The moment we start coming together to pray for one another in honesty is when we stop coming together to pray out of obligation; only then will we see a shift. As a believer, I can admit that sometimes I treat prayer like it’s a chore. It’s something I know I need to do, and sometimes I am just checking that box on my “to-do” list. There are different ways we should pray, and the bible addresses them. For the sake of the community, there is a biblical way to go about this. Let’s use Jesus’ example when he explained the Lord’s prayer to the disciples. He gave them examples of what NOT to do and WHY. Then he provided a template:
” Our father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. Matthew 6:9-13
We can also see this in the book of Acts.
” Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts of the Apostles 1:4
Again, Jesus, our perfect example, is telling the disciples what NOT to do and WHY. This time, he doesnt give them a template, necessarily. However, he does tell them that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. This is an important detail because we, as in you and I, have the Holy Spirit as well. Intended to help us, counsel us, guide us, convict us, and teach us how to live out God’s calling. Therefore, there is no effective prayer without the Holy Spirit.
Jesus showed us how to make adjustments to our personal prayer lives. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can make some adjustments in prayer within the context of community.
Prayer should be our source. Just think, everyone around you needs something, but not everyone knows that God provides our needs. So when we come together with other believers, there should be a holy exchange of wisdom and experiences, because iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). Those in need receive from those able to give. A discouraged heart being met with encouragement, a burden shared and lifted (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. The kind of love that goes beyond familiarity and comfort. One fruitful way to live out this love is through prayer. Prayer is meant for everyone, not just those we know well. Each person we meet is someone whom Christ gave his life for. If God is still allowing us time, then we should be helping as many people as we can, especially through prayer. Prayer is one of the most powerful ways we can stand in the gap for others. In the Book of Acts, Chapter 1, verse 15 says that 120 believers were gathered in one place. A few verses earlier, it actually names several people, including the disciples and Mary.
What should this tell you?
They didn’t know everyone in the room!
A.k.a., we will be called to pray for and with people we don’t know and may not even like.
“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” Mathew 5:44-45
We have No Excuses! I mentioned this in many of my blog posts, but let me repeat it. I am not a theologian, and I haven’t gone to Bible school. On this blog, I want to be open and honest about my experiences and the lessons I’m learning as I pursue God. My hope is that what I share will help, encourage, motivate, and support other believers walking the same path.
With that being said, don’t just take my word for it. You have the same tools as I do. A relationship with God, a bible, and whether small or large- a community of believers.
My apologies for the brief intermission, now back to it.
What should this fruitful praying community look like?
- Listening to one another. James 1:19 says to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Listening to understand one’s situation, even if it’s something you would never be involved in. Actively listening should help you to hear different ways you can help them, even if that’s only prayer.
- Praying in agreement. This is important because united faith with another believer can be powerful. Much like the miracles among the believers in the book of Acts. They were experiencing these things AFTER Jesus had left. Mathew 18:19-20 also says, “If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am among them.”
- Interceding with compassion. You can only have compassion for someone if you have listened to what they have said, understand to the best of your ability, and relate to it. Relating to someone doesnt mean that you have to have experienced what they did. None of us was nailed to the cross and died for the next-door neighbor’s sin. Yet we have a sense of compassion towards what Jesus suffered for us. If I can sit here and ponder some things that I did wrong and have this compassion or reverence, I should say, for God. Then, even if you were never evicted in your life, you can imagine what it would feel like to lose it all. 1 Peter 4:7-8 says the end of the world is coming, and we should be sincere and disciplined in our prayers. And most importantly, we should show deep love for one another; love covers a multitude of sins.
- Being vulnerable and transparent. This one can be tough if you have been hurt before. When this is executed in a sound and safe environment, the results are beautiful. Galatians 6:2 says Share in each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” Also in James 5, it says to confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed.
- Aligning with God’s will together. Look how impactful this was for the disciples and the others to come together in the book of Acts. Balancing out strengths and weaknesses, supporting one another, and tackling tasks with unity, strengthening relationships, need I say anymore? All for the purpose of doing the will of God by helping each other both inside and outside of the community. Acts, Chapter 1-2 talks about how a group of believers, including the disciples and Mary, met together constantly united in prayer for this one moment to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:4 says that everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. This wasn’t some cool attempt to become a polyglot. This was an intentional act of God, a miracle, to spread the good news to ALL.
Why it matters?
Imagine you’re walking down a road and come across a hungry, homeless family. You remember passing an apple tree about a mile back. If you go alone, you might be able to carry a few apples—but not nearly enough to feed everyone. Now, imagine asking someone to go with you. Together, you could gather so much more.
And yes, someone might say, “I’d just bring a bucket.” Even then, if you had two people with two buckets each, you’d be able to carry four times as much.
That’s the beauty of unity in the body of Christ. When we move together—with care, support, accountability, humility, and love—we can carry far more than we ever could alone.
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one fails, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Things to avoid:
- Pride
- Gossip
- Self righteouness
- Greed
- Condemnation
These things poison the environment by causing discord, disconnection, and a lack of trust amongst believers.