I Prayed have prayed
Lord, make our nation and cities like the one we read about in Zechariah. Fix our gaze, heart, and mind on You.
Reading Time: 7 minutes

And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.  (Jer 29:7)

For the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year. (Dt 11:10-12)

God has a plan, a destiny and purpose for your city.  But for that to be fulfilled we must take our cities back.

Before the foundations of the earth, God knew your city and the gift it would offer to those who dwell there.

God spoke to the Jews in Babylon; “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11) 

This was an evil city, yet God had a plan, just as He has for your city.  It’s up to each of us to seek His wisdom and implement His plan for our city.

How do we do that?

We can look through the history of our city to discover its purpose.

  • Look for prophetic words spoken over your city.
  • Search out the original establishment of your city and its purpose.
  • Look for places the enemy has tried to build a stronghold.
  • Seek God concerning the evil spirits that seem to have a fortified place in your city, they could be governmental, greed, sickness, divorce, drugs, etc.

For instance, my city, Dayton, Tennessee, is often referred to as “Monkey Town” because of the Scopes Trial which took place in 1925. In the court case, a science teacher challenged a city resolution to advocate for the theory of evolution.

Although this event occurred almost one hundred years ago, it is still celebrated today. It is a stronghold in my city. One that must come down.  As a watchman over my city, I choose to dig down into our history to get to the bottom of it and remove the root cause.  You must do the same in your city. These are important steps for us to take if we are ever going to take them back.

God desires to rebuild the walls of our city and make them a fortified place for us to dwell – but He needs us to accomplish that.  All authority has been given unto us (Mt 28:18).

This is where prayer and spiritual warfare are vital. It may be a battle – but if we refuse to give up – we will see the fruit of our labor.

Bind the Strongman

Jesus said, “How can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.” (Mt 12.-29)

To discern the principalities at work in your city can be as simple as asking God to reveal them to you. However, it may, as previously stated, require looking back through history to receive insight of where the enemy gained entrance.

When you examine the history of your city, you will find clues as to what is oppressing the people today. Remember, these are our cities! The only authority Satan possesses was stolen from mankind. He can only operate in this authority when we believe his lies and agree with his plan. We must bind him and the strongman operating over our city, rendering them ineffective.

Watch Your Words

Be careful what you say over your city.  Don’t join Satan as the accuser – instead have a heart of thanksgiving.

I recently heard someone say, “I love living in Rhea County.” It took me by surprise. At that time, I only saw traffic issues, bad roads and corruption. I had a negative attitude. I realized I had joined the accuser of the brethren in complaining about the negative issues. We must not come into agreement with Satan’s purpose for our city.  Instead, we must uproot those areas that need change in prayer.

Establish the Atmosphere of God in Our City

Declare God’s plan and purpose over your city and release faith into the atmosphere.

I’ll never forget the day I stepped out of my vehicle in Tulsa, OK at the City of Faith. I felt FAITH in the atmosphere.  I knew Tulsa had been prayed over unlike any city I had ever visited. That day God showed me that we can change the atmosphere in our city with prayer and worship.

So, what do we do?

Repair and rebuild the walls of our city through repentance, worship and prayer.

Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. (Is. 58:12)

The strongholds that exist (and all cities have them) may hinder the blessing of God being released. But they are not invincible. Strongholds are vulnerable to the Word of God and the authority given to every believer.

Repent of the sins of your city

The great intercessors of the Bible approached God with true repentance. Our prayers to God must be sincere.  We must align with God’s heart for our city. What breaks Gods heart, must break ours. When Nehemiah prayed for the restoration of Jerusalem, his prayers displayed his heart for his city. He said, “I and this people have sinned” (Neh. 1:6-7).

Perhaps you had no part in how evil entered your city, you can still pray and repent for it. Through repentance, reconciliation, and prayer, we can take back our cities.

How to Begin:

  1. Always begin with thanksgiving, praise and worship.

It’s in this place that we can conceive His mind and heart for our city and change the atmosphere therein.

  1. Evaluate your attitude toward your city.

If it is negative, ask God to reveal His heart for your city. Negativity will stifle the revelation that God wants to bring. True humility allows His heart to be revealed to us.

