A promise for the people of your city

view captured by my friend Chesna Koch

A spotlight is shown onto the needs of those in your community in this season. Toys are collected by the local fire station, the food bank receives can goods, end-of-the-year charitable donations are made. The bells are rung and coins are tossed in the red bucket by a smiling volunteer. 

But we blink and the holidays are over and the spotlight grows dim again until the next giving season. Unless, we hold to the promise for the people of our city.

That when it was really dark, dismal, and depressing...

when silence was loud...

when the Voice of Truth couldn't be heard...

when the people of my city look to substances and substitutes and sex and selfishness...

when parts of town grip my heart with more confusion and less answers...

when I don't know how to fix it...

Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.

2 The people who walk in darkness
    will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
    a light will shine.
3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel,
    and its people will rejoice.
They will rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest
    and like warriors dividing the plunder.
4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery
    and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
You will break the oppressor’s rod,
    just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
5 The boots of the warrior
    and the uniforms bloodstained by war
will all be burned.
    They will be fuel for the fire.

6 For a child is born to us,
    a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His government and its peace
    will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
    for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
    will make this happen! (Isaiah 9)

Jesus came! He is God with us! He is Who walks through the dark places of my town and your town. He sees what we see (even more) and loves far deeper than we love.

And He invites us to pray for the people of our city that they may grasp His promise for us all. That even in the darkest dark, He is the brightest light. Even on the corner of 4th and Market and in the train stations, He has come for all. And I will give my city a prayer for her to know that Jesus is the Light of the World. We can give our communities a prayer packed with a promise that God will do what He said He will do and He will use us to accomplish His purposes where we live. 

Read over the text again. This time as a prayer packed with a promise over the name of your community.

Believe! Let me know the communities that you are praying over. I will join you! 

I use Bible Gateway as I study the Scriptures online.