A Prayer for Unity

If we hope for a better future for the church (the people of God) and for this country, we must pray for and strive toward unity with all believers.

As discussed last week, unity must be our priority. I honestly don’t care who you’re voting for as long as you focus on being the good news to others you interact with, and if your political affiliations cause your heart to be sour toward others made in the image of God, then something is misaligned. Our call as believers is to show the love of God, and Jesus proclaims many times how we do that (hint: none of it has to do with how you lead or vote in your government).

This prayer consults John 17—the prayer from Jesus before He goes to the cross—as a way to understand how Jesus prayed for our unity.

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God of Heaven and Earth,

You created us for harmony with one another—male and female, Jew and Gentile, religious and government leaders, young and old. We are all humans made in your image, and more than ever, I desire to see others that way so that I may have true unity and peace with your beloved children.

“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.”

John 17:14-19 (NIV)

Jesus, may we be sanctified by the truth of the Word so we can remember our place in this world—sent out to love others the way you love us.

Please remind us and show us how to walk in this world but not succumb to the pressures of this world to choose a political stance over love for our neighbor.

I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

John 17:20-23 (NIV)

Lord, your guidance is clear: we are to be one, unified in the spirit of Christ so that the world might believe in you, too. We know from your Word that unity is only possible through the power of your Word. May we be students of the Scriptures, to know them and love them so we may find our strength to be unified with other believers—despite lifestyle choices or political leanings.

Love—God, let our love be what we are known for most. Show us new ways to love those around us, those we meet online, those we disagree with, and those who don’t know you at all.

Restore my heart to be aligned with yours, God. When my spirit is weak because of the negativity around me, lift my face to look at You. When my heart is swayed to care more about the results of our voting than the people casting their votes (or the people we are voting for), turn my heart back to Yours.

I want to be close to You so that I may follow in Your footsteps and love like You love. Draw me closer to You, Lord, in my conversations, in my research, in my work, in my care for my family and friends, in my thoughts and actions.

May the guidance of Your Word ring true for me in this tense political season and beyond.

Let [my] gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near. [May I] not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let [my] requests be made known to [You]. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard [my] heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Finally…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, [I pray I will] think about these things. As for the things [I] have learned and received and heard and seen… [urge me to] practice these things, and [may] the God of peace be [with me].

—Phil 4:5-9 NASB, adjusted to use as a personal prayer

May the world begin to know Christians more for their unity, peace, kindness, and grace from the truth of God than what political candidate they think will “save” the nation.

Amen.