Editor's Note: I first published this post in 2019, and again the day after the insurrection of January 6, 2020. Yesterday was the first anniversary of that horrible day in Washington. Its one year later and nothing has really changed. We as a nation are still divided maybe even more than we were then. That makes the prayer in this post as relevant today as it was in 2019.
Here we are again. A few years ago, it was a wall and a partial government shutdowns. From early 2019 right up until today it has been the COVID-19 Pandemic with all its twists and turns, shutdowns, and regulations. It seems that every few days here, in the United State, have some sort of crisis. Much of it has been politically motivated and driven. The crises are driven by fear, anger, hate, and money. People at all ends of the political spectrum from ultra-conservative to ultra-liberal have taken advantage of them to advance a political or financial advantage.
We Christians like to, quote and pray;
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Of course, we should humble ourselves and pray, but the part we often forget is to turn from our wicked ways. Maybe that’s why God has not forgiven us and healed the land because we have not turned from our wicked ways.
We Christians also like to point to the fact that we are no longer under the Law of Moses but are under the law of Christ.
Matthew 22:36-40 (NKJV)36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'38 This is the first and great commandment.39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Galatians 6:2-4 (NKJV)2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
The Law of Christ is a law of love. The solution to the problems that we have in this nation is love. The kind of love that God has for mankind, an unconditional love. That’s not a love that excuses hate and division. It’s a love that disciplines hate and division. It’s the kind of love that Jesus had for mankind when He sacrificed Himself so that we would have the opportunity for eternal life. It’s the kind of love that doesn’t see race, color, ethnicity, sex, or nationality. It’s a love of unity. The kind of unity that Jesus talked about.
John 15:9-12 (NKJV) 9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 13:34-35 (NKJV) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
1 Corinthians 16:14 (NKJV) Let all that you do be done with love.
If we have this kind of love we will be united. Let’s pray for unity. I believe that if we add to the prayer of 2 Chronicles 7:14 where we humble ourselves, and turn from our wicked ways, a prayer for unity that we will see fewer and fewer crises and God will indeed heal our land.
Here we are again. A few years ago, it was a wall and a partial government shutdowns. From early 2019 right up until today it has been the COVID-19 Pandemic with all its twists and turns, shutdowns, and regulations. It seems that every few days here, in the United State, have some sort of crisis. Much of it has been politically motivated and driven. The crises are driven by fear, anger, hate, and money. People at all ends of the political spectrum from ultra-conservative to ultra-liberal have taken advantage of them to advance a political or financial advantage.
We Christians like to, quote and pray;
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Of course, we should humble ourselves and pray, but the part we often forget is to turn from our wicked ways. Maybe that’s why God has not forgiven us and healed the land because we have not turned from our wicked ways.
We Christians also like to point to the fact that we are no longer under the Law of Moses but are under the law of Christ.
Matthew 22:36-40 (NKJV)36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'38 This is the first and great commandment.39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Galatians 6:2-4 (NKJV)2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
The Law of Christ is a law of love. The solution to the problems that we have in this nation is love. The kind of love that God has for mankind, an unconditional love. That’s not a love that excuses hate and division. It’s a love that disciplines hate and division. It’s the kind of love that Jesus had for mankind when He sacrificed Himself so that we would have the opportunity for eternal life. It’s the kind of love that doesn’t see race, color, ethnicity, sex, or nationality. It’s a love of unity. The kind of unity that Jesus talked about.
John 15:9-12 (NKJV) 9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 13:34-35 (NKJV) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
1 Corinthians 16:14 (NKJV) Let all that you do be done with love.
If we have this kind of love we will be united. Let’s pray for unity. I believe that if we add to the prayer of 2 Chronicles 7:14 where we humble ourselves, and turn from our wicked ways, a prayer for unity that we will see fewer and fewer crises and God will indeed heal our land.
Photo Credit: DaySpring.com
A Prayer for Unity in Our Nation
By Debbie McDaniel
“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 17:23
Often in times of greatest need, we may find ourselves giving way to stress and strain by battling one another and forgetting who the real enemy is. Harsh words spoken, friendships broken; we choose sides and draw lines. Feelings get hurt. Betrayal runs deep. It gets harder to forgive and keep moving forward. And sometimes we get stuck, right there in the muddy mess of it all.
Yet it’s in those very times of tension and struggle that we need, more than ever, to come together as one, unified, and strong.
