Louisville 2020: A Time to Pray
Church family, right now is a time to pray. I am calling upon every member of Hurstbourne Baptist Church to set aside a specific time to pray for the city of Louisville this week.
Here are 5 Encouragements as you set aside a time to pray:

  1. Pray for Our City
    • The Prophet Jeremiah wrote a letter to the people of God in exiles in Babylon, and this is what he wrote: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon … 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 29:4, 7).
    • We too are exiles in the City of Louisville, because our home is in the City of God. As Christians in this city, we think of Louisville as our “home away from home,” and part of our calling is to seek the welfare of the city of Louisville and pray to the Lord on its behalf.
    • Pray for God’s blessing upon our city.
    • Pray for Peace in our city.
  2. Pray for Our Leaders
    • “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
    • Pray for our United States President, Donald Trump.
    • Pray for our Kentucky governor, Andy Beshear.
    • Pray for our Louisville mayor, Greg Fischer.
    • Pray that these leaders would lead with wisdom and grace. Pray that they would be bold and unflinchingly committed to truth and justice during these tumultuous times.
    • Pray against any and all forms of corruption.
  3. Pray for Those who are Suffering
    • “Is anyone among you suffering, let him pray” (James 5:13).
    • Pray for the family of Breonna Taylor in their suffering.
    • Pray for truth.
    • Pray for justice.
    • Pray for healing.
    • Pray that God would give you an opportunity to extend love and grace to people who are suffering.
  4. Pray for an Opportunity to Give Hope
    • “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ” (Colossians 4:2-3).
    • This is our Great Commission.
  5. If You Can’t find Words to Pray, Meditate on Romans 8:24-26
    • “Hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:24-26).
    • If you are unable to pray, then let me encourage you to sit in silent and hopeful meditation upon these verses.

Dear church family, you are not powerless in this quarantine. This is a God-given time to pray, and we have the promise of Scripture that pray has “great power” (James 5:16). May God use this crazy year to turn the heart of our city to Him.