Seek the Welfare of the City (and You’ll Find Your Own)
Jeremiah’s word to the exiles was shalom. We get to pray for our business and transform our cities.
I doubt that anybody would look at my life and think, “What a peaceful person she is—a relaxing tropical island in the midst of the storm, entirely unflappable, able to bring calmness and serenity to every situation.”
Ah, well. We each have our specific gifts. Mine tend toward energy, enthusiasm, and joy, and away from zen detachment.
But I continue to reflect on the word peace, or, in the Hebrew, shalom. Also translated “wholeness.”
At one point, a person was praying over me and said, “The word that I’m hearing for you is the word welfare. Not the social program, but the material well-being.”
Later I was reading through the book of Jeremiah, and the Lord gives a message to Jeremiah for the exiles in Babylon: “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” (Jeremiah 29:7 ESV).
The word “welfare” is the word shalom.
For in the shalom of the city, you have your shalom.
For in the right alignment of the city, you have your right alignment.
One of the reasons that the Workplace Prayer team absolutely loves praying for businesses is that when businesses thrive, the city thrives, too.
We love that our clients act for the welfare not only for themselves, but for their cities, too.
Lord, I am thankful that you invite all of us to peace, as an act of goodwill that extends out. What an invitation. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Dear family, be firmly fixed, unshakable, always full to overflowing with the Lord’s work,
Amy Joy
Does God actually care about our work?
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