Women’s Devotion: Prayers for Neighbors

Prayers for Neighbors

He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Luke 10:27

“How’s the neighborhood?” It’s one of the first questions a prospective buyer asks when looking at a house. Yet, how much do we really interact with our neighbors? For many, gone are the days when neighbors sit on porches and spend time with each other. It’s already difficult making time for family, let alone neighbors.

While Jesus’ definition expanded beyond those within the city block, we can use this as a starting place. In the second part of this verse, his reminder is to LOVE our neighbors as ourselves. This is considerable love in a world where most of our time is selfishly focused on our own motivations and desires.

This week I challenge you to find a nice spring day and go for a walk through your neighborhood. As you do, show love by praying for your neighbors. Pray as you walk by each house. If you see sidewalk chalk or swing sets, pray for the children in the house. If you see backyard gatherings, pray for those to experience the joy of being in community. If the drapes are drawn and there’s little activity, pray for those who live in the house. Sometimes homes become secret hiding places of pain and strife. Just as only God knows what is going on inside our lives, God is sometimes the only one who knows what goes on in our homes. Pray that the Holy Spirit can break through and ease the pain and strife that your neighbors may be experiencing.

Will you pray with me?

Heavenly Father, your commands tell me to love my neighbor as I love myself. I pray that you open my eyes to the people and needs that surround me. Equip me with the kind of spirit needed to meet those needs with a humble heart. Give me patience and kindness when I serve others. Amen.

This month’s devotion was written by Kim Afrank, a member of Sheridan’s Women’s Ministry Team. Kim and her husband, Preston, have been members of Sheridan Lutheran Church since January of 2011. The Afranks welcomed the arrival of their first child, Micah James, on July 2, 2021. Kim works in human resources at the Arbor Day Foundation. Preston works at Haberfeld Associates in Lincoln.