DAY 4 - LOCAL COMMUNITY

When a heart surrenders to Jesus, the impact is felt by more than just that one person. When a room of people surrender to Jesus, it reaches further than just those four walls. In revivals of the past, the power of God not only upturned the lives of those in the church, but also out in the streets, workplaces, and schools. In the early 1800s, revivals in the USA fueled the slavery abolition movement. The Welsh Revival of 1904-05 had such a profound impact on society that crime rates reportedly plummeted and alcoholism declined. Accounts from the time tell us that the miner’s donkeys had to be retrained because they could no longer understand the commands of their newly-believing owners, who previously only used expletive-laden directions! The Azusa Street Revival inspired numerous public housing and food support programs, and during the East African Revival, corruption decreased and stolen goods were returned en masse. Everyone is blessed when heaven meets earth!

Jesus changes hearts, and changed hearts change communities. In the book of Titus, Paul urges those who have trusted in God to “devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone” (Titus 3:8). In other words, it’s not just for the benefit of Christians. It’s for everyone! When Jesus says, “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:31), it’s not just because it’s a nice thing to do, but because it brings about moments of heaven touching earth. When we genuinely follow Jesus and live in surrender, there are tangible effects in our local communities. The lonely find friendship. The outcasts are embraced. The hungry are invited to the table. The burdened discover freedom. Schools, coffee shops, and prisons are touched by the love and power of God. Whether believers or unbelievers, we all notice when things change. And change they must!

Let’s lift up our local communities in prayer today—the elderly and the infants, the schools and emergency services, the businesses, hospitals, aged-care homes, sporting clubs, and cafés. Let’s pray that the transforming work God does in our hearts would overflow into our streets, homes, and public spaces. As the church surrenders afresh to Jesus, may everyone experience the fruit of His Kingdom: love instead of apathy, justice instead of ill-treatment, generosity instead of greed, and hope instead of despair. When God’s people live fully surrendered lives, whole communities are changed for the better. We have the privilege of being part of that happening, in Jesus’ name!

Father, thank you for my local community. I pray that your love and glory would be felt by its people, its places, and its problems. May your power and righteousness overcome its principalities and powers in Jesus’ name. Pour out your blessings on each person, that they would see you for who you really are—the King of kings and Lord of lords. Let your kingdom come and your will be done in _________ as it is in heaven. Amen.