How to Pray for Kingdom Unity
My momma did not like to see her children fighting. We got in trouble if she found out we physically harmed each other. I can't say we always obeyed but we understood her position. Most parents hate seeing their children quarrel. As believers in Christ, we are sons and daughters of God and brothers and sisters to Christ. This makes us united in God's kingdom. We are family because we are Christian. But nothing divides our unity more than our political beliefs and our interpretations of scripture which creates various religions. Unfortunately, we favor our political affiliation or religious group over our Christian identity. As a result, we have become more like the Sadducees and Pharisees Jesus often chastised when he walked the earth.
Do you think Christ likes seeing his siblings bicker and bully each other in the name of our personal agendas or political stances? We believe the goal justifies our bad behavior towards each other. If how we behave creates division in the kingdom, is it worth it?
How do we handle this conundrum? We pray. As Christ prayed for our unity in John 17:20-21, we need to pray for our unity.
Below is a prayer that can help you get started on a journey to praying for unity. Read it daily for the next 7 days and commit to being part of unifying the kingdom.
A Prayer for Unity
God of unity. Leader of the Kingdom. Your spiritual kingdom was not designed to be divided. And yet, here we are, people who love and follow your Son. The one you sent as part of a plan to restore humanity back to you.
You so loved us that you sacrificed your Son as a one-time, no need for another, offering. His spilled blood was what was needed to open the door of reconciliation of humanity back to you.
You proved who he was - the Son, the representative of God in bodily form. You did this by raising him from a grave and bringing him to a heavenly home where he would reside in prayer for us.
His prayer is for those who believe in him to be united. He says we, his followers, must be one: Jesus in us and you in Jesus. We are one. (John 17: 20–23 NKJV)
Why then are we separated? Why are we acting like fractured and splintered, cracked and broken dry bones?
Our enemy, the beautiful former angel, Satan, is a good strategist. His strategy is division. He believes his plan is working. On the surface, it may seem to be. We, your sons and daughters, sisters and brothers to Christ, have allowed ourselves to be polarized, and divided, by leaders of this world. Concerning our role with governments, Jesus told Peter to give Caesar what was Caesar’s, i.e., his government legislation of taxes (Matthew 22:21 NKJV). Paul told Timothy to pray for these leaders to have a quiet and peaceful life in godliness and reverence ( 1 Timothy 2:1-4 NKJV).
We, your sons and daughters, are not slaves to these leaders. We don’t belong to them. Paul reminded us to be not conformed, which is living like those we live with. This is what got the Israelites in trouble repeatedly in the Old Testament. We are to be transformed, leading the world to you by our conduct of obedience to you and love for one another (Romans 12:1–2 NKJV). In you, Lord, there is no Jew or Gentile (Romans 10:11-13 NKJV). In you, there is no black or white, male or female, Republican or Democrat, or whatever other difference that causes division and polarization in your kingdom worldwide. We are many who culminate into one (1 Corinthians 12:12-14 NKJV).
Help us, Holy Spirit. Forgive us for our part in separating, or trying to separate the Kingdom of God. We fight over our issues, forgetting the only issue is our life representation of Jesus and drawing people to him. Help us to see that we allow interpretations, our desire to be right, selfishness, pride, hatred and racism, greed for money and power – we let these things in us push people away from Christ. Forgive us, please.
Please forgive us for succumbing to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. (1 John 2:15–17 NKJV)
And when we seek your face and repent, turning from our way, humbling ourselves, and praying like crazy for you, please acknowledge our prayer, take notice of our repentance and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV). Let our righteousness (our good standing in you) give us your glory and power to draw people to you.
We are ashamed, we repent. Please forgive us. I am ashamed. I repent. Please forgive me.
When you hear us pray, I ask as Solomon asked, please forgive us, and act. Give everyone according to their ways, whose heart you know; for you alone know the hearts of the sons and daughters of humanity. Hear in heaven, your dwelling place, and do according to all we ask that all people of the earth may know your name and live in reverence to you (1 Kings 8:38–43 NKJV).
We agree and seek the outcome of Psalm 133:1, which tells us it is good and pleasant to be unified in your Kingdom.
In Jesus’ Name.