My wife and I have lived in three different cities during our married life—Manhattan, Kansas; Springfield, Missouri; and Erie, Colorado. I enjoyed the first two, and now happily reside in the third. We are not alone in our moving. One estimate says Americans move on average 12 times during their adult lives, whether is be from house to house or city to city.

When David became king he moved into Jerusalem. David refreshed the city and built it into a great capital. He loved his new town and through his son Solomon, constructed a great temple to the Lord at its center. David encouraged his fellow citizens to:

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity.

I must admit that while I enjoy where I live, I rarely pray for my adopted hometown. In contrast, David prayed for peace and security for everyone living within the reaches of Jerusalem. He sought the prosperity of the city so all might understand the goodness of the Lord.

This morning I prayed for my city: Peace be within you, Erie, Colorado. Lord, I pray your peace would infuse those who most need it and prosperity will spread, so that all may enjoy your goodness and move closer to you.

Perhaps you’d like to do the same? Prayer blesses our neighbors whether they know it or not. Then as God blesses our fellow citizens, he blesses us as well.

Psalm 122 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Alex K