Prayer Voices

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore." -- Psalm 133

I had the privilege of attending a prayer gathering last evening at the Oxford Vineyard. As we gathered in a circle and lifted our voices in prayer for the City of Oxford there was a moment when I paused in silence to take it all in. There were many voices expressing their heart in prayer ... each led by One Spirit but each one unique in the words they chose, the tonal qualities of their voice, and the pattern of their prayers. There is unity in the uniqueness of God's creation. He has given us many prayer voices and they beat in one accord and for one purpose -- to see God gloried in the city and nation, to see salvation come to the lost, to see the captives set free, and to see all healed. It was a beautiful picture of what Jesus prayed in John 17 (v. 22-23): "Father I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." Oh how good and pleasant it truly is when brothers dwell together in unity. It is like the oil running down Aaron's beard and onto his robe. May the oil and anointing of His presence run down the streets of Oxford, Ohio just like the river in Ezekiel 47 ... ankle-deep, and then knee-deep, and then waist high, until it becomes a river of His glory in which all of Oxford will swim in the fullness thereof.