Unity Through Prayer | EP 139

All right, Keri, we have talked about quite a few different verses over the last couple sessions, and we had so much more to talk about. Let's talk about another one of the verses that you had—we had had a conversation before and highlight what the Lord has put on each of our hearts related to that. Absolutely. I got to thinking that this week, three years ago, was the week that my dad saw Jesus face-to-face. And he was at a place in his life where he was not able to verbally communicate, but he had this little pad that he could write things on. And the very last words that he had written out really had communicated to us were, stay strong in the Lord. Wow. So those were his last words, even though he couldn't speak them. And so it was almost even with more intention that he wrote those. And that was his message to the next generation. Stay strong in the Lord. So I thought about how Jesus, before he went to the cross, He was praying for us. All of John 17 is a prayer of Jesus to the Father, and he's praying for us. He's praying for us to stay strong in the Lord, to stay strong in the ways of God. And so I just thought about that. What do we want? What would we want our last words to be? to that next generation. What would we want said about us at our funeral? I want to be said, she's a woman of faith. I want it to be said that I'm also saying, stay in the game. Stay strong in the Lord. Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep taking him at his word. That's really good. That's profound. I mean, really, if you only had a couple of words. What would they be? Yeah. I don't think I've ever thought about that. Wow. And something that's lasting. Yes. That, you know, I don't know, Veronica, that's... I like the way Carrie said it, too. It's for the next generation. Absolutely. And generations after that, because that sets the framework for what's to come. And also for those that have the privilege of being part of his life, those words are very meaningful words. Because that's like a last instruction that you received from him. But it's also directing you to, in the future, when I'm not here, stay strong in the Lord. And Moses said that, right, to Joshua. Be strong and courageous. So Moses knew, just like how Jesus knew, okay, I'm going to the Father. But I'm sending the Holy Spirit. Yes. You know, so for Moses to say, hey, the Spirit is now going to be on Joshua. He's going to be the one to lead you into the promised land. Joshua, be strong and courageous. So here Jesus in John 17, he knew that he was going to face the cross. He knew what was before him, but he also knew what that would accomplish. Right. But he knew that he wouldn't be with Jesus. humanity in person anymore. And, you know, he had even said earlier, it was better for him to go away so that the Spirit would come. And that's even how we're able to be in union with the Father and with the Son, and how we're even able to pray is because of the Holy Spirit within us. Which is pretty amazing. But here, Jesus in 17, John 17, he prayed for our protection. He prayed for our sanctification. He prayed for our oneness with the Father and the Son. And He prayed for our unity as believers. And I think about like a mom. Like we want our kids to get along, right? We're like, I didn't birth you to not get along. And here Jesus, one of the very last things He prays is for us to have the unity of the Spirit as brothers and sisters in the Lord, to have the unity that Jesus knew He had with the Father. And that was going to happen through the Holy Spirit. But don't you think, though, too, when he's saying that, is he knew that would be one of the biggest conflicts? Yes. Because you recognize what he's speaking into is working towards. That was, I have to say, was one of the things with my mother before she passed was she wanted to have my sister and I have a strong connection between the two of us. Yeah. And when you said that, I'm like, that's what my mother asked for, that you'd always stay connected. And, you know, we do the ministry together. She does it remotely with me, but she's very much involved. And now her daughter is as well. Exactly. Isn't that beautiful? I love how God is a way of just highlighting that is the fact that unity is probably one of the hardest things for us to do. And so he's praying that into, like, make it intentionally a part of our lives to do that because we can get divided within a family. Yes. It's easy to get divided within your family, let alone your friendships, that those we've talked about in other episodes about offense. Right. And yet he's calling us to a higher place. I love what you've talked about before about how Jesus would pray for Peter knowing of the betrayal was in front of him. So I think that that's a good part, too, when you talk about even being strong in the Lord. Even what does that mean? What is strong in the Lord and being united? for us to come together and to be in one accord. Because that was where the whole book of Acts about how they did come together. And there's such a outpouring of the Holy Spirit was why. Yeah. Because they did have unity. And they did the power of the Spirit was able to come. Absolutely. And, you know, again, going