There is being heard a loud and clear call for a move towards unity within The Body of Christ. Unity is defined as oneness, a condition of harmony and accord. Most will agree that this is a desirable state of being! In our home church Westside, the vision Pastor Steve Mickel has “For The City”, is being realized and gaining momentum. Serving the community and being the hands and feet of Jesus wherever we can. I was visiting with a good friend New Years Eve and he voiced that similar local and global activities were happening in the church he attends. Pastors in our area and throughout America are coming together to pray for and support the other churches in their communities. Unity is God’s plan and desire for his people who make up The Body of Christ.  In Scripture we gain insight into God’s heart and intent. John 17:11, Jesus is speaking, “I will remain in the world no longer, but they (this includes us) are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.” In the verses following Jesus prays for His Disciples and for All Believers. His prayer as recorded in verses 20-23 is that we would be one as He and The Father are one, and we would be brought to complete unity. The last portion of Chapter 17, verse 23 reads, “Then the world will know that you sent me and You have loved them even as You have loved me.” God emphasises his love for each of us and his desire for close intimate relationship with every person. Don’t be fooled into thinking or believing God does not love you or that he won’t accept you. It simply is not true and is completely contrary to Scripture.

At the end of this month my wife and I will celebrate our 39th anniversary. We are a blended family. When we married, some of the emotions within the family were very raw. As is the case with most blended families, it took time to adjust and for the uncertainty of this coming together to begin to subside. A few months into the marriage I felt prompted by The Holy Spirit to fast a dinner meal each week and to pray for unity and harmony for our family. I did this for several months. Looking back I know my efforts resulted in a deepening of my personal relationship with God and my relationship with my new family for whom I was praying.

As we step into a new year my wife and I have committed to pray for unity and harmony within our family and extended family. We are also praying for our unity with God and unity within The Body of Christ. God wants us to develop a deepening relationship with each other and with Him. This is, without question, His will for each of us.