In a world so divided, does the word unity carry any meaning? This word once indicated a sense of togetherness, solidarity, or oneness between people. Through the years, the definition hasn’t changed, and the word continues to be used in public discourse, but our politicians, community leaders, online influencers, and even ourselves, we all use the word without meaning. We utter calls for unity while simultaneously speaking words of division. We call for people to listen to us while talking over them. We call for justice while acting unjustly. We call for peace while causing a riot. Even in the church, we claim to desire unity while setting different standards of behavior for others, never ourselves. We say we’re right, and they’re wrong. They need to change, not us. Are we defining unity with our own definition or the meaning given to us through Scripture?
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)
Today there is an ample supply of division. Simply name the subject, and you can easily find two people holding different stances. However, being a part of Christ means seeking unity not division. While we will always have our differences in opinions about various issues, Christians should aim to have more unity than division. We should aim to be in agreement about major topics like abortion, divorce, and the importance of family, not disagreement. Only through Christ can humanity understand what unity means in truth, not opinion. If we can heed the words of Scripture, then we can evoke unity amongst ourselves and from there, affect our community, city, state, nation, and world. Change is possible, and our first step on this path is to enter into prayer. Communicating with God allows us to take direction on how we should best go about improving ourselves and thus impacting those around us. The need for unity today is real and very possible.
Here are five prayers for unity:
A Prayer for Unity in Families
Heavenly Father,
I know that I am not alone in witnessing the brokenness of families today. Divorce is as common as marriage, and thus many children are not growing up without both biological parents. Some children observe their parents in and out of multiple relationships, leaving them with a sense of instability. Then they grow up and continue the same cycle. On top of that, vulnerability is at an all time low. When we have issues with one another, we don’t seek to mend wounds. Instead, we gossip and hold grudges. This behavior fractures relationships, and leaves no hope of repair. The moment there is conflict, relationships are seemingly over instead of lending themselves to reconciliation. If the relationship does continue, the issue goes unaddressed. We pretend like nothing happened, though we feel just the opposite.
If we want change, then we have to start by being honest. And if we are to be honest with you, then we have to start by being honest with ourselves. So I come before you now, asking you to make me better, a better parent, child, relative. Help me to lose sight of my own way and focus on loving others the way you have called me to do. This means forgiving others as I hope to be forgiven, reconciling when necessary, and finding peace with others. Help me to foster a Christian family dynamic, something emblematic of what you desire for all of us. I pray that I can be the change that I wish to see in my family. Help me to practice healthy communication, vulnerability, honesty, and any other traits that I may be lacking. The more I become like your son, the more stability I pray you help my family find.
Change is possible, and for that reason, I know we can be unified. Help us to get there, God. Amen.
A Prayer for Unity in the Government and Media
Dear God,
How can I not feel dismayed when I turn on the news? No matter the topic, the two major political parties are at odds. News stations blast opinion instead of journalism. Interviews function more like interrogations, where people argue and talk over one another. Sadly, these political quarrels have boiled over into everyday living. Now everyday citizens divide themselves based on what they see through the media. I’m reminded God that we judge by what we see, but you judge by what’s truly in our hearts. Please help us to start being more like you. Show us the error of our ways - being quick to judge and taking no time to talk to people who disagree.
In Romans 8:28, Scripture says that we are all sinners. If this is true, and Scripture is true, then please help us to be aware that everyone is flawed. If everyone is flawed then we are all wrong in our thinking about something. No one has life completely figured out. I pray that you would touch the hearts of our politicians, those in the media, that you would reveal this truth to them. I ask that you help them be genuine in their calls for unity. Let their words be spoken and received not just by those who already agree with them, but by everyone. Please show them the benefits of compromising with others, and through the compromise help them to mature and grow in their thinking. I pray that our politicians and media members trade in their animosities for something much more positive.
The government and our culture may be fostering division now, but we can change this. God, you can change this. Show us the way. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
A Prayer for Unity between People
Lord,
Please hear this urgent prayer. I and all of my fellow citizens are in desperate need of your intervention. The issue of race has reemerged and boiled over. Though racism appears differently today, the issue is still the same. Our society is teaching children to focus on skin color, not on character. Some are labeled victims, and others as oppressors. God, these are not the labels you have given, but labels many of us have adopted nonetheless.
Help us to see differently. While we may all look different there is only one race - the humans that you created. Can you help more people come to that realization? Yes, there are differences in skin color, height, eye shape, and other areas, but God these differences are not the byproduct of us being different types of humans. We just eat differently, have different genetics, and live in different regions of the world. Stil, we use these differences as reasons for division.
God, there is also the issue of the past, where the idea of race first emerged. Lord, there are those who want to hold people accountable for sins they never committed. We are sinners, and some of us are genuinely misguided. I pray that you would help your people to not focus on the past, but the present. The sins of our fathers are not for us to carry. Let this truth change us.
Let your Word bring unity among the people. Make us wiser, more loving, more caring, and definitely more forgiving.
Amen.
A Prayer for Unity in the Church
God,
When I think of places lacking in unity, the church is not the first thing I imagine. Yet, today the church is full of division. Whether the topic is racial reconciliation, same-sex marriage or abortion, churches are not of the same beliefs. God, how can we be of the same body but cling to different beliefs? How can we read the same text and have such drastically different takeaways? Are we interpreting the Bible the way we want or are we genuinely confused? Whatever the answer, I pray that you would help the church as a whole find unity on these various issues. Help us to be clear on what is an issue of the church or an issue of the culture or politics. While each is worthy of prayer, I ask that you would help us to be clear about what is most important. Some solutions we can find in church, others are up to our political leaders.
Where the church must be responsible, I pray you would guide us in making decisions based on your Word, not our preference. If we can find unity in you, surely we can find less division amongst ourselves. You are the truth, God. Amen.
A Prayer for Unity with God
Father,
As a Christian, the only way for me to be a positive and divine influence on others is to first find unity with you. Oftentimes I struggle day to day, trying to decide if I am going to live for you or for myself. I pray that each and everyday you help me to make the right decision. Help me to deny any ungodly desire, and to always say yes to your will. When you want me to follow, help me to follow. When you want me to listen, help me to listen. While I may not always agree with your will or even understand, God your ways are not my own, You are the almighty, all-knowing, and all-seeing. Not me, God. Help me then to better trust you. Help me to understand just how much you care for me.
And as I grow closer to you, Lord, I pray that you and I will be all the more unified. Amen.
Bible Verses for Unity
2 Corinthians 13:11 - Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Romans 12:4-5 - For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
1 Peter 3:8 - Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
Philippians 2:2 - Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Psalm 133:1 - Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
Colossians 3:14 - And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Ephesians 4:3 - Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/monkeybusinessimages
Aaron D'Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes to Salem Web Network’s Crosswalk platform and supports various clients through the freelancing website Upwork. He's an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo.
Get in touch with him at aarondanthony.com and check out his debut short story anthology Honey Dreams on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
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