Our backyard, our belonging

Have you ever had the feeling, ‘I do not belong’?

I definitely have. I think we all have the desire to belong to someone and to somewhere; to people and to a place. There is power in belonging.

Ernest Hemingway said: “Don’t belong to no city, don’t belong to no man.”

I think that our belonging is evident in our actions. We have a sense of loyalty to those we belong to; where we do not remain silent when offences are said about them. I know that I will always defend my husband if anything is ill-spoken about him. That’s what we do for our people, simply because they are precious to us.

The same should go for our city, I reckon. I hope we will be people who jump to the defense of the places we belong to. When the darkness comes out, we will be the people seeing hope on the horizon.

Belonging is shown not only in loyalty, but also in sacrifice. The fastest way to change a feeling of not belonging must be to lay our life down for that place we do not feel like we belong to. Sacrifice is a fragrant offering, the way of love.

I believe God has strategically planted us in our cities and neighborhoods for such a time as this! Our backyard is truly where we belong! As we get a deeper revelation of this, I believe we to a greater extent will lay our lives down for the citizens in our backyard too.

We cannot pick and choose the citizens that reside in our city just as we can’t pick and choose our own family. There will always be the crazy uncle that takes extra energy to be with 🙂 It is the same with our backyard. I do not know who the “crazy uncles” are in your city. Maybe it is ‘those homeless people’ or the drug dealers?

Maybe God is asking us to pray for & embrace the “crazy uncles” in the same way God asked the Israelites in the following verse to pray for the “crazy uncles” that held them in exile in Babylon?

“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7 NIV)

As we pray for our city to prosper, let’s never forget to have the poor with us, not just around us, showing them they belong with as much right to be here! Not discounting the little we can do for the one, the power of love in action. They are our homeless people, not just ‘those hopeless people.’

“For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.'” (Deuteronomy 15,11 NIV)

It talks about freely opening our hand to our brother, and to our needy and poor in our land. There is a sense of ownership and responsibility that comes with belonging. We know this from the family we belong to. We enjoy the relationships and blessings of being part of our family and at the same time there is a sense of ownership in looking after each other’s well-being as well.

So maybe a great & noble city is not a city with a lack of poor and needy people, but a city with citizens who have compassion for the ones who do not have ressources or mental health to take care of themselves! This is beautiful. This is kingdom come. Faith with feet. Jesus with skin on.

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3) With a written statement

In Isaiah 62 MSG, it speaks about the eternal, heavenly future of Jerusalem and its perfect peace & joy. Verses full op hope; God’s plan of redemption.

We can declare, as it is in heaven, let it be in our cities on earth too! So as it is in heaven, let it be in Copenhagen & Denmark!

“Look, Your Savior Comes!

“Regarding Zion, I can’t keep my mouth shut, regarding Jerusalem, I can’t hold my tongue, Until her righteousness blazes down like the sun and her salvation flames up like a torch.

Foreign countries will see your righteousness, and world leaders your glory. You’ll get a brand-new name straight from the mouth of God.

You’ll be a stunning crown in the palm of God’s hand, a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God. No more will anyone call you Rejected, and your country will no more be called Ruined.

You’ll be called Hephzibah (My Delight), and your land Beulah (Married), Because God delights in you and your land will be like a wedding celebration. For as a young man marries his virgin bride, so your builder marries you, And as a bridegroom is happy in his bride, so your God is happy with you. I’ve posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. Day and night they keep at it, praying, calling out, reminding God to remember. They are to give him no peace until he does what he said, until he makes Jerusalem famous as the City of Praise…

“Tell daughter Zion, ‘Look! Your Savior comes, Ready to do what he said he’d do, prepared to complete what he promised.’”Zion will be called new names: Holy People, God Redeemed, Sought-Out, City-Not-Forsaken.”

Stunning truth. Like our heavenly home one day, we can believe for Copenhagen & Denmark to be called a city and nation of holy people, God redeemed, sought-out, a city and nation not forsaken!!

What about your belonging? Who and where are you loyal to?

One thing is sure. YOU are loved & YOU belong.

1 John 2:20-21

“But you belong. The Holy One anointed you, and you all know it. I haven’t been writing this to tell you something you don’t know, but to confirm the truth you do know, and to remind you that the truth doesn’t breed lies.”

Listen to more at: “The power of belonging.” Podcast by Kris Vallotton.

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