The other day I ran into an old friend at the mall while I was dragging my youngest daughter around trying to keep up with my teenagers. The money they got from Christmas was seriously burning a hole in their pockets. Needless to say, I looked a bit (or a lot) frazzled and flustered, and my youngest (being that I rushed her out the door with not so much as a comb through her hair) looked like a ragamuffin. So, secretly I was hoping I wouldn’t run into anyone. But as you well know, that’s exactly what happened.
Yep! You could say I shuttered a bit when I heard my name. Ugh. But, then I turned around to see her sweet face. A face I hadn’t seen in quite some time. We exchanged the usual hugs and tender smiles, but something was prompting me to see if she wanted to do lunch, so we proceeded to sit down in the food court to catch up. Honestly, it was a welcomed distraction. In between the bites of french fries and occasionally looking up to see what stores my teens were hitting up next, she opened her heart up to me. What she had to say stuck a chord and hit a sensitive nerve.
Her exact words were this, and I quote, “The church feels divided, and I have stopped going because of it.” Her misty eyes stared back at me and her face looked numb, showing the nature of her broken heart. Then she quietly confessed that her lead pastor had an affair last year and the year before that one of her friends in the children’s ministry took their own life due to unjust pressures and feelings of inadequacy.
My heart ached upon hearing all of this. However, sadly enough, this wasn’t the first time I had heard of such things. That evening as I lay in bed, mind swirling, I kept going back to what my friend said and all the various things I had read and heard about over the past three years or so. What was going on? It was beginning to look like a strikingly unfortunate theme was unfolding and taking place within the body of the church. The only conclusion I came to was that this had to be the enemy’s doing! And, I had this gut feeling that he was ramming up his game – big time (1 Peter 5:8).
Maybe you feel it too?
Maybe you have felt the hurt and division within the walls of your own church home. If so, my heart hurts with yours, but we must know and remember that this is a strategic and blatantly malicious attack. However, while it can be disheartening, to say the least, there is something we can do! We must stand firm and look up for divine intervention (Deuteronomy 20:1-4).
Friend, now is the time to unite as a body of believers, and it begins with posturing our hearts to God in prayer. So, will you join me and pray for unity within the Body of Christ?
God, we thank You for the leaders You have so graciously placed in the church. We ask that You lead, guide, and protect them. Grant each pastor and leader discernment and wisdom to follow You and heed Your will and way. Give them courage and strength in mind, heart, body, and soul. Help them resist the targeted temptations of the evil one and give them the will and drive to remain steadfast under endless and unsurmountable amounts of pressure. Guard each of their hearts and remind them of Your unfailing and relentless love. Amen.
O Lord, we lift up Your people who are striving to do good works in Your name and bring unity within the walls of Your church home. We humbly ask that You bless the fruits that are given in each ministry and mission and that the funds, services, and time be multiplied to build a bridge to those in need. Please reignite a passion within your people to use their gifts and talents to serve within the body and spread the message of Your goodness and faithfulness. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Jesus, You give us such a beautiful example of the relationships that we are to have within the confines of the church. As your followers, please lead and guide us back to Your ways. Help us seek to honor You in our deeds, words, and actions. Bring the unity back within the walls of the church and restore peace that has been lost. Let us reclaim Your victory on that cross and allow us to cling to the hope found within that ultimate sacrifice so we can love others in a meaningful way with intentionality and purpose. Amen.
The Body of Christ is groaning to draw close to You, Lord. But in all honesty, there is a barrier in the way. Sin. Our sinful nature and the enemy’s brutal attacks have caused so much strife. We ask that You extend Your grace as we humbly seek Your forgiveness in places where we have fallen short and bent to the ways of our flesh. Please restore and mend our broken and messy hearts and help us come together in peace and a mission to make You known. We want to be a church on fire for You, O, God. Amen.
Lord, we love You. We love that You provide for and protect us. We love that You are a kind, good, gracious, and just God. We love that You have so graciously given us the gift of fellowship and places to commune. As we lift up our churches, Your home, we ask that You help us embrace this trying season with humility and peace. Give us ways to love one another within the body and ways to reach out and spread Your love to the hurting and lost. Open our eyes to a world in need and give us ways in which to meet those needs. We ask this in Your precious Name. Amen.
Faithful Father, we need You. Your church desperately needs You. Every single part of it needs You, from the pastors and leaders to the members and visitors. Please restore the brokenness and hurt that has caused a rift and division within the walls of Your house. Bring unity with Your healing and mighty hand and touch the hearts of Your people. We want our churches to be that light on a hill, shining a beacon of hope, while extending a welcoming invitation for all who enter. We long to be on a mission for You alone. Please help us do just that, O, God. Amen.
We have nothing to fear with You as our Father. We are so thankful that in the end, You win! We are full of gratitude for the many promises tucked within the beauty of Your Word. O, God, You are so good to us and we cannot say how much it means to be able to cling to Your faithfulness. We hold these truths in our hearts and humbly ask for Your mighty hand and protection over our churches and the body of believers. We ask that You place safeguards around the walls of our church buildings, making them safe havens, while etching truth in our hearts to lean on when times get hard. Thank you for Your fierce love and protection. We are forever grateful. Amen.
Father God, we don’t want to discount the churches that have been and are currently being a blessing. Many people have come to know of Your love, mercy, and grace, and we gladly rejoice in that and praise Your holy name. You are a good Father, and we know that Your plan and purpose will prevail. We know that Your truth will one day be revealed to all! We hold tightly to Your promise to be with us and to go before us and ask that You chart the way on where we can shine a light and share Your message of hope and love. You are so worthy of our praise and we long to celebrate in Your goodness! Hallelujah!
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