A Prayer for Unity This Thanksgiving
By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” - 1 Corinthians 1:10
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I have a difficult time when it comes to Thanksgiving celebrations. It is not the holiday itself, but rather having to deal with difficult family members. Due to some people’s bad attitudes and hurtful behaviors, it can be nearly impossible to have a good time at Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving used to be a wonderful holiday in my household when I was a child, but when my eldest sister developed anorexia nervosa, it became a living nightmare due to her intense fear of food. And sadly, she has never recovered. As someone who has gone through recovery for my own eating disorder, it can be even more challenging and triggering to have to encounter her on Thanksgiving.
My other sister and I have tried to talk with our struggling sister many times and offer her peace, but she does not want to listen. For many Thanksgivings, now, my other sister and I had to just choose to go somewhere else for our Thanksgiving dinner. And sadly, this meant not spending time with our dad. If you have someone like this in your family whose actions destroy the unity of the family, know you are not alone. Unfortunately, there is normally at least one family member who tends to cause problems at family gatherings. All we can do is pray for unity and the strength to make it through a difficult family gathering. Other times, we may choose not to attend to protect our own health and minds.
The Apostle Paul tells us, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Corinthians 1:10). As Paul says in this passage, believers need to be united in mind and thought. Ask the Lord to help you if this is a struggle, and He will provide you with abundant peace. Personally, I will be praying each day leading up to Thanksgiving as well as on the actual day. Seek solace in the good Lord and find unity through His strength.
Let’s Pray:
Dear Jesus, it is very hard to live in unity with people who are difficult to get along with. I have a difficult family member who I really don’t want to encounter this year. Please help me to live in unity with this person and please give me the strength to make it through the holiday. I’m giving all praise and thanks to You, Lord. Amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/AlexRaths
Related Resource: Starting 2026 with Intention: Confidence, Diligence, and God’s Direction
As we begin a brand-new year, I want to help you slow down and listen for God’s invitation in your life. In this episode, we kick off our One Word 2026 series — a simple, prayerful way to reflect on where you’ve been and discern how God may be inviting you to grow in the year ahead.
I introduce the heart behind choosing a spiritual “one word,” not as a goal to achieve, but as a posture to receive. We explore two of the six words I’ll be offering this month — confidence and diligence — and look at how Scripture invites us to grow, not by relying on our own strength, but by trusting God’s faithfulness over time.
This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to subscribe to the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Saturday, 16 November 2024.
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