My Prayer for Unity
Recently our city of Shreveport elected a new mayor. The new administration asked that I pray at the inauguration. I was humbled and honored to do so. My particular assignment was to pray for unity.
I know it sounds a bit strange, but I prayed about how I should pray. Because, I think the way we hear or perceive a prayer is of utmost importance. What comes in through our ears sets our faith in order.“… Faith comes by hearing …” Romans 10:17
The Lord and I came up with some things that I think are sure ingredients for any prayer of unity no matter the occasion. I love the city that God has called me to, and I hope the prayer I prayed for it will translate into other places of need as well.
Here you go — My prayer for unity:
Father, you said in your word that it’s “good and pleasant for people to live in unity”.
You created the unit but continue to allow us to create unity.
For a human to work with others in unity is no easy task.
We need your help!
Help us - To adopt an attitude of service.
Not to be a doormat but rather a doorway.
To be an opening through which new dreams, ideas, and aspirations can walk through.
We pray for an attitude of service.
Help us - To walk in a spirit of solidarity.
We know we cannot be uniform but we can be unified.
That our white collars, blue collars, and no collars can all come together for a common cause.
Please extinguish our own personal ideas if they harm the whole.
Because, the whole is more important than the part.
We pray for solidarity.
Help us - To rely on common sense.
More often than not, what we want, need, and crave is right in front of us.
A lot of people have it, but because common sense is so simple it’s often overlooked.
We pray for common sense.
Help us - To create a culture of solutions.
Let us never be guilty of exposing a problem without expressing a solution.
That we would work hard to be a winner and not a whiner.
To not grumble and complain, but to exert all our energies for the common cause.
We pray for a culture of solutions.
So, in our quest for unity, as we pray for service, solidarity, common sense, and a culture of solutions; we also promise!
We promise that we will point to you and say, “Our God has brought this to fruition!”
Because within our inadequate, insufficient selves, we cannot make any of this happen.
Without the fruit of the spirit being on exhibit, we fall extremely short!
Therefore, we promise to honor you!
To borrow words from the apostle Paul, “Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21 HCSB)