Do you have a heart to pray for your city? Do you want to see His kingdom come in your city, town or community, or on your farm as it is in heaven? There is not one single place or person on the face of the earth without a predestined purpose in God’s Kingdom!
Finding simple ways to pray…
Prayer groups in Cape Town, South Africa, came up with a simple prayer acronym that helps even children to pray for their city. In the same way other cities, towns, communities, farms and businesses can consider writing a prayer using the letters making up the name of their choice or subject to pray for. It is also possible to take the name of a loved one you pray for, add Bible promises related to each letter of their name and daily pray it over them. Share this simple prayer idea with others and encourage them to do the same – daily praying promises from God’s Word!
Example: C – A – P – E T – O – W – N
C – Christ: Centre of all things
Revelation 1:5-6 – …and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer: Lord Jesus reveal Yourself to Cape Town as the faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, as the Ruler over the kings in this city. We declare over Cape Town: Jesus alone loves you with an everlasting love, He alone can wash away your sins in His own blood, He alone can institute you in your destiny as king and priest for His glory and dominion to be seen in the city.
A – Adoration: Beholding His beauty
Psalm 27:4 [AMP] – One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple. (Also see: Ps. 16:11; 18:6; 65:4; Luke 2:37).
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we pray for Christians in Cape Town to seek Your face, to inquire from you and require of You to lead them. May they desire to dwell in Your presence all the days of our city, turning away from the passions of this world and setting their eyes towards You alone. May Cape Town become a sweet dwelling place for Your presence.
P – Parliament: Seats of authority appointed by God
1 Timothy 2:1-3 [AMP] – First of all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way. 3 For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Saviour…
Prayer: Father, we pray for all members of Parliament which is situated in our city, everyone in positions of authority and responsibility, that they will all come to know You and walk in Your ways. We pray for godly peace, reverence and godly character to prevail in every place in our city.
E – Evangelism: Making known the Gospel
Mark 16:15-18 – And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Also see: 1 Corinthians 1:18; Galatians 1:6-12; 1 John 3:11).
Prayer: Father, we pray for evangelists to be raised up across our city – men and women who will preach the gospel without compromise. Baptise them with fire so they will walk in signs and miracles and set the captives free. Let the message of the Cross of Jesus Christ resound in our city.
T – Townships: To know Christ
Isaiah 62:6-7 – I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, 7 and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
Prayer: Father, we lift up every township in and around Cape Town before Your throne of grace – remember every man, woman and child. Raise up watchmen who will cry out for righteousness and justice to be restored, and who will plead the plight of the poor and needy in Jesus’ name. We pray for the streets to be filled with rejoicing and dancing because of the goodness of our God.
O – Outcry & outpouring
Isaiah 61:1-3 – “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, 3 to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
Prayer: Father, pour out Your Spirit upon every Believer in Cape Town, anoint them to preach Your good tidings to the poor! Raise them up to heal, to proclaim liberty, to comfort, to console and restore those in need so You may be glorified in the city.
W – Walls: Prayer warriors to rise
Luke 2:36-38 – Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Prayer: Father of mercy, raise up women like Anna the prophetess of old and men like Simeon who will cry out before You day and night for the city. May their fastings and prayers be acceptable before You, and may You answer their petitions and pour out revival upon Cape Town.
N – Nations: To see Your glory
Micah 4:2 – Many nations shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion the law shall go forth, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Matthew 24:14 – And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Prayer: Father, we pray for every nation represented by someone living in Cape Town. May they all have at least one opportunity to hear the Gospel, to be taught in Your ways and walk in Your paths. May they come to know the laws and words of our God while living in our city.
