One of my favourite prayer topics is to pray for my Town, Rugby. I do it often but more meticulously each time I read the Observer Newspaper every Friday evening, just before I dive into the local news. I like looking back at the latest positive developments in Town, in particular how these will positively impact the residents and my family. Here are a few examples:
Matalan has opened in Town – I now know I won’t have to drive to other towns specifically for shopping in this shop which is a favourite with my family.
Similarly, the local Shopping Centre is being revamped leading to the creation of many jobs and more money flowing into and circulating within the local economy.
The local Hospital has opened a specialist macular unit to all wet age related macular degeneration eye patients in Town. They don’t have to travel long distances to obtain the same service in neighbouring counties.
My favourite fast food chain stores McDonalds and Burger King have expanded operations and also started new services.
Someone has just returned from Nepal where they volunteered to save lives after two recent earthquake disasters in that country. The bible teaches so much about helping our neighbours when they get in trouble. With the advancement in travel technology, Nepal is only a stone’s throw away by aeroplane.
I could go on and on, not to mention the many companies, individuals and the Police embarking on voluntary services all for the good of the community.
What does the bible have to say about this? Being a peace loving citizen who believes in making a positive contribution to the community the Lord has planted me in, the Lord has taught me this:
‘Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their fruit……. Work for the well-being of the city where I have sent you to and pray to the Lord for this. For if it is well with the city you live in, it will be well with you. Jeremiah 29: 5, 7 [NLT]
Friends, here is one thing I have learnt – Whatever we need, if we pray, we will be surprised that we will find it very close to us. I believe this since nothing is impossible with the Lord.
I am reminded in the book of Judges that at one point in time, Samson was faced by a multitude of Philistines who wanted to capture him and he had no weapon. The next thing, it so happened there had been a dead donkey nearby and Samson took its jaw bone and killed so many Philistines with it. After the Lord gave him a victory, he was so thirsty and was about to die of it. Samson then cried to the Lord and the next thing, the ground opened up producing a spring of water. Friends, if we are in the centre of God’s will and on God’s assignment, I believe these things will happen to us more often.
Farai Mutsambiwa
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