“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” 

John 17:20-23

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What is the first word that pops into your head when you hear “God?” The Bible uses many words to encapsulate God’s character. Holy. Righteous. All-powerful. Merciful. These are just a few of the ways that God is described to us throughout Scripture. But, there is one that is repeated over and over again. God is Love. 

The attributes of God aren’t meant to just be exuded by God, however. We, as people who have given our lives to God, are expected to take up his mantle and to live life as Jesus showed us to live. We are called to be living embodiments of the love of God! Scripture even goes as far as to say that the world would know of God through our love for one another (John 13:34-35). All of us are called to live our lives in such a way that a stranger on the street could pick us out as a Christian because of the love we exude! But…how well do we really love?

If we were to be honest and look at ourselves, what would be our answer to that question? Do we believe that people would know we follow Jesus by the way we live our lives? The sad reality is that the brotherly love of God is not what defines most of our churches. Instead, it’s the jealousy of others that we’ve embraced. Or the apathy of just going on a Sunday morning, because it’s part of our weekly routine. Over years and years, our congregations have allowed the enemy to barrage us with divisive messages and steal our love for one another only to replace it with a counterfeit, superficial “love.”

Our churches can have the most amazing worship bands. We can have the best youth programs and children’s church. We could even have the most powerful preaching the world has ever heard. But, in the words of Paul, if we do not have love, we have nothing (1 Corinthians 3:12). 

Today, we pray for God to strengthen our churches. We pray that God would restore our love for one another in such a way that the world would know we follow Jesus without having to ask. We pray for reconciliation and unity within the body of Christ in our congregations. Join us in praying that we would rediscover the joy of living in the love of God. 

Prayer for Strengthening Churches: 
Gracious Father, we join your Son, Jesus, in praying for the church. We echo his prayers that those in the church may be one, just as you and Jesus are one. May we put aside our own selfish desires and plans and unite in loving each other and the world around us so that you may receive glory. May this love be a testimony to the world of who you are that they may be brought to a saving knowledge of Christ. Amen.

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If you’ve enjoyed this excerpt from our United in Prayer guide and would like to join us for our 21 Days of Prayer, we invite you, your church leaders, pastors, staff and congregation to unite with us. To access all of our resources and let us know that you are praying with us, click here: converge.org/21-days-united-in-prayer