A Prayer for Unifying Love
By Meg Bucher
“And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” - Romans 5:5 NLT
Heartbreak is hard. All around us today, and every day, people experience heartbreak. We experience heartbreak. It hurts so badly; we will build walls and shelters around us to keep heartbreak from happening again. Heartbreak is the consequence of deep love. There isn’t a relationship worth having with anyone which won’t walk us strategically through the valley of heartbreak from time to time. In those moments, we can choose to lean into love, which walks through the valleys with us.
Love unifies us. It’s through unconditional love for each other that we find unity. We are all fighting the same battle against sin. We are all human, living this side of heaven. But we are all loved by God unconditionally. A powerful love that can overcome every difference and heal all hurt.
The word love used in today’s verse is the Greek word agape. “A word to which Christianity gave new meaning,” The New Spirit Filled Life Bible explains, “Outside of the NT, it rarely occurs in existing Greek manuscripts of the period.” Unlike the English language, by which we use the same word to describe our love for French fries and our love for the love of our lives, the Greek language denotes different words to describe the varying levels of love we experience. “Agape denotes an undefeatable benevolence and unconquerable goodwill that always seeks the highest good of the other person, no matter what he does,” The New Spirit Filled Life Bible explains, “It is the self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return, and does not consider the worth of its object …Agape describes the unconditional love God has for the world.”
When we find it hard to forgive, we can lean into the power of God’s love through the Holy Spirit living in us through Christ Jesus. When we are offended, we can choose to let it go, by the faithful reminder of God’s Word, which defines who we are …not the words of others. Unity is choosing to lean into love, to let go of offense, forgive forward, and realize we are all loved by God equally …and unconditionally.
Let’s pray for a love that unifies.
Father,
Glory to You, the Author of Life, and definition of love. Oh, God, that we could ever learn to love in such a forgiving, unconditional way! Help us to see each other through Your eyes, God. You created each one of us with unique purpose in this life. We get to be a part of Your Kingdom work here on earth! Continue to draw us close to You, God so that we can walk in Your will for our lives. Illuminate the ways we should go and make our everyday lives carry the meaning they were meant to, God.
Father, You place us purposefully on this earth, in our families and communities. People are not accidental in any way, for neither are You. You are purposeful. Love unites us in Your purpose! As we learn to love You, God, our eyes are opened to those around us. Today, we come to You with contrite hearts, open minds, and a willingness to be vessels of Your love in this world. In our everyday lives, make clear to us Your presence and purpose, Father.
Love unifies us. Oh, God, that we would be able to see each other for the people You made us to be. Help us to remove the film of perfection from the mirror we gaze in, at ourselves and each other. Help us to embrace each other in the thick of this world. We are so much better together, God.
Unite us in prayer and common purpose to bring glory to You with our lives, Lord. Unite us in forgiveness, in choosing to let both past, present, and future offenses go. God, give us the strength and power, through Your love, to be un-offendable!
Father, help us to care for the mistreated, abused, poor, and hurting together. Ignite in us a desire to focus on what matters the most in this life …loving You and loving each other. Father, we pray a special blessing of healing today over everyone and anyone who carries the pain of offense and unforgiveness. Release them from the burden of heaviness that bears on their everyday lives, Lord, and free their hearts to love and be loved again.
God, we pray for unifying love in our homes, schools, communities, churches, workplaces, and all of the people who touch our everyday lives.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
References:
New Spirit Filled Life Bible. Thomas Nelson Publisher. 2013.
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