“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31

“Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” 1 Cor. 7:5

Key thought of the day
While it is important to pray, it is just as important to pray together!

“Why should we pray aloud together?” asked a college student in my Sunday school class. “It says right here in black and white that we should go into our closet to pray.” He was pointing to Mt. 6:6: “Enter into thy closet, and . . . pray to thy Father which is in secret” (KJV).

I wondered if this earnest young man was looking for a biblical reason to avoid praying with others. This, after all, had been my own experience as a college student. The director of our student Christian organization was always pushing prayer partners. She claimed it was important that we meet with someone on a regular basis to pray together. I resisted the idea because I felt that I was already a strong pray-er, making the most of my daily quiet time with God. I didn’t need to pray with anyone else, I reasoned—and if I did, it would take time that as a busy student and cafeteria worker I didn’t have to spare. In addition, many of my prayer requests were very personal. I was hesitant about sharing them with others.

Then Marilyn, a girl in my dorm, asked me to be her prayer partner. She was so sincere that I couldn’t refuse. We began to pray together Sunday through Thursday around 10:30 p.m. Just as I suspected, it took time from my busy schedule. I soon learned, however, that it was time well spent. I was helped, strengthened, and stretched by the experience so much that ever since, wherever I’ve lived, I’ve sought to pray with others.

All this flashed through my mind as I answered my student. “In that verse,” I explained, “Jesus was warning us against praying for the approval of others. Praying should never be about calling attention to ourselves; it is about communing with God and experiencing His power and presence.”

I had become such a hearty proponent of praying with others that I wanted other people to experience it. Here are some of the benefits of praying together that I shared with my student.

•    Jesus promises to be present. (Mt. 18:19–20)
•    Jesus promises to answer. (Mt. 7:7)
•    We pray more boldly.
•    Love and understanding are fostered.

Abstracted from “Better Together” by Brenda Poinsett in “Pray!”

1. How do you feel about praying with others? Ask the Lord to help you concerning any issues that may keep you from doing so. If praying with others is already something you enjoy, ask God to show you ways to encourage a friend who still is uncomfortable praying with others.

If you are not currently involved in a prayer partnership or in corporate prayer with other believers, ask the Lord to show you where to start. Or if you are already praying with others, invite someone who isn’t to join you.