into the John 14 through 18, just those last words of Jesus, he talked abide. I think we've talked about that before. And so that's the unity, right? We can't have unity when we're going in all different directions. Good. I was just reading today in 1 Corinthians about the gifts of the Spirit, but it's different gifts, but the same Spirit. So even when we come together in prayer, we're coming together in the name of Jesus. And so in the name of Jesus, there's unity because He is one with the Father and one with the Spirit. And so it's amazing. You can't really pray with somebody that you have offense with. Pretty tough. Right, pretty tough. You know, my husband and I, every once in a while, we'll just be irritating with each other. It's like, you know, time out. Let's just pray for a minute. Because that can bring unity together to remind us we're on the same team. We're not pitted against each other. So part of that, the unity of believers is remembering our oneness with the Father. And again, the level ground at the foot of the cross that I'm no better than... than somebody else. I need a Savior as well. Right. And so Jesus is reminding. So maybe, Cheryl, what you're saying, stay strong in the Lord. There's humility with that. Right. Excellent. Just a coming into agreement in the Spirit and asking, Lord, would you bring unity here? Not... we don't have to maintain the unity even because when we're connected to the Father, He maintains that unity. So our maintenance is being with Him and united with Him, but we don't have to drum it up. Does that make sense? It does make sense. And I agree with you because that's my definition of unity, is staying close to the Lord, and then in that brings unity because you have a common denominator. the Word of God and the Scripture, and just your relationship with the Lord. As you grow together, you'll grow in the Word, you grow together. Yes. And so that to me is, you know, the unity that we can all get to. You know, we may not be able to achieve unity with another individual, but if we can talk about the Lord, we can talk about the Word of God, then we have unity. Yes, yes. And I think, you know, too, when you think about that with so many different denominations is that we can still be united. If you can all agree to this one thing, it's Jesus Christ being our Lord and Savior. That's the starting point. Yes. And focus on those things. And I really believe that God's desire for all of us is that as believers in Christ, that we would come together and that we would, you know, break whatever those, you know, individual thought processes are. may not be so necessary to be caught in those. I mean, yes, I know doctrines are important, but I also think what you're saying with the Scripture makes so much important. What is Jesus telling us is what his priority is for us to maintain? Because it is humility comes, but we're also... We're complying and yielding ourselves to the Lord. And what does he call us to? That's good. It's to humility is part of it, right? Jesus gave that example in his last time of learning to serve his disciples, right? Because he was trying to emulate, hey, this is what I'm going to have you be like. is you serve one another. So service and humility. So how can we reach out? I feel like we're in a world where we're so busy, and we've talked about that, we're so busy that we are too busy to help each other. And- The irony, I got a text today of the person I thought of yesterday that I know she's getting ready to move. I'm like, oh, I've forgotten twice. I'm like, Lord, bring it to my remembrance so I can reach out and see if I can offer to help her. And what does she do? She texts me first. I'm like, okay, thank you. I asked the Holy Spirit, so however he wants to do it. Good. Good. Because you don't know is that that's important to reach out and serve each other. Yes. And you don't know how that might be a blessing or what, but learning to allow the Holy Spirit to show us how to be united with that person. It's been a while since I've seen them, but I'm like, that's what we should be doing and being unified as they're moving further away, but it's staying connected. Yes. Yes. Yeah, and when one part of the body hurts, you know, the analogy of the body, right? Even a hangnail or a splinter, I mean, as little as it is, it hurts, you know, and your whole body is going finger, finger, finger, it hurts. And so when somebody from the body of Christ is hurting and we can be there to help, I mean, you're right, Cheryl, that brings unity because we say, hey, it's not just about me. It's about my brothers and sisters in the Lord. It's about the Heavenly Father and Jesus and the Holy Spirit and that unity of heaven coming to earth when we serve, when we love, when we turn the other cheek, when we pray. Unity happens. Power happens for sure. And don't you think that serving is an act of ministry? You know, so many people discount themselves and they say, well, I'm not in the ministry or, you know, I'm not a minister. So what can I do? And I think that a valuable thing that we can all do is serve one another. Yes. And that's a form of ministry. Yes. Right. And, you know, it's fun when you do that because, really, you find a connection with