A Prayer to Embrace Community When it's Tempting to Isolate | Your Daily Prayer

Dear Creator of All Things, Thank You for designing us to have unique roles in your ministry to the world. Thank you for Your love and kindness to tenderly wait for us when we have made decisions to stay away or be disengaged with Your bride. Help us to fight back by the power of Your Holy Spirit and with Your Word to engage and embrace community, even when we are tempted to isolate. Help us not choose what seems easier in the moment for what is better in the long run. You gave us the gift of being in fellowship with other believers to spur each other on, bear each other's burdens, and run this race of faith together. Reminds us that we are not an island. Thank You for modeling perfect unity within the Trinity. Thank You for setting the example to be surrounded by other believers with Your disciples on this earth. We know that You valued people from all kinds of backgrounds, you valued and called men, women, children, the sick, the poor, the rich, those with crooked pasts. You made a way and a space for them at Your table. Would you soften our own hearts where they have become hardened towards the community? Do a new thing within us. Help us to see You clearly leading us in friendships and service to the local church. God, thank You for creating diverse people with varied skills. We are amazed at Your work and in wonder of who You are and what You are doing. Get us stirred and excited to be more involved in Your kingdom work alongside other believers. Where we have apathy, laziness, bitterness, or unforgiveness, set us free to be fully engaged and zealous for You with those You have placed around us where we live. In Jesus’ name, Amen.