Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 6:59 — 6.5MB)
Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you’ll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today’s episode, Intercession for our Community, focuses on prayer for small communities.
Show Notes: Praying Like Jesus: Intercession for Our Community
Paga. The Hebrew word for intercession. Last week, we learned that an intercessor is one who acts, pleads, or prays on behalf of another. We are all called to stand in the gap for others. Small communities need someone to lift them up. It’s estimated that 37% of the people in the United States live in unincorporated locales.
My family is one of the 37 percent. Our small community boasts of a school, two gas stations, a dollar store, several hair salons, a nutrition drink shop, and several other small businesses. Probably close to a half-dozen churches are scattered throughout. The biggest events we host are a homecoming and Christmas parade (which circle the school campus), a car show, and a fifty-mile-long yard sale that cuts right through the heart of where I live.
I’ve lived here for forty years and want to do what I can to make it a wonderful place to reside. God’s dance floor for me is in a small community in Alabama. Next week, we’ll discuss towns and cities, but if you live unincorporated as I do, how can we pray and where do we even start?
We can focus on specific areas when we pray, like:
- It can be an elementary, middle, or high school, a daycare, or homeschooling.
- Many communities have places to congregate and worship.
- Civic organizations. Even small communities can host local service clubs, veteran’s posts, or volunteer fire and rescue departments, to name a few.
- People meeting the needs of customers in their area.
- Communities are made up of families.
Another thought here is to pray for events when several small communities gather together for the greater good. Our church recently joined in with many communities in our county to host the Special Olympics, an event that gives children and teens in our county a chance to compete, thrive, to feel special. We came together to help with athletic events, run concession stands, work with specific athletes, and overall, make sure everyone enjoyed the day. Many banding together for a specific cause.
Romans 12:9-13 in the New Living Translations says: “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.”
What great scriptures point us to how we should treat those around us. Now that we know what areas to focus on, what can we pray specifically? There are more than I can name during this podcast but here are my top five:
- We want to see every person who makes up our community come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
- Loved by God. People need to feel loved and when a person discovers the love of God, it truly changes them from the inside out.
- Servant’s-heart. We need the people in our area to have a servant’s heart so they can look at ways to help others and make a difference.
- Protective of others. My mind goes to Neighborhood Watch, which works to prevent vandalism and crime in specific communities. We can also help those less fortunate and pray we all have a mindset to protect the lives and property of those around us.
- A smile goes a long way. We can find ways to give support, confidence, and hope to those who live in our area.
I Timothy 2:1-4 in the New Living Translation says: “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”
Let’s pray: Father God, we pray for our communities, this place we call home. We ask you to watch over and protect the schools, churches, businesses, civic organizations, and families. Help each person to come to know You and feel Your great love for them. Help us all to become more servant-hearted and encouraging to those we meet each day. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
We can make a difference where we live by the simple act of prayer.
Today’s featured author is Suzie Waltner, author of Midnight Blue, a contemporary romance novel. Ten years ago, Jake Turnquist broke up with Scarlett Sykes to pursue his music. Now, at the height of his career, she’s back in his life with a daughter he knew nothing about. Will they find their way back to each other, or was their love a one-hit wonder? Learn more at suziewaltner.com/books.
Next week, we’ll focus on interceding for our towns and cities. Until then, stay determined to dance…
Links:
My debut novel, Jessie’s Hope
Remember: Intercession for Our Community
Video of the week:
I absolutely love music and each week I’d like to share a relevant song we can enjoy together.