And we can be assured, it’s in those times, that Satan is fighting the hardest. For he knows that’s when we have the greatest potential to make a difference in this world.
He knows that we’re stronger together as we encourage one another on. He’s aware that we’re courageous and brave when we’re covering one another in prayer. He understands that the unity of believers through the power of Jesus Christ, is a force that can’t be reckoned with. For it’s hard to tear apart a cord of three strands, which can’t be easily broken.
That’s why he’s determined to fight harder. And he’s there, in the midst of it all, cheering on the battle. He loves it when we target one another. He laughs at evil, riots, and violence. He gains momentum when we forget that he’s the cause.
Don’t be unaware.
His schemes are cunning and cruel. He’ll twist words and truth, trading them for lies, and stirring up fires.
Let’s say “No more.”
Let’s choose to set aside our differences and look to the greater purpose in this life. To honor Christ as King. We’ll never agree on everything. And that’s never been the goal anyway.
Let’s choose to live out the Truth that says, “Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14
All that you do. All that you say. All that you stand for. Let’s do it with love. For perfect love, which comes from Christ, casts out all fear. And that is what gives us power to move forward, propelled with His strength, surrounded in peace, eyes on the One who gives us breath each day, filled with greater unity in our land.
May God bless us with His peace and unity in our Nation.
Dear God,
We are needy of you. We’re aware, more than ever, of our own weaknesses, and of the struggle with dark forces that try hard to divide us and gain more ground. We say “No more.” We stand our ground. We ask that you would fill us with your Spirit of love and unity among believers all across this nation. We ask that you would help us to set aside our differences and look to the greater cause, the cause of Christ. We ask that you would help us to truly live a life of love. We know that this is only possible through the power of your Spirit, so we ask that you would move across our land in fresh ways. With fresh filling and awareness. Turning your people back to you. Drawing others to come to know you. We thank you that you are always with us, and give us great purpose and hope.
In Jesus' name.
Amen
A Prayer for Unity in Our Nation
By Debbie McDaniel
“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 17:23
Often in times of greatest need, we may find ourselves giving way to stress and strain by battling one another and forgetting who the real enemy is. Harsh words spoken, friendships broken; we choose sides and draw lines. Feelings get hurt. Betrayal runs deep. It gets harder to forgive and keep moving forward. And sometimes we get stuck, right there in the muddy mess of it all.
Yet it’s in those very times of tension and struggle that we need, more than ever, to come together as one, unified, and strong.
And we can be assured, it’s in those times, that Satan is fighting the hardest. For he knows that’s when we have the greatest potential to make a difference in this world.
He knows that we’re stronger together as we encourage one another on. He’s aware that we’re courageous and brave when we’re covering one another in prayer. He understands that the unity of believers through the power of Jesus Christ, is a force that can’t be reckoned with. For it’s hard to tear apart a cord of three strands, which can’t be easily broken.
That’s why he’s determined to fight harder. And he’s there, in the midst of it all, cheering on the battle. He loves it when we target one another. He laughs at evil, riots, and violence. He gains momentum when we forget that he’s the cause.
Don’t be unaware.
His schemes are cunning and cruel. He’ll twist words and truth, trading them for lies, and stirring up fires.
Let’s say “No more.”
Let’s choose to set aside our differences and look to the greater purpose in this life. To honor Christ as King. We’ll never agree on everything. And that’s never been the goal anyway.
Let’s choose to live out the Truth that says, “Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14
All that you do. All that you say. All that you stand for. Let’s do it with love. For perfect love, which comes from Christ, casts out all fear. And that is what gives us power to move forward, propelled with His strength, surrounded in peace, eyes on the One who gives us breath each day, filled with greater unity in our land.
May God bless us with His peace and unity in our Nation.
Dear God,
We are needy of you. We’re aware, more than ever, of our own weaknesses, and of the struggle with dark forces that try hard to divide us and gain more ground. We say “No more.” We stand our ground. We ask that you would fill us with your Spirit of love and unity among believers all across this nation. We ask that you would help us to set aside our differences and look to the greater cause, the cause of Christ. We ask that you would help us to truly live a life of love. We know that this is only possible through the power of your Spirit, so we ask that you would move across our land in fresh ways. With fresh filling and awareness. Turning your people back to you. Drawing others to come to know you. We thank you that you are always with us, and give us great purpose and hope.
In Jesus' name.
Amen
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