those people. True. You know, you take yourself out of the normal connecting with them. Right. And when you go into their homes, I've done this before with different people, is you learn certain things about them and you kind of chuckle and you laugh. You know, and stories develop when you're helping to pack someone's belongings. Sure. You know, I try not to invade their space. Yeah. I am entertained by it because you can be joking about it and share like, oh, this is my idiosyncrasies. And I think every time we have that is learning what Christ was trying to help us to understand is when you have a connection, it also will help you in the days ahead when they need someone to intercede on their behalf. Yes. There is a connection that you can have that the Lord will prompt you and like, okay, I do know about a need because during my time of serving them and helping them out with something, I'm now aware of something I can take to the Lord. Absolutely. I think how cool is that we're talking about prayer. Jesus was praying for us to have unity. And now what does that look like? Part of that prayer, servanthood, and allowing us to be now the hands and feet of Jesus. Yes. I love that. Part of that verse in John 17 talked about he prayed for our protection as well. And oftentimes we pray for protection, Lord, as we're driving and flying, traveling, coming to and fro, and yes, those are so important. But he also here, he was saying, Father, don't take them from the world, but protect them from the world. And so even to pray for protection, he was praying for our protection from the enemy, from the evilness of the world. And so we think of physical protection, but there's even a protection to pray for that he showed us the spiritual protection. Like, Lord, keep us from the lure of the enemy, the lure of the world, so that, we can stay strong in the Lord. Because what does the enemy want to do? He wants to get us off course. So even Jesus knew we would be tempted to get off course because I always think if the enemy came, you know, with a pitchfork and, you know, the redhorns, we'd be like, get away from me. Right. But he masquerades as an angel of light, scripture says. And so Jesus knew that we would need protection from the enemy. So I love in some of his last words, he was thinking of that. And he walked in this world. So he understood that. He was tempted by the enemy himself. That's a good point. So he understood that. So he knew what we would need. And he prayed for that for us. And he made a way. Amen. That's the good news. Amen. He didn't just say, you know, good luck. This is, you know. That's so good, Veronica. But he showed us how to navigate when he wasn't on the earth with us. Yes. And he showed us his way, which is the way to survive it. Absolutely. And get through it. Absolutely. Now, I do like that when he is so wanting to protect us. I think sometimes we just think it's on a physical because we're in a world sometimes where you can be very afraid. But I think it's not only protecting us on a physical, but the mental sometimes where when sometimes we just have a lot of trials. is sometimes we need the mental stability. When I think about being strong in the Lord, what does that really look like? It's strong, not just physically, but mentally. Yes. I think sometimes our, you know, we've heard before about the battlefield is the mind. So it's being strong mentally. What means, what we've talked about before is if we're not in the Word, on a daily basis, getting our vitamins, getting our nutrients, and getting the word in us to change the dialogue. Yes. You know, I think over time I feel like I'm grateful for how it's changing my dialogue from my own bad self-taught. and beginning to fix my eyes on what his message is. So I think even protection for us all is protecting our mindset, our thought process. It's protecting us from declaring things. I think, you know, Veronica, you can add to that, too, about what are we speaking into the atmosphere, right? Even in prayer, but also our own confessions about ourself or what we're speaking when we just pray something and what are we speaking after we pray for something. Right. It's coming into agreement with what does the Word say. And then, you know, the Word says that faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. So when we speak it out loud, our ears are hearing and now our spirit comes into agreement. Yes, that yes, that is the truth. You know, it's not necessarily what the mirror may say to us. It's what does the word of God say about us, for us. And then we own that when we start saying it over ourselves. And I love the way, Cheryl, you said that because it's confessions. And why do we do confessions? It's not ritual. It is speaking life into our being and then connecting with what does the Lord say about you? Yes, that's so good. It's amazing when we—it's almost this out-of-body experience when we're speaking out God's Word. Like you said, we're hearing it, and somehow then it's getting in our spirits and bringing us strength and changing our mindsets and really allowing— our minds to be transformed by the Word of God. And the Bible tells us that. We are to renew our minds. What does it say? Daily. It doesn't say