(Written by Lilian Schmid, 2014)
We started in May 2010 to pray for suburbs across Sydney.
Praying for your suburb is a big step that can change many people’s lives in your suburbs and win them to Christ. When God touches their hearts they will be transformed and therefore they will bring Christian values to their families, schools, businesses, and so on.
With the help of your local church and your local communities YOU can make a difference in your neighbourhood – let’s put our hands together and clean our backyard, and declare your suburb to Jesus.
If you are an individual you can start bringing this good news to your prayer group, discuss with them the initiative to pray for every street in your suburb, have a map of your suburb with you (see Prayer Walking).
Do a research of what dangers and issues are affecting your suburb, for example drugs, Prostitution, Abortion Clinics, criminal activity, New Age clinics, witches covens, and of course depressed families in poor economic circumstances (see Prayer Mapping).
Members of your group can take up tasks like visiting hospitals, others can visit nursing homes, some others can visit shopping centres and businesses in the area, building constructions, bridges, rivers, and pray that God’s grace and power will be released in your suburb, to reconcile, heal and be transformed.
Prayers are very important and as His children, God always hears our prayers and responds to us. Transforming a suburb can start from a small group who God has called for this mission. It can also bring unity also among all Christian denominations – pray for your Churches – we are not in a competition here.
“To stay together was the condition laid down by Jesus in order to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit: the premise of their harmony was prolonged prayer. In this way we are offered a formidable lesson for every Christian community.” (Benedict XVI from his homily on Pentecost Sunday, 2006)
“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” [Acts 1:14 NIV]
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.” [Acts 2:1 NIV]
We are asking God to build a spiritual wall around these suburbs, praying that the Holy Spirit will move in a powerful way to touch every person living in them.
Pray for all the schools to be blessed. Pray for all the hospitals, banks, businesses, streets, and events happening in these suburbs.
Pray that God will heal the broken hearts and restore these suburbs to him. Pray that God will stop all crimes or ungodly activities.
Pray that the word of God will spread and the angels of the Lord will come down and protect these suburbs.
Almighty God and Heavenly Father, I thank you that you called me out of darkness into the kingdom of your Son, Jesus.
Please soften the heart of your people in Sydney and give them new birth. Change them so that they will clearly see how much you love them when you sent Jesus to die for them. Bring them to the point when they will repent of their sins, openly place their faith in Jesus and serve Him for the remainder of their lives.
Amen
Jesus said in John 17:18-19:
“As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.”