Embracing Unity and Love Across Cultures in Christ - Prayer Journal 243

Father, how can we, as Your children, love brothers and sisters from various ethnicities and cultures when we are reluctant to come together? We make assumptions about how others think and feel without taking the time to get to know them. Help us to honor and glorify You, particularly when it goes against what others believe we should do and say. We desperately need You to work in us so that we live out the oneness and unity that is ours in Christ.

Please help us to forgive one another as You have forgiven us in Christ. Sometimes, I hear fellow Christians express distrust towards believers of different skin colors, ethnicities, or nationalities due to past actions. However, You have not called us to trust each other but to love one another. Lead us to a point where we have faith that Your Spirit is actively working within the hearts of all Your children, shaping us to become increasingly like Jesus.

You have not called us to educate people on our pain or make them feel guilty for evil historical events of the past. The devil has exploited these issues to make us live as though we are divided, distracting us from focusing on Jesus and radiating His light in this dark, divided, and hostile world. You do invite us, as a community, to bring our wounds to Jesus for them to be healed. Show us the sins in our actions and our worldly attitudes towards one another that hinder us from walking worthy of Jesus, His gospel, and Kingdom.

Help us emulate the Apostle Paul's ministry to the Gentiles and demonstrate what it truly means to love, serve, and live alongside those who look, think, and experience life differently than us. May each of us know that we do not see everything accurately. Each one of us see things and interpret the motives of others wrongly. Let us always remember that as long as we are in these mortal bodies that we desperately need Jesus and His gospel. Assist us in recognizing and addressing the cedar logs in our own eyes, so we can aid our brothers and sisters in removing the speck from theirs.

Show us our biases, prejudices, and favoritism towards others. Lead us to acknowledge and turn away from them. May our focus not be on gaining acceptance from people but to rest in the truth that we are accepted by You through faith in Jesus. Help us to hear what the Spirit is saying and to see things from Your perspective rather than human viewpoints. Grant us wisdom, grace, and discernment to navigate these evil days in a way that showcases Jesus. We might not be able to change others' hearts and minds, but Your Word and Spirit can. So, we trust You to accomplish only what You can, even using us. In Jesus' name, Amen!