03/03/2023
Do we pray alone? Well, it is good to pray by ourselves, and also in secret, because this is required to maintain the intimacy of our relationship with God, but are there also times when praying together is called for? The answer to this question is a resounding “Yes!” There is power in joining together in certain prayers, whether we are physically together or scattered around the world as we are praying. When a unified prayer is offered by many it carries much weight before the throne of God.
“He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”
2 Corinthians 1:10-11 ESV
Paul knew that the prayers of many were powerful, and asked for them. Prayers are not empty words, but have substance. We think that because we can’t see them here on earth that they are the same in heaven, but they are not. Prayers can be handled as if they were sacrifices, and placed in the hands of angels.
“And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.”
Revelation 8:3-4 ESV
Our prayers have substance, they have volume, weight, and when gathered together they are of great effect, and their value increases. We read many scriptures that remind us of this fact; from blanket statements such as:
“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."”
Matthew 18:19-20 ESV
To the more specific calls to prayer such as intercessory healing when we are told to call together “the elders” not “an elder”
“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
James 5:14 ESV
As the weight of our problem, or request, grows, so should our common prayers and the number of those praying. Whether we physically pray together (as in the case of elders praying for healing) or separately as we are scattered across the city, country, or world; being of one mind, and joined in one prayer is important. Prayers, even from around the world, are gathered together before God... we call this a fruit of fellowship. Just as we gain strength by gathering together our other resources... in this way our prayers become stronger by their sheer number.
I read emails, comments, and posts to my daily devotional messages from people around the world. They all respond in the English language, but for many this is not their native tongue, so the phrasing, and the words chosen to relate what they are thinking is often unique. Yet, in them I hear the message... and the flavor of what is being communicated becomes more robust in the process. Together these messages become a stew of many flavors that when joined together creates a meal of prayer and thought that is beyond the ability of the individual ingredients... together they become a joy to the palate. I can only imagine what God hears and tastes when prayers are lifted up together by so many, in such varied languages, and in such diverse cultural intensity and form. So, we have power in our combined prayers; together we are a stew, a jambalaya, an Ajaico, or an Okro. The words, and the flavors, all joining to become glorious... varied, rich, and pleasing before God... the Church.
Just as we pray alone, in secret, and to commune privately with God, There is also occasion and importance in our praying together. Whether our joint prayers are in one language, or many; whether we are praying the same words, or expressing our desires in our own words, the need exists to come before God as one people, and one Church... gathering together in a singularity of cause.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for prayer, and the beauty and flavor of it. Thank you for our private times of prayer, but thank you also Father for being able to join together with all our brothers and sisters in Christ as we come to you in joint prayer and lift our common causes, desires, and heartbreaks before you. Hear our prayers Oh Lord, for they are meant for you, and to reach out to you in our times of love, desperation, joy, and need, each prayed offered in the best way we know how. We occasionally pray in words that are disjointed, but guided by your Holy Spirit who prays for us when we are at a loss, and who helps us when our words are a flavor that we can’t identify on our own. What a blessing it is Holy Father to be able to speak our concerns to you, and know that you hear, and act on them. Hear us now Merciful Father as we ask you together to bless your Church, to heal our world, to comfort your children, and as we pray... to come quickly Lord Jesus. Let our prayers be as oil, a refreshing dew before your throne Gracious Father, and guide us in them as your Spirit lead us into your presence now, and forevermore.
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”
Psalms 133:1-3 ESV
Rich Forbes