It was a difficult climb down. I had to hold on to a wire that was drilled into the side of a mountain. Holding onto the “rock” took on a whole new meaning. But as I hiked down Mount Arbel on my trip to Israel last year, God gave me some wondrous revelations: We can have an impact on our city and our region even though it may seem big and impenetrable. When we ask the Lord to give us His perspective on the area we live in, He will respond to our prayers.
The peak of Mount Arbel is 181 meters above sea level. The view is breathtaking. I could see almost all of Galilee into the Golan Heights including Safed, Tiberias and much of the Sea of Galilee. Also very clear to me, standing on top of the mountain looking out over the land below, were the divisions in the land and the boundaries that have been put in place over time. From this point of view, I could see the definable characteristics of each section. Gazing at the land from a higher perspective, I was reminded that we all need a broader point of view of our regions.
Seek Him Within the Boundaries
Most of us tend to see the negative in our surroundings. We forget to look at the good that is going on. God has given each area a gift. The principalities rule through distorting that gift. Our prayers call forth the gift and restore the peace and prosperity of a region—bringing it into alignment with the will of God.
The Lord tells us to seek Him within the boundaries we live. The city you live in needs you. Our region needs your voice. Join me in lifting our prayers for healing, prosperity, salvations and revival!
All the way back to Genesis the Bible mentions regions and territories. We read about regions given as an inheritance and battles being fought so that someone could claim the land. We learn how the land was used to produce crops and materials that would help the people and, in some cases, the land was destroyed due to the sin in the land.
God has determined the boundaries of where people live, so that we shall seek The Lord within those boundaries (Acts 17:26-27). We are taught in Jeremiah 29:7 that we are to “seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive and pray to The Lord for it for in its peace you will have peace.”
Prayer Can Transform Regions
I once heard a story about a missionary who was handing out tracks concerning the Lord Jesus. As the missionary walked down one side of the street, no one was receptive. However, when he crossed the street, people accepted the tracks and wanted to know more about Jesus. Even more striking is that one man had refused a track earlier but once he’d crossed the street, accepted the track—then gave his heart to The Lord. The boundary of the countries was right down the middle of the street.
Many times we’ve heard of people coming together to pray for their cities and countries.Regions have been transformed. Places that were poverty stricken now thrive with new opportunities for their citizens to earn a living. Produce that was not growing in these areas now grows large record size pieces of fruit. Also, crime and murder rates are almost none existent.
Have you ever thought about why you live where you live? God has given us the ability to influence the regions we live in. He has a purpose for our cities, regions and countries. We need to seek Him for His will, for His strategy and His wisdom on how to pray. God has formed our cities and the enemy will do anything to stop the region from being all God has created it to be.
“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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14
It is very important that we humble ourselves and pray for God’s righteousness to invade our region with healing, deliverance and His perfect will.
Use Your Spiritual Authority
And when we humble ourselves, we also need to stand guard, pray and seek the Lord’s face. Just as we learn in Isaiah 62:2, “I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of The Lord do not keep silent.” In this present generation, we all need to be watchman on the walls of our regions.
So, let’s do some practical things. Pray and ask The Lord to give you a higher perspective— His point-of-view—on the area in which you live. Take a walk through your town or city and be willing to change the way you see it. Pray for God to give you wisdom and strategies on how to pray.
Begin to pray for the governmental officials in your area. Pray for the crime rate to go down and for people to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!
Remember, as a child of God you have a gift, spiritual authority. Prayer will change our perspective, pray knowing you can stand before God for the city and He will respond. Our God is a big God there is nothing He cannot do.
By Kelly Martin
Director, The Upper Room Community—intercessory prayer arm of Christ Church