prayer is so critical; it is the furnace where courage is forged, the place where God’s will breaks into our homes, neighborhoods, schools, our government, and beyond.
But prayer does not stop with personal renewal. It always extends outward to the community where God has placed us. When Israel was carried into exile, the Lord gave them this command: “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jer 29:7). Prayer draws us into the work of God for the flourishing of the place we live. To pray for our county and our city is to confess that our destiny is tied to theirs, that God’s peace in our streets becomes our peace as well.
This is why we pray. To align our hearts with God’s mission, to bear responsibility for the welfare of our communities, and to invite His kingdom into every corner of public and private life.
Arthur Tappan Pierson once said, “There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer.”
That is a sobering truth. Awakening, renewal, and reform never begin in Washington, D.C. It begins in living rooms, coffee shops, and sanctuaries where men humble themselves before God. It begins when fathers pray over their families, when citizens cry out for justice and righteousness to take root in the public square, and when churches stop competing and start contending together for the kingdom.
If we want restoration in our land, it must begin here in our county, in our city, with us.
The necessity of prayer.
Learning from the prayers of Jesus and the early Church.
The Gospels show Jesus praying with depth and direction. He prayed before choosing disciples (Luke 6:12-13). He prayed for the will of the Father to be done (Luke 22:42). He prayed for His followers to be kept in unity and truth (John 17:11, 17). He prayed in thanksgiving when God revealed His kingdom to the humble (Matt 11:25-26), and He prayed with anguish in Gethsemane as He surrendered His life into the Father’s hands (Luke 22:44-46).
The book of Acts shows the early Church carrying this same rhythm into their life together. They prayed in upper rooms, waiting for the Spirit to empower them. They prayed when threatened, asking not for safety but for boldness. They prayed for one another’s healing, for provision, for perseverance through persecution, and for the advance of the Gospel into cities and nations (Acts 13:2-3). They prayed for leaders and government officials (1 Tim 2:1-2), knowing that authority belongs to God (Rom 13:1-4) and is meant to serve His purposes.
Their prayers carried both intimacy and weight. Communion with the Father, and intercession for the righteousness and peace of their communities.
If Jesus and the early Church gave themselves to these kinds of prayers, how much more should we in our county and city?
We should pray for workers to be raised up and sent into the harvest (Matt 9:37-38).
We should pray for strength when darkness presses in (Luke 22:43).
We should pray for the welfare of our city, believing that God’s peace in our community becomes our peace as well (Jer 29:7)
We should pray for the unity of the Church, that we might be one (John 17:21).
We should pray for perseverance, that we would endure trials with faith and courage (Heb 10:36).
We should pray for our government officials and those in authority, that they would govern with justice and humility (1 Tim 2:1-2).
We should pray for peace and righteousness to take root in our neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces (Isa 32:17-18).
We should pray for one another, that none would fall away, but all would stand firm in Christ (Col 1:9-11).
Prayer is where communion with God becomes the wellspring of courage. It is where men are formed to carry the weight of responsibility in the public square, with faith not fear.
Our dream and prayer.
John Wesley once said: “I continue to dream and pray about a revival of holiness in our day that moves forth in mission and creates authentic community in which each person can be unleashed through the empowerment of the Spirit to fulfill God’s creational intentions.”
That dream is still before us. And it is our prayer that men in this county would rise up as watchmen on the walls (Isa 62:6-7), as fathers who cover their homes (Josh 24:15), as citizens who care for the good of the city (Jer 29:7), and as disciples who contend for Christ’s name to be honored here (Jude 3).
For revival in the hearts of God’s people in our county and city churches (Ps 85:6).
For God to heal our land and bring fruitfulness, blessing, and peace (2 Chr 7:14; Lev 26:4-6).
For unity across the whole Body of Christ, transcending competition and division (Eph 4:3-6).
For the welfare of our county and city, that God would establish justice, peace, and prosperity here, and that in seeking its good we might also find blessing (Jer 29:7).
For government leaders in our county and city to govern with wisdom, humility, and justice according to God’s principles (Rom 13:1-4; Prov 11:14).
For the Gospel to reach and transform the next generation, especially in our schools (Ps 78:4-7; Matt 19:14).
For men to rise as faithful husbands, fathers, and leaders who model integrity in both public and private life (1 Tim 3:1-5).
For courage to engage the public square with truth and grace, refusing apathy and despair (Eph 6:19-20; Col 4:5-6).