  1. Pray about your city. Then wait on the Lord for insight.

Don’t rely on human reasoning or carnal knowledge. Seek the wisdom of God. He will guide us into victory. God wants your city to be one that belongs to Him and is blessed by Him, even more than you do.

  1. Remember, He has a strategy. Ask Him for it.

Throughout the Bible we see wise men of God sought Him for strategies of battle. They didn’t assume one strategy worked every time. They inquired of God for a fresh answer to each battle.

  1. Pull down the strongholds.

In 2 Chronicles 14, Asa took back his cities for God.  His strategy included:

  1. Seeking God and obeying His commands.
  2. Pulling down strongholds & removing idols.
  3. Rebuilding the fortified cities.

Once he did those three things, the word of God says they built and prospered and God gave them rest on every side, with no enemies and no war!  This will be the fruit of our labor as we diligently stand in faith, praying for our city.

Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God, for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him. And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest; he had no war in those years, because the Lord had given him rest. Therefore he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us, because we have sought the Lord our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So, they built and prospered (2 Chr 14:2-7).

For behold, I have made you this day a fortified city and an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land— against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land.  They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you” (Jer 1:18-19).                                                

  1. Pray Through! Don’t stop until you see the spiritual walls of your city rebuilt.

Just as birth pangs let us know labor has begun, God’s Spirit stirs our souls to seasons of intense travail. We are in such a time.  We must pray until birth is imminent.  As we do, God will bring forth delivery.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and keep on knocking and it will be opened to you” (Mt 7:7).

Jesus has already paid the price for us to walk in authority over our city. It’s up to us to exercise that authority.

Victory is God’s plan for every city. As our walls are being rebuilt, we must continually ask God to guard our city.  To place angelic forces around it to keep it safe day and night.

Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain (Ps 127:1).

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever (Ps 125:1-2).

Let’s press in for a city we read about in Zechariah 8:4-5.

Thus, says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each one with his staff in his hand because of great age. The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.

To join the city-by-city prayer movement to save our nation go to: http://city-by-city.org/

(Used with permission. Photo from DreamsTime.)

Kim Potter is a writer and the founder of A New Thing Ministries, which sends a daily teaching to thousands of people all around the world. Her articles have appeared on The Elijah List, Charisma, Spirit Fuel and iBelieve.com. Kim’s message is one of hope. She speaks to the heart of those who have grown discouraged or disappointed by the circumstances of life, imparting hope. For additional information, or to receive her daily writings, go to www.anewthingministries.com

Share your prayers and thoughts for this call to action!

Comments (9) Print

Comments

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Judy Kern
August 4, 2020

This is a different perspective as I pray for America. I haven’t specifically prayed for my city–will begin now!

Brinda Friday
August 2, 2020

Lord, How I praise You for my city and state, although not perfect by any means You have blessed us with the Center for AZ Policy which advocates for conservative values. I thank You for the positive influence of CAP. I also thank You for our Governor. I pray for Governor Ducey to be wise and stand firm for conservative values. Thank You for conservative talk radio broadcast in our city. May many people be brought under the sound of conservative radio. I pray for our conservative Senator Martha McSally to hang onto her seat in the November election. I pray she would be an effective leader and champion for conservative values. I pray for Senator Kirsten Sinema to see issues from Your point of view Lord. Only You can transform her heart with regard to homosexuality and all that goes along with that. Would You raise up godly people to serve in public office throughout the state of AZ? May mayors of cities here who have progressive agendas be brought to their knees before You. I pray for them to see their own sinfulness and need for You, the Savior. And Lord, if they refuse to repent and believe would You destroy their influence? Deal with them as You see fit? I pray that I might be faithful and persevering in prayer to this end. Thank You for the assurance that You answer our cry for help. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen

1
ROBERT VALKANET
August 2, 2020

IT IS TIME TO DEFUND THESE STATES THAT ARE ALLOWING ALL THIS LAWLESSNESS. AND TO CALL THE NATIONAL GUARD TO CLEAN UP .AND TO BRING BLM ANTIFA GOERGE SOROS TO JUSTICE A MESSAGE FOR OUR PRESIDENT . STOP BEFORE IT GETS OUT OF CONTROL. THE ANSER IS SIMPLE. DEPORT SOROS AND ALL THESE ANTI AMERICANS TO ANTARCTICA OR NORTH KOREA

