Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:19-20
In a church that I attended quite some time ago, we used to have prayer meeting ever Wednesday night. It was awesome. A different family would volunteer to prepare supper for about 40 people and we would go to church right after work, we would all eat as one big family of God, fellow shipping and binding together while we ate and then we would go up to the sanctuary where we would pray. The pastor would speak briefly, sharing some scripture and prayer requests for members of the body that couldn’t attend and then we would break up into groups. We were always encouraged to pray in a different group than we had the week prior so that we would get more comfortable with each other and would also get to know each other better.
There is nothing like praying together, as a family of believers. And, like our main verse says, where two or more are gathered in Jesus name, He shows up!
Prayer is a vital part of the Christian walk. It is what helps us not to fall into temptation and sin (Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41). Our prayers are pleasing and like sweet incense to God (Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering. Psalm 141:2). Through them God desires to answer us, to speak to us, to reveal His will and ways and to teach us (‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:3).
But God doesn’t just want one on one time with us. Our quiet time alone with God is intimate, precious and necessary, but so is group prayer.
We are to pray for one another (And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18).
God even desires that we would confess our sins to one another, not just our prayer requests. (Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16) and if we do, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9).
We need our quiet time of prayer with God, daily. But we also need time of fellowship, confession and prayer with our brothers and sisters in Christ. I would encourage you to attend a corporate pray time, whether at your own church or another local church. The power found in corporate prayer of the body of Christ, coupled with the presence of the Holy Spirit is incredible.
And don’t worry about not being eloquent in prayer because the scriptures tell us that when we don’t know what to pray the Holy Spirit will lead us (
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27).
I pray that we would start our day spending quiet prayer time with our Heavenly Father and that we would experience the peace of communing with Him and sitting in His presence. I pray that we would be thankful for all that He has done and that we would be devoted to prayer (Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:12). I pray that we would find a place and time to be part of corporate prayer with brothers and sisters in Christ and that we would be overwhelmed by the way that the Holy Spirit will show up and move, when we are faithful and obedient and lifting prayer, praise and confession to Him.
Commit yourselves to prayer, individual, corporate and without ceasing (Rejoice at all times, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). God longs to spend time with you, His precious child, and to hear your voice. Pray, pray, pray.
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and have not spent time actually talking to God and hearing His voice, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. Jesus died so that you could have a personal relationship with Him and could be forgiven and reconciled to God. Begin your conversation, with Him, by praying the prayer on that page and experience the forgiveness and mercy of our Heavenly Father. Once you have prayed that prayer, please reach out to me and let me know at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com. I’d love to be in prayer for you.
Luv ya!
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16
