Yesterday I felt a little antsy (we can thank my mother for her genes), so I decided to spend my time of intercession in the neighborhood. February began and I had a deep desire for my eyes to be opened and asked God to show me what to pray for in the city. The first 10 minutes of my time were full of at least 100 prayers as I wandered around and was taken aback by the poverty around me once again. I saw a lot of pain and people that seemed forgotten and looked over.
When I was walking and praying into these things, I felt smashed and stuffed in my city. I found myself purposefully going on quieter streets and trying to avoid the heavy traffic. But when I got a little farther from my house, I was struck by how many streets I have never walked down, faces I have never seen and how overwhelmingly large my neighborhood really is. Going from the suburbs to a city of over 20 million is a shock and I felt exhausted by the weight of this population. I kept praying as I saw more and more of this place I now call my home. Then, I received some incredible, encouraging truth. Even though I feel crammed into this city like a sardine into a can, I was reminded that it also means that I have so many of Christ’s children crammed around me. Even if they don’t know they are his children yet, so many of God’s chosen people, literally millions, are within an hour walk from my house. How many people can say that? I am surrounded by millions of people that God treasures and loves and wants to extend his mercy to. What a cool reminder! So, next time a car honks next to me for no reason, or I can’t sleep because of the thin walls that remind me of the bustling street below, or I have to stand in the most disorganized visa office I have ever seen, I have this as an ebenezer to remind me that my Father treasures all the people around me. I will be reminded that it is a privilege to be stuck in this sardine can with God’s children.