John 17:23 NLT I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. (emphasis mine)
In times like these with the COVID-19 pandemic and protest against racial Injustice and the symbols that romanticize that injustice we may find ourselves giving way to the stress and strain by battling each other, and forgetting who the real enemy is. 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 mess of it all.
It's at times like these, that we need, more than ever, to come together as one, people unified, and strong.
It’s at times like these that Satan is fighting the hardest. He fights so hard because he knows that in difficult, confusing, and uncertain times, like these, that when have the greatest potential to make a difference in this world.
Satan knows that we’re stronger together as we encourage one another. 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.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
That’s why he’s determined to fight harder. 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. His schemes are cunning and cruel. He’ll twist words and truth, trading them for lies, and stirring up fires.
In times like these with the COVID-19 pandemic and protest against racial Injustice and the symbols that romanticize that injustice we may find ourselves giving way to the stress and strain by battling each other, and forgetting who the real enemy is. 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 mess of it all.
It's at times like these, that we need, more than ever, to come together as one, people unified, and strong.
It’s at times like these that Satan is fighting the hardest. He fights so hard because he knows that in difficult, confusing, and uncertain times, like these, that when have the greatest potential to make a difference in this world.
Satan knows that we’re stronger together as we encourage one another. 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.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
That’s why he’s determined to fight harder. 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. 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.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NLT Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. (emphasis mine)
Everything that you do. Everything you say. Everything that you stand for. Do it with love. For perfect love, which comes from Christ, casts out all fear.
1 John 4:17-20 NLT And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first. If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? (emphasis mine)
Love 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.
United we stand, in the love of Christ.
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