Dear Intercessor,

“Seek-inquire for, require and request – the peace (which is the completeness, tranquility – Shalom) of the city and pray to the Lord for it; for in the welfare of the city in which you live you will have welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7.  Here, the prophet Jeremiah wrote to the captives in Babylon, encouraging them that God had not forgotten them.  He had caused them to be carried away captive to discipline them but enjoined the Israelites to seek the good of the country by praying for it, even though its rulers were evil. They were not to think of anything but settling there, peaceably.  They were to build homes, plant crops and have families until He came for them.

We in America in the 21^st century are also to “occupy until He comes.”  He has been speaking much to His children about living sanctified lives. Being set apart really means a long-term sowing into a new lifestyle. Participating in the two prayer and fasting initiatives, “Seek God for the City 2010” and “Forty Days for Life,” keeps us focused on what He is doing in the earth, rather than our natural tendency to only see what the enemy is doing.  Sin is abounding around us but we need to see the more grace abounding as scripture promises!  We are continuing to be a part of the greatest prayer movement the world has ever known!

We encourage all those intercessors who feel God’s call to put a “cutting edge” to prayer by fasting during these forty days.  Fasting has been called the “Master Key” whereby the impossible becomes possible. In Pastor Jentezen Franklin’s book, “Fasting”, he writes that Jesus provided the pattern by which each of us is to live as God’s child.  That pattern addressed three specific duties of a Christian: giving, praying, and fasting. Jesus said in Matthew 6, “When you give…and When you pray” and “When you fast.”  He made in clear that fasting like giving and praying, was a normal part of a Christian  life.  As much attention should be given to fasting as is given to giving and praying.”

In the month of March we will be SEEKING HIS GLORY IN EVANGELIZING ALL PEOPLE, SEEKING HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, SEEKING HIS PEACE AMONG ALL PEOPLES, culminating on Palm Sunday to SEEK HIS VISITATION.  “Palm Sunday shines as a prophetic portrait of the spiritual awakening Christ desires to bring.  He was prophesying, presenting a lasting vision of how He will be recognized in the midst of hostility at the end of the age. Christ will be followed by some in every place.  He will be welcomed, at least by a few, in every place.  Palm Sunday gives us a way to pray toward a global spiritual awakening.” (Excerpts from “Seek God for the City” Prayer booklet.)  To obtain a copy/copies of the prayer booklet, please contact Way Makers at 1-800-264-5214 or go to their website at www.waymakers.org

At NEOIN’s monthly prayer gathering on the third Wednesday of February, God was highlighting the reading of Isaiah 59:14-17 Amp. We felt that God was wondering why there was no intercessor (no one to intervene on behalf of truth and right); therefore His own arm brought Him victory; and His own righteousness sustained Him.  In Amos 5:15 God said we were to “hate the evil and love the good and establish justice in the (court of the city’s gate).  It may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph” (Northeast Ohio).