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Learning to Pray Together
“I have found that no one is born a prayer hero,
they are shaped and refined in the practice field of life.”
Dutch Sheets
Everyone can learn how to pray
and contribute publically in prayer.
The following six steps are designed to encourage us
all to be involved in
praying effectively, creatively and powerfully together.
Jesus taught that “When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” Matthew 6: 7
Six Principles of Effective Group Prayer:
1) Single Subject– Concentrate together on the same subject for prayer.
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Don't pray 'all around the world' in one prayer
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Leave something for other people to pray for.
2) Short Prayer - helpful to pray short prayers using brief, short phrases, not long drawn out descriptions and explainations. e.g.:
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“Praise You Lord for Your faithfulness, thank You for Your amazing love and mercy”
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“Thank You that You have made us and we can ask You for things because we are Your sons & daughters”
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“Father please give us Your power to lead others to know You”
3) Simple Prayer – use normal language, avoid “preach-praying” theological phrases or solemn religious tones:
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“Lord, You’ve said you have good plans for us, may we know them and follow them.”
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“Father, forgive us for……”
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“Father, we want to please You in every way, help us to open our hearts and allow Your Holy Spirit to be in control.”
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“Lord please heal Janet in Jesus’ name”
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“Lord, empower us to bring the good news about Jesus to our community
4) Specific Prayer– particular & exact. Acts 4:29-30, Acts 12:5. We can be very practical.
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"Give our leaders wisdom and discernment"
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"Lord, we need £---- for …….we want to get on with furthering Your kingdom, please provide all we need"
Father please fill us with Your Spirit and speak Your words of life through us"
5) Silent Prayer – Ecclesiastes 5: 2-3 / Psalm 46: 10. - We don’t need to fill every gap.
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Be open to hearing from God. Every Christian can learn to hear God's voice.
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Wait and give the Holy Spirit space to speak
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Ask for revelation – pictures, words, impressions. What God shows us will never contradict His word in the Bible.
6) Sensitive Prayer - to the Holy Spirit and to others.
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Seek to be in tune with the Holy Spirit in order to pray appropriately and sensitively. He brings order, not chaos.
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Do not pray in tongues unless there is an agreement from the whole group to do so together, remember, some people may not be familiar or comfortable with this, constant praying in tongues can be distracting and alienate people.
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Our prayers are precious to God and He wants to encourage all to be involved.
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Follow the leadership of the meeting.
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