Jeremiah 29:7
"Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
Today's Prayer Focus
- Pick a story from the morning headlines, and pray for a needy part of the city.
- Elevate Orlando: serving urban youth. Jack and Sheri McGill as they lead.
- 306 Foundation: serving women in need. John and Jane Hursh as they lead.
- Grace Clinic: offering medical care to those who cannot afford such care.
- For the 40+ homeless children who attend Glenridge Middle School.
- For our serving with Habitat for Humanity. David Runnels, serving on their board.
"Seeking the Peace and Welfare of the City"
Scott Crocker
Orlando is known as “The City Beautiful” and many consider a certain location in the southwest portion of our region as “the most magical place on Earth.” Tens of millions travel to our area each year for vacation, rest and to escape the realities of day-to-day life. Although most of us would agree that there are many beautiful and magical aspects to central Florida, we also realize that our community and its residents are as broken as anywhere else. Even as followers of Jesus, we remain as much in need of the saving power of Christ and cling to the hope of the gospel just as much as if we lived in a place that was not a tourist destination.
Just as Jeremiah the prophet gave instructions to those in exile in Babylon to “seek the welfare of the city” and “pray to the Lord on its behalf,” we as Lake Baldwin Church feel called to seek the good of our city and to bring its needs before the Lord in prayer. We, as followers of Christ, can do good for our city by shining the light of Christ in our neighborhoods, at our places of work, in our schools and in the public sphere.
Furthermore, we have the privilege of bringing the needs of our friends, co-workers and leaders in prayer before our heavenly Father and asking Him to bring healing through His Son into the broken parts of their lives. When we read the newspaper or watch the local news, we often see the effects of living in a sinful world. Take that time to pray for the people involved and ask God to show up in supernatural ways to bring healing, hope and redemption.
Scott Crocker is the Chief of Staff for Ethnic Field Ministry, a ministry of Cru committed to seeing spiritual movements launched among ethnic minority students and faculty throughout the world. He is also a contributing author to "Finding Key Leaders and Building Impact Movements," a handbook for campus ministers seeking to reach African American students for Christ. His family attends Lake Baldwin Church, where Scott serves as a deacon and leads the church’s mercy ministry to those in need. In his free time, he is a diehard fan of the Michigan Wolverines & Detroit Tigers and has coached youth basketball and football since high school. An avid reader, he particularly enjoys biographies and books about culture and American history. Scott and his wife, Lori, have four children and live in Orlando, Florida