Skip to main content

Praying with Others

“If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them of my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 18:19).”

One of the most powerful things you can do as a human being is to pray for yourself. One of the greatest accomplishments of this life is developing a consistent, open, and honest dialogue with your Creator, God. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much (James 5:16).” Although it may seem like a play on words, there is a major difference in praying with someone and praying for someone.

Your prayer life may begin with someone praying for you because you do not know how to pray or be knowledgeable of the truth that you can talk directly to God for yourself or even that there is a God in which to pray. Maybe you asked someone to pray for you because you were angry with God or disenchanted by those who represent God. Someone may have jumped started your prayer experience by sharing with you their testimony of the power of prayer. Nevertheless, the goal is for you to learn to pray for yourself and to pray with others when necessary.

Jesus gave his disciples a structure to use for prayer until they were comfortable to develop their style and format of prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). Once you learn to pray, you can empower people to establish and maintain a relationship with God through their own prayer lives. You can support people in prayer and pray with them, but people mustn’t become dependent on you to pray for them. You can provide people with prayer tools and, at the same time, tell them that your prayers are no more powerful than theirs. It may appear that way because you have more experience with prayer or do it more often; nevertheless, prayer is a tool, and the more you use it, the more proficient you become.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

  Why Me? God’s Glory (Romans 8:18) Why? That's a question often in our Souls. Why is this happening to me? Why am I having this experience? Why am I facing this health challenge? There's an answer! Why am I having these relationship challenges? There’s an answer, and it’s the same one. Why am I having this financial challenge? There’s an answer! There’s an answer to every question in your Soul, and the answer is glory. The reason for every experience in your life is so that God can get the glory. The purpose of all our challenges is not to bring us down but to transform us and bring glory to God. Why am I having this test, this trial, this tribulation? So God can get the glory. Why am I experiencing this persecution, this headache, this pain? So, God can get the glory. Why am I witnessing this miracle, sign, or wonder? So, God can get the glory. Why am I having this challenge in my local assembly, in my ministry, in my business, and in my organization? So God can get the...
Post a Comment
Read more
The Sacred Sunday Posture:  Kneeling “ A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees; if you are willing, you can make me clean (Mark 1:40).” In addition to bowing your heads and closing your eyes, many people learn to “get on your knees and pray.” Often, it’s at night before going to sleep. Parents instruct their children to kneel on the side of the bed and say their prayers. Perhaps you have fond memories of kneeling and reciting the Lord’s Prayer or the 23 rd Psalm. Or maybe you were taught, like me, “Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake. I pray the Lord, my soul, to take. God bless mommy, daddy...” Kneeling is a physical way to revere God as your Creator and remember that God is your Source. “Know that it is the Lord, who is God. It is he that has made us and not we ourselves. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3).” Without reverencing and ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Where Is the Love? Learning to Recognize God's Presence Through Galatians 5

  Where Is the Love?    One of my favorite duets is by Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack: "Where Is the Love?" It asks, "Where is the love that you said you would give to me?" It's a timeless question and one that’s just as spiritually relevant today.    In Galatians 5 , Paul writes to the churches in Galatia about the contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. He helps believers understand how to discern what’s truly of God. And here's the spiritual compass: love is God's signature . "And envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."   Galatians 5:21 (KSB)    Whatever you do whether it’s cooking a meal or making a major decision ask yourself: "Where is the love?" Is love your motive? Is love present in your tone, your actions, your intentions?  Paul’s letter urges us to determine whether we are operati...
Post a Comment
Read more