once a month. It doesn't say every year. It says get into the Word and renew your mind daily. And sometimes I need you to do it more than once a day, Veronica. I don't know about you. I completely understand. Yes. Isn't that funny, though, when you think about from the time that you're in the Word and then you just get so busy with something and it can really shift you into an attitude. Something can trigger an attitude. You're like, ooh. I'm like, and you know. You can let go of the attitude and let it continue on. But if you're around certain people, even your family, you're like, oh, I have to be a good example. Like, you know, from your kids when they're at a certain stage. But I think it's so interesting how we really can control it. I mean, the Lord's really calling us to do that, to protect even what we're saying. I think it's also because he wants so much for us to be looking and seeing what he sees. Right. And speaking those things, like you said, coming into agreement. You know, Carrie, you're one that's always been speaking forth the word. Like, your messages are always full of God's word, which is continuing. Because, you know... Let's be honest, like as much as we all like to talk, we're not gonna remember every detail of it. But one thing I know that the God says about his word is that power of his word, it goes forth. It's that seed planted. Yes. That's what we've talked about in another episode. That word is so powerful that it does stay with us. Absolutely. I remember your words about when you've spoken in joy in our gatherings. I'm like, those, and it's those scriptures. And then I can go back and look at my notes and see, oh, I need that. I need more joy. So I need to focus and fix my attention on what's the Lord say about joy. Yeah. Yeah. And as you were saying that, Cheryl, I thought, you know, His Word, it's living seed. So when we're digesting that and when we are partaking of that— There's living seed in there that is not just for today. Some of that we're storing up His Word in our hearts, right? And the psalmist said, so that we will not sin against you. And I think part of that is even so we won't distrust you, so we won't doubt you, so we won't forget all your benefits, all the different things that we're storing up the truth of His Word in us. Sometimes we might forget something and all of a sudden in a moment of need, it is. a reminder of his truth or of his scripture. We might not know the exact reference, but we can quote something because that living seed is within us. That's a good point. And that's the, the, you know, gift of the word of God is when you need it, it's there. Yes. And it comes forth. And sometimes you look and you go, wow, thank you, Lord, because you didn't know it was in you. That's right. And that's, you know, that's such a gift. from the Lord, straight from the Holy Spirit. It sure is. It sure is. And I just love that we are one with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit because of the sacrifice of Jesus. So we can come before His throne with boldness and with confidence, knowing that He is there to help us, knowing that He is there to give us wisdom when we need. And so Jesus showed us the way. Yes. I don't know about you, but I don't know that my last time would be spent hours in prayer. I mean, Jesus, he just poured out his last to the very end with us in mind. Good point. And he wasn't worried about himself. He knew where he was going. He knew he had a resolve to face the cross, and he knew what it would accomplish. But he knew that he would need him on this earth. And so I love it. He sent his spirit. Did not leave us alone. We've not been forsaken. That's such a good point. What a self-control. Exactly. You think about it. When he was mocked so many times... Like, he could have just stopped at that point. It's like, okay, I've had enough. I can wipe you out right now. Yes, yes. And there's times when I'm reading through it, when he's, you know, getting spit on, and they're doing all kinds of things, and they're murmuring and saying all these wild things. I was like, internally, I'm like, if it was me, Lord, I would have said, be gone, you know? And just, like, wipe them out. Yes. I think from every moment of all the hardship towards the end, or even all the skeptics, after huge miracles would happen, Is that there would always be where, you know, a lot of times he would quickly leave and hide and be with the Lord, just recoup or what have you. But he still had so many people, even his own disciples were so confused and didn't understand. Right. He's like, well, when are you ever going to learn? Yes. And I think how grateful is it that he had the self-control to continue to teach, to continue on the path he knew he had to do? Yes. He didn't have to. He chose to do. Right. Exactly. So that we would have that redemption. We wouldn't have that relationship that he chose. He knew that we needed with him. He stayed the course. Yes. So, you know, getting back to my dad and what he said, you know, stay strong in the Lord. We don't know what the future holds here on earth, but we know what the future holds here. in heavenly places, right? And so no matter what our eyes see, no matter, my dad, the way that he passed