    Brinda
    August 2, 2020

    Almighty God, You are not taken by surprise at any of the riots, the evil agenda of the BLM organization. You know George Soros’s motivation and You know each one in Antifa. You are in complete control and can turn this around instantly. We acknowledge our own lack of understanding, but pray that You would change the direction of our nation. We plead You to remove those bent on the destruction of our nation. I do pray for their salvation. But if they do not repent, would You deliver us from their evil? Please grant great wisdom to our President and Vice President and cabinet and their advisors. Strengthen each of them and cause Americans to see what is at stake in this Presidential election. I pray for a landslide for President Trump. May the American people see the weakness of Joe Biden and be fearful of him as a Presidential candidate. Most importantly I pray our nation return to faith in You Lord God. I pray this in the Mighty name of Jesus, Amen

    1
Intercessor
August 1, 2020

Praying for the authorities brings peace according to 1 Tim 2:1-4. “First of all, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions & thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings & all who are in authority, so we may lead a peaceful life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth” (1 Tim 2:1-4). Also, Jesus said, ”Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen’” (Jesus Christ, Matt 6:9-13). Matt 6:13 is powerful — if we all prayed it from the heart there would be a revival overnight.

Shirley Norton
August 1, 2020

I really want to thank IFA and Kim Potter so much for this awesome article as well as the one on our city gates! I love the http://www.city-by-city.org website! I have been praying for years for the Lord to release this kind of Prayer Ministry into every church in every village, town, city, etc for the towns to be transformed to Christ. As well as the Healing Ministries. I really pray that the Lord will really set us ON FIRE!, especially after viewing these websites, to all go out and get a TEAM to pray for our communities to be TRANSFORMED to Christ!! AMEN! Thanks Everyone!! Love you ALL!

I also learned a lot about it from the following ministries:
1. http://www.transformourworld.org, Ed Silvoso, they have documentaries,books and training…
2. http://www.sentinelgroup.org, George Otis, Jr., they also have documentaries, books and training…
3. http://www.fusionministry.com, Rhonda Hughey, also documentaries, books and teaching
4. http://www.elijahhouse.org, Elijah House is another good source for Personal Transformation, while those above are for Corporate Transformation.

1
Reply Report comment moderated
Suzanne Nace
August 1, 2020

For those of us who have not been effected in our cities by the protestors and crime, we must be diligent to keep watch and prevent anything from coming. We can use our authority to stop the enemy from his destruction if we stay in unity of spirit, mind and love for one another. The church is a mighty force when it is walking in truth and recognizes every lie thrown at us. Then we can pray for those who have been invaded and destroy the work of the enemy if we will follow the words in this article to see victory in our country.

Shirley Norton
August 1, 2020

This is really awesome article and information! Thank You also Jen for suggesting prayer warriors prayer walking & Jericho Marches! I have been asking the the Lord for a long time for this type of prayer ministry to be released (& have asked churches to adopt this prayer ministry!! & still crying out to God for this!!
Just to let you all know that there are at least 3 other “Cities Transformed To Christ Ministries” available….with really good resources…books & videos
Also Personal Transformation
1. Transform Our World, http://www.transformourworld.org, Ed Silvoso
2. Sentinel Group, http://www.sentinelgroup.org, George Otis Jr.
3. Fusion Ministry, http://www.fusionministry.com, Rhonda Hughey
4. Elijah House, for personal transformation, Elijah House, http://www.elijahhouse.org
Please share with others! In the Name of Jesus, Yeshua!! Amen

1
Reply Report comment moderated
Jen
August 1, 2020

I’m imagining prayer warriors walking around city centers and praying- like the Israelites marched around Jericho.

5

Partner with Us

Intercessors for America is the trusted resource for millions of people across the United States committed to praying for our nation. If you have benefited from IFA's resources and community, please consider joining us as a monthly support partner. As a 501(c)3 organization, it's through your support that all this possible.

Dave Kubal
IFA President
Become a Monthly Partner

Share

Click below to share this with others

Log in to Join the Conversation

Log in to your IFA account to start a discussion, comment, pray, and interact with our community.