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I awakened with New York City weighing heavily on my spirit.

I walk almost every day, and although I don’t live in a metropolitan area, geography and socio-economic status don’t limit evil. A rash of recent car break-ins have troubled my neighborhood. Many residents have installed special lighting, and one neighbor organized a Crime Watch meeting at a nearby church.

Car break-ins are only a nuisance compared to the carnage New York City experienced recently. On a crisp autumn day, an evil man in a truck mowed down innocent people out for a walk, a run, or a bike ride. Both incidents prove we need greater security.  

When fearful thoughts trouble my spirit, I take them to God. So that’s what I did. As I walked the streets of my neighborhood early one morning, I prayed, and God spoke. He brought to mind a Bible verse I’d studied that week.

In Psalm 122:6, God calls His people to pray for the peace of their holy city. While no one’s ever called Lexington, South Carolina, a holy city, the principle still applies. Praying regularly for our city’s peace, and, on a smaller scale, the neighborhoods in which we live, is biblical. God uses our prayers to spread His protective covering over our homes and our streets.

On this morning, as I walked the two streets and seven cul-de-sacs of my neighborhood, I prayed and asked God to keep our neighborhood safe from anyone who would harm us. I prayed a blessing over each family, inviting God to make Himself real to them and to meet their needs. I petitioned Him to strengthen the faith of the believers who live here and embolden them to share their faith with others. And I asked Him to bless and use us to minister in His name.

Today, as you drive or walk through the streets of your neighborhood—instead of listening to music or mindlessly daydreaming—spend a few minutes praying. Doing so could make all the difference.

(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)