Tips to Help You Pray Together

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

Few things are more powerful than to hear someone pray for you. I remember a time in my own life when I was too tired and sick to pray for myself, so a wonderful group of people surrounded me and lifted me up to God. They declared the word of God over me and cried out when I couldn’t. I will never forget it. But you don’t have to be experiencing sickness or loss for prayer to be powerful and effective. The Bible reminds us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Whether we are seeking guidance, celebrating God’s goodness or exposing our brokenness, praying together changes us from the inside out.

Here are some tips to help you pray together. Use them in whatever way is helpful to you in your context.

Create the space for prayer

If you want to integrate the core practice of praying together you need to create space in your life where you and others can share who you are and grow in relationship. And any relationship, if it’s going to grow, needs space, time together, intentionality…without an agenda, where you can get to know each other. We don’t create intimacy…we can only make room for it. Efficiency, multi-tasking, and busyness all kill intimacy. You can’t get to know others and pray together if you share life on the fly.

Start Where You Are

Be honest. Be authentic and transparent. Don’t try and get the prayer “right.” Just tell God where you are and what’s on your mind. You don’t have to fix yourself up before coming to God and talking with Him. Just come to Him…the real you…share where you are in your life right now.

Listen

If you want to hear the heartbeat of another and what needs to be lifted up to God in prayer, you need to listen. I want you to think for a moment. You know the people you talk to who never listen to you?? I know you know exactly what I mean! Someone has just popped in your head. They never ask about you…they never wonder what your perspective is…they assume they know what’s happening in your life, what you need and want, without even listening to you….you know those people?? Don’t be that person with God!

It is just as important to listen as it is to speak. For me…that doesn’t come easy. I have to work at it. I easily get distracted. I have to make room for it and for me that means slowing the pace down…asking, seeking…interacting and observing life.

Use the Scriptures

Sometimes we may not know what to say when we pray. How about simply praying the scriptures! God’s word is powerful and true. It is living and active. You can never go wrong praying God’s word over people. Write down some of your favorite scriptures that speak to the power and promises of God. Meditate on them as part of your own spiritual conversation with God. That way they will be fresh in your heart and mind for the Spirit to use.

Keep Going

The way we grow in the core practice of praying together is to pray together! Keep going! Keep showing up! Keep listening! Keep speaking as God leads you! He is doing something regardless of how it feels or what you see!

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”

Colossians 4:2