Pray for the City

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“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.” — Jeremiah 29:7 (NIV)

Devotion:

Jeremiah 29:7 is one of the most surprising commands God ever gave His people. Israel was living in Babylon—far from home, surrounded by a culture that did not share their faith, their values, or their hopes. They longed for escape. They prayed for a quick return. Yet God’s word to them was not, “Hold your breath until this is over,” but rather, “Settle in. Plant gardens. Build homes. Raise families. And seek the good of the place where you are.”

It is a call to faithful presence.

God’s people were not to withdraw in resentment or despair. They were not to fight for dominance or retreat into isolation. Instead, they were to bless the very place that felt foreign and uncomfortable. They were to pray for it, work for its flourishing, and trust that God could use them—even there—to shine His light.

This command still speaks powerfully today. Many of us know what it feels like to live in a place or season that doesn’t feel like “home.” Maybe it’s a changing community, a challenging workplace, a strained family situation, or simply a stage of life we didn’t choose. Our instinct is often to wait it out, to endure until God moves us somewhere better.

But Jeremiah 29:7 reminds us that, and more than that, He invites us to participate in His work right where we are.

To “seek the welfare” of our city means looking for ways to bring peace, justice, kindness, and hope into the spaces we inhabit. It means praying for our neighbors, supporting our community, and being a steady, gracious presence. It means believing that God has placed us here on purpose, and that our faithfulness can make a real difference.

And the promise is beautiful: “In its welfare you will find your welfare.” When we invest in the good of others, God often brings healing, purpose, and joy into our own lives.

May we embrace the call to bless the places where God has planted us, trusting that He is working for our good even in unfamiliar soil.

Prayer:

            Lord, help us to live as exiles in a culture that seemingly has lost its mind. All day long, our souls are vexed by the sin and suffering we see all around us. Yet you call us to live and seek the good of our world and to do the things that make for human flourishing. Help us, Lord, to continue to pursue the goodness of the places you have placed us. May our lives bring glory to you, and may our families and friends bring honor to your name. Amen

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