wasn't, I don't think how he had planned, right? But he stayed strong in the Lord and he did not give up hope, knowing that his best days in Jesus were still ahead of him, even though he was facing death on this earth. So Jesus knew, that his best days with the Father were ahead because he was going to be able to bring us, those that accepted him, those that chose to follow him. He knew that him going to the cross was making a way for this family of believers to be with him for eternity. He stayed strong. Oh, amen. That is such a good word. And it's a good word because to stay focused on the higher things. Don't get so overwhelmed with what's going on around you. So good, Veronica. But look ahead because the greater days are ahead. Amen. Amen. That used to bug me sometimes with people's, your best days are ahead. Because when you're in a really difficult time and you're just thinking, well, I sure hope there are. But the Lord really corrected me years ago to say, well, your best days are ahead because of what I've done for you. Our lives here on earth are just this little blip. You're right. And they're important and it's valuable. But they're is so much more that we can't even imagine and fathom. And so our best days, no matter what has happened, no matter what age we are, are still yet to come in Jesus. That's such a good word. And you know, it makes me think of forgiveness. Because we have forgiveness, no matter what kind of day we have, there's forgiveness in Jesus. And we can have a fresh new start and continue our race, run it with success, and reach those greater days. I'm thinking about, yes, someone running a race, as you were saying that. It's like, okay, end of the day, I'm sore. So we've got this—if His mercies are new every morning, it's fresh. Like our muscles aren't sore, whatever it would be in the natural of that race where you're like, I don't think I've got another day in me. I'm just exhausted. But when we trust the Lord that, yes, when that sun rises again, it is a fresh new start in Him. And we have in Him— We have what it takes to do what he's asked us to do in him. And I'm reminded when you were talking earlier about joy, because what does the word say? The joy of the Lord is your strength. So when we're looking at a place where, like you said, we think we just don't have it in us, then we can go to the word and see what does the word say about joy. And so many times people will say, you know, well, what is joy? Because joy and happiness are two different things. That's so true. But the scripture doesn't say happiness. It says joy. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and it will carry us through. That's so good. You know, as we're wrapping up, I would like you both just to highlight what you determine for you, what being strong in the Lord means for you personally. I think for me, staying strong in the Lord is... is staying in His Word. And I know that that sounds, oh, yeah, no, but for me, I know when there's been a few days that I'm just so busy or whatever, I just get flat. I get dry. I don't have a lot to pour out and to give. But when I can be strengthened by His Word, then I have something to give to those that are in need, and I have something to receive from others. And so for me, staying strong in the Lord is being, excuse me, is remaining in him, remaining in his word and trust taking him at his word. Yes. And not allowing what is happening around me to keep me from believing his word and taking him at his word. That's great. That is good. Veronica, what do you think? Well, I would agree. I think that for me, being strong in the Lord is certainly being in His Word, but it's also prayer. Amen. You know, it's that time of communion, communing with the Lord. And as we take the time to spend with Him, He... basically is taking time to spend with us. And so he's putting back into us so much more than what we're giving to him. And I think that really is a lot of, you know, then we can handle the next day because we've spent that time in prayer, in Bible reading, in quiet time. There's a lot of different ways to just choose him in your day and you'll be better. That's so good. We hope that you also feel strong in the Lord. And maybe you don't. Maybe you just need to know that God intentionally loves you, cares for you. His desire, he is wanting for you just to call on him and lean into him and let him show you. And you're like, there's days where none of us actually feel like we're very strong. I mean, really, we don't. That's why we do go to prayer. That's why we do get in the Word, because we need that encouragement. And then we also know how to connect with other fellow believers just to be encouraged and spend time with people who will help us to encourage us to keep pressing on. Sometimes it means we have to say no to some things in our own lives that are not fruitful, like it does not really feel like it keeps us closer to the Lord. Right, right. Whatever it is, we encourage you to know that the benefits of being strong and staying in tune with the Lord, listening, have that constant dialogue with Him is so key to your future. So we hope that encourages you today to think and ponder on the Word of God and what He's promised for you.