Why pray for cities?

Over one-half of the world’s population lives in cities. Many Christians think cities are evil places. If they were asked, they would say the city is a curse, not a blessing. However, that is not God’s view. After all, the human story begins in a garden and ends in a city!

Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”  Jonah 4:10-11 (NLT)

This conclusion to the book of Jonah is a sharp reminder that God is much more concerned about the destiny of a city than we are. We tend to focus our prayer and affection on the comforts of our lives. God is especially concerned about the children, even the animals. Why should they be destroyed? He longs to forgive. Are we willing to intercede?

Our God loves cities.  This is reflected best in Jesus Christ, His Son. “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it…”  Luke 19:41-42 (NIV) 

As he was getting into the boat the man who had been demon-possessed asked if he could go with him. But Jesus did not permit him to do so. Instead, he said to him, “Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, that he had mercy on you.” So he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him, and all were amazed.”  Mark 5:18-20 (NET) 

Jesus did not allow the man to come with Him because there were 10 cities (Decapolis) that needed to know about Jesus. Jesus had just arrived, but it was not His time to visit. The soil needed preparation.

No movement of God has taken place outside of extraordinary prayer. Followers of Jesus who carry the light of the Gospel and pray in the Spirit of God over cities play a key role in preparing the soil for Gospel seeds to take root. ​Pray that these people will experience a powerful movement of multiplying disciples and churches. 

More about God’s heart for cities:

This is a network of websites with prayer requests specific to the cities of Europe. Join in what God is doing here. Millions of lives are at stake!

Moscow has 25 million lives in the metropolitan area
Moscow has 25 million lives in the metropolitan area