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Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter (Psalm 118:19-20, NIV).

In their book, Name Your Gates, and Take Back Your Cities, Randy and Barbara Walters share the principle of praying over and naming city gates:

“To take a city for Christ, praying at its gates is vital. In ancient times, the gates were where authorities heard people’s causes and rendered judgments. As entrances to marketplaces, gates were often named accordingly (“Sheep Gate,” “Fish Gate”). Gates regulated what entered the city. If a gate was breached by an enemy, the city could be captured and its people plundered. Knowing that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy, spiritually fortifying city gates is a major defensive strategy. No wonder Nehemiah was so grieved when he learned Jerusalem’s gates were ‘burned with fire’ (Nehemiah 1:3).”

They go on to share their own story of praying over the city of Salisbury, Maryland, the “crossroads of Delmarva.” When they started, this regional center of influence and commerce of about 35,000, was on its way to becoming the nation’s fourth most dangerous city for its size. In prayer, they felt the Lord telling them to rename this city that had a spirit of death hanging over it. Their prayer team strategically named the gates, “Truth,” “Holiness,” “Justice,” and “Peace.”

Following this, they also organized numerous prayer walks around the city, along with a three-hour bus ride around the city limits repenting for the city’s sins, declaring God’s blessings, and singing praises to God. “We spoke light and life to the city, superseding its covenant with death. Our intercession and worship established a wall of righteousness around its borders.”

As a result of these prayer initiatives, in January of 2017, the mayor of Salisbury announced the city had its “lowest crime rate in history” – the lowest number of crimes per capita and lowest number of recorded crimes of any year on record. “The chief of police has acknowledged prayer as a major reason. ‘If it weren’t for the tremendous work you are doing, none of it would be possible,’ she said.”

Every city has gates. Whether they are visible boundary lines or spiritual entry points, intercessors have tools with which to bless the city. By asking the Lord for His redemptive purpose within that city, we can call forth a city’s destiny and bless that which the Lord sees. Just as Nehemiah established a wall of protection around Jerusalem, so we can build a wall of blessing and protection around our cities through prayer.

*For a copy of their book, Name Your Gates, and Take Back Your Cities, CLICK HERE. 

• Wanda Alger, IFA Field Correspondent