There's a story about a man who bowed his head and prayed, "Lord, bless me and my wife, our son John and his wife: us four and no more." I don't think anyone would actually say such words, but isn't that what many of our prayers amount to? We tend to pray only for ourselves and our immediate circle of family and friends. We focus our requests on food, finances, and health.

It is right to pray for the daily needs of ourselves and our dear ones, but before we pray for our daily bread, we should pray for the worldwide establishment of God's kingdom and plead that earth may reflect heaven in doing God's will.

In the Bible, Jerusalem stands for the capital city of God's kingdom here on earth. To this Jerusalem, Isaiah said, "As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you" (62:5). Later the apostle John saw a vision of "the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband" (Revelation 21:2).

That vision of God's kingdom coming to earth in beauty, power, and love should be the focus of continual longing and unceasing prayer. Pray constantly for the church's mission and the advance of God's kingdom. "You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth" (Isaiah 62:7).

PRAYER--Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Help your bride, the church, to grow in purity and in numbers, until your new Jerusalem comes from heaven to earth. Amen.