Prayer Leads to Unity

God uses prayer to bring great change in our world today.  I have noticed that prayer also leads to unity amongst believers.  We find an example of this in Acts 4.

The believers held an important prayer meeting in Acts 4.  Verse 31 informs us of the results of that prayer: “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31, ESV).

It is no accident that immediately following this verse, Luke, inspired by the Holy Spirit, included a statement summarizing the unity experienced by the early Christian community.  “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but that they had everything in common” (Acts 4:32, ESV).  Something happens in the Spirit when we join together in prayer:  we are knit together in unity.

There are several reasons for this:

1.      When we spend time in prayer, we are shaped into the image of God.  The Trinity experiences perfect unity.  In His high priestly prayer of John 17, Jesus prayed “that they may be one, just as we are one.”  As we spend time in the presence of God, surrendering to Him, we will be molded into His image, and the unity we have with our brothers and sisters will be reflective of the unity between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

2.      In prayer, we are synced up with God’s mission and purpose.  If each of us become synced up with God’s agenda, we become aligned in unity with each other.  My closest friends over the years have been those whom I have served with in ministry.  It is because we have shared the same mission and passion for the ministry to which we are called. 

3.      When we pray together, we are much less likely to criticize each other.  James reminds us that we should not bless the Lord with our mouth, and then turn around and curse men who are made in the image of God (James 3:9). 

4.      There is an inexplicable element, wherein as we receive God’s love, it makes us want to love each other all the more.

I have deeply enjoyed the prayer emphasis this year.  As I reflect on the designated times of prayer in the first week of January, the prayer service on the Day of Pentecost, and the prayer tours, I have enjoyed both being in the presence of the Lord AND the unity I have felt with others.  As we continue in prayer, both in our respective ministry locations, and also with those around the State, I believe we will continue to grow in our unity together.  This is pleasing to the Lord, and is a powerful testimony to the world.