Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:2 NIV)
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1 AMP)
[I came across this unattributed story on social media, and I see it as a powerful call to prayer for all Americans, especially Christians.]
“A farmer, tired of rats destroying his crops and stealing his grain, threw a dead pig into a deep, abandoned well. Attracted by the smell, nearly 80 rats rushed in to feast. At first, there was plenty of food, and they ate peacefully together. But when the food ran out, they discovered they were trapped. Hunger turned to desperation, and desperation to aggression. The rats began fighting, killing, and eating one another until only a single rat remained.
“The farmer returned, lowered a rope into the well, and rescued the last surviving rat—not out of compassion, but because he knew it had learned to survive by hunting its own kind. He released it into his fields, confident it would kill other rats instead of eating his grain. The farmer had turned his enemy into his greatest weapon.
“That is the lesson of divide and conquer. Those who control the trap don’t need to fight the battles themselves; they simply create conditions in which others turn against one another. The rats believed their enemies were each other, never realizing that their true enemy was the farmer who had trapped them.The greatest danger isn’t always the enemy standing in front of you. Sometimes it’s the one who created the conflict and stands quietly watching you destroy each other.
“Before you turn against your neighbor because of their political beliefs, ask yourself who benefits from keeping Americans divided. While we fight each other over Republican and Democrat, we may be overlooking those who profit from the conflict. Perhaps the real question isn’t which side you’re on, but who built the well—and why they want us fighting at the bottom of it.”
All Powerful God,
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who shines the light of Your Truth into our lives. Thank You that every person on this earth is created in Your image and is precious to You. Thank You for Your clear commandment to have NO other gods before You—not politicians, political parties, ideologies, causes, or anything else that might take the place of Your complete lordship in our lives. You alone are the One True God, perfect in all that You are and all that You do.
Today, we come before You to plead for mercy upon Your Church. You have said that You are returning for a pure and spotless Bride, and it seems we still have a long way to go to be ready for Your return. We ask You to purify Your people—from the most powerful national leaders to every pastor and every person in every congregation. Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew right spirits within us, so that we may see one another through Your eyes of grace and love.
Help us to understand how good and pleasant it is when Your people live together in unity. May we not fight against one another as Democrats versus Republicans, but stand together as believers against the rulers, authorities, and world forces of this present darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. We pray against every force of evil that sets itself against individuals, local congregations, and Your universal Church. Grant Your people the discernment, wisdom, and knowledge needed to fight the spiritual battles we face. May we understand whom we are fighting, how we are to fight, and who guides and strengthens us in the battle against the enemy of our souls. Unite Your people under Your perfect righteousness and justice, and knit us together with bonds of love. We ask this in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. (Ephesians 6:12 AMP)
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3 KJV)
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27 KJV)
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10 KJV)
Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful]. (Ephesians 4:3 AMP)
Beyond all these things put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others]. (Colossians 3:14 AMP)