Praying for Your Congregation

Psalm 122: 7Peace be within your walls,

Prosperity within your palaces.”

8For the sake of my brethren and companions,

I will now say, “Peace be within you.”

9Because of the house of the Lord our God

I will seek your good. (NKJV)

7O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls

and prosperity in your palaces.

8For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,

“May you have peace.”

9For the sake of the house of the lord our God,

I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.(NLT)

I must begin with a disclaimer.  I am NOT advocating replacement theology in this blog when I speak of the Church and Jerusalem in the same breath.  However, there are often, not always, double implications in Scripture that can apply to both.  My point in this writing is intended to make us more aware of our need to have the correct attitude and prayer posture when we are caring for the Church.  Our personal local congregation is a representation and in fact a living part of the Body of Christ.  Like any body it must be cared for properly and not neglected.  The Psalmist here is deeply concerned about his city and congregation.  He prays for peace and declares peace over his community.  Then he said, “I will seek your good.”  A congregation is a delicate mix of many different opinions, tastes and spiritual gifts.  How in the world can such a group walk in unity and accomplish anything of a redemptive nature?  Only in the supernatural arena when the blessing of the Lord is declared, unity is that location.  Unity is an attitude and a commitment that results in an atmosphere. The writer makes is very personal and very practical when he says, “for the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “may you have peace.”  He goes on to say, “For the sake of the house of the lord our God, I will seek what is best for you.”

It is critical that we all, every single member of the local congregation, pray and speak peace, unity and good to our congregation.  This is especially true when enemies are outside the gate and possibly even within our walls. 

Peace and good to our congregations this day! May we all be instruments of that atmosphere.