Lord, Make Me a Blessing

Lord, You have ordered and ordained the houses, fences, gardens and pets on my street.
You have set each family in the place where they call home, and
You have placed me here in the midst of them.
Not as some colonizing explorer who seeks to claim land for himself and his country
To establish his ways and his culture among the indigenous peoples.
Not as some biologist or zoologist who seeks to observe the native wildlife
To research and report back on the habits of the untamed.
Not as some archeologist who seeks to discover some lost treasure or civilization
To unearth knowledge from the long-forgotten dead.

But to be a light in the darkness, in order to shine hope to those drifting in the night.

To be a friend to the lonely, in order to introduce them to a greater friend: you, Jesus.

Lord, I did not pick my neighbors, but you did. And you chose me to live on this street at this time so that I could live out the Promise you made to Abraham, and all who are his spiritual children:

“And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2)

You have blessed me beyond all measure, so that I may be a blessing to my neighbor.

Lord, show me how to be a blessing.

Let me not hide away behind the locked doors of the four walls and roof that you gave me.
Let me not rush from the car to the door, so hasty to avoid conversation.
Let me not be quick to pass judgement when their yard is upkept, their music is too loud, their trash spills onto my yard, or they blow their leaves across my fence.
Let me not be content with a passive smile and wave from across the street as I roll the trashcan to the curb or check my mail.

Lord, show me how to be a blessing.

May your Holy Spirit lead me across the street or next door the next time I feel like closing the blinds and locking the doors.

May your Holy Spirit, who unites all believers in Your name, unite my heart with those who share my street name.

May your Holy Spirit produce a bountiful harvest of His spiritual fruit in me that I may share it in overflowing baskets, along with fresh produce, freshly baked goodies, a helping hand and a listening ear.

Lord, show me how to be a blessing.

Guard my mind from thinking the worst about those I do not know well…because love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. (1 Cor. 13:7)

Guard my heart from closing itself off to relationships with those around me...so that I would not only be ready to share your Gospel, but my life as well (1 Thess. 2:8)

Guard my mouth from speaking anything contrary to your word…that I may be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. (James 1:19)

Guard my hands from serving only myself at the expense of being a blessing to others, so that in humility I would count others as more significant than myself; not only looking to my own interests but also the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

And Lord, I ask that you plant this desire in me because I know it does not grow there naturally from my own sinful soil. That it would be like a mustard seed in the garden of my neighborhood, growing larger than the tiny seed of faith.

And so now, I pray for my neighbors each by name, that you would guide them to the door of truth (or to the door of my home when they are seeking truth), so that you would show yourself once again faithful to your promise:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7

So now Lord, I pray for: (insert the names of your neighbors here)