Pray For The City’s Welfare

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

Adapted from Jeremiah 29:4-7

As a child, I used to ask my parents why God didn’t just take us to heaven immediately after we say The Sinners’ Prayer. Their answer: so that we can grow in sanctification, and share the Good News with others. I’d like to add one more to that list: so that we can seek the welfare of the city.

The concept of sojourning is not foreign to us today. We know that this world is not our home, and that we are exiles on earth (1 Pet. 2:11-12, Heb. 11: 13-16). But, instead of waiting out the storm in our Christian bubbles, and simply preparing ourselves to return to our heavenly home, Jeremiah tells us that we are to actively seek the welfare of the city, to be a source of blessing to others (Gen. 12:3). How can we do so in this season?

Pray for Everyone (1 Tim. 2:1). In addition to praying for the safety of our families or the church, pray regularly for everyone who is affected by the pandemic: the hawkers, the low-wage workers who still have to travel daily for work, the migrant workers in the dormitories, or even the students and teachers in River Valley High School etc. Ask the Lord if there is anything you can do for them.

Pray for the Government (1 Tim. 2:2). Governing is often a thankless job. So, even if we may not agree with every policy, let us pray for our leaders to have God’s wisdom amidst this unprecedented time. Pray also for their health, and their families.

Pray for Hearts (1 Tim. 2:4). Beyond praying for the salvation of our family members, let us also ask the Lord to send workers into the harvest field (Matt. 9:38), and ready ourselves to share with anyone the reason for the hope that we have amidst the darkness around us (1 Pet. 3:15).

So, as we celebrate National Day this month, shall we commit ourselves to actively seek the welfare of our nation together?

Mrs. Grace Gan

Pastoral Associate