“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Acts 4:29-31 NIV
The early church had big challenges, but they prayed big, bold prayers. And they prayed them together. That’s what God always intended. Way back in the Garden, God said it is not good for man to be alone. That’s not just in marriage – it’s in all ways. Together is always better.
God designed us for community. The church was created to be an assembly of called-out ones, following Jesus and pursuing the world for Him together. Prayer is part of it. The world benefits, and so does the church.
Praying together transforms churches. Shared experiences bond people together. They create mutual appreciation, understanding, and trust. Praying and sharing together cause us to depend on God and each other. The entire culture and outlook of a church will change when the people pray together. God shows up in those holy moments, and things are changed.
Praying together unites the body. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul describes the church as a body. Every part of the body is unique with its own skills and abilities. Alone, they aren’t worth much, but when the connective tissue and muscles unites them into a working unit, each part becomes immeasurably valuable. Prayer is the muscle that unites the diverse parts of the body of Christ. We begin to see our need for each other, and we bring out the best in each one. Together, this united body can accomplish things that could never be done otherwise.
Praying together fills the church with joy. When we pray together, we get answers together. Joy and encouragement fill our hearts, and joyful people become close. Joyful people are attractive people. Praying together fans the flame of joy. Problems diminish as joy grows, and then the church grows.
God designed us to do life with Him and others. What might God do for us if we got seriously committed to praying together?
- Have you signed up and committed to the 21 Days of Prayer? Don’t miss the adventure.