Do you have a best friend that you love to talk to all the time? You constantly text this friend, and you can’t help but tell them about everything that’s going on in your life. Now imagine you add another good friend on your text thread with this friend. You both know your best friend well, but not super well together. You try to make the conversation flow, but it’s difficult and kind of awkward. As Christians, we sometimes view praying with other believers like this. We think prayer is just something that should be done between God and us, and bringing others in can feel uncomfortable. However, God calls us to pray with our brothers and sisters in Christ both corporately and privately. Let’s look at 8 prayers for praying with others.
1. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT
Lord God, help me remember that people need me, and I need them. Give me a heart to encourage others in prayer. Let the words that flow from my heart and mouth be edifying to You and those around me. May I never stop learning and following the example Jesus set for me. Amen.
2. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. – James 5:16 NLT
Father, give me the courage to confess my sins to You and with others. I know that Your name has great power and authority. Please help me to trust in You and Your faithfulness, even though I often fail. Let my prayers with others be glorifying to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
3. May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in a complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 15:5-6 NLT
God, help me pursue unity with my brothers and sisters. Allow me to have patience as I seek to understand and live with others, even though I often fail. Give us the strength to praise and give glory to Your name together, even when the world around us seems heavy. In Christ’s name, amen.
4. “For where two or three gather together as My followers, I am there among them.” 21 Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” – Matthew 18:20-21 NLT
Lord, I pray for Your strength to walk in forgiveness with others. When people do things that hurt me or I offend them, may we unify in prayer together to seek to resolve the issue with Your kindness and grace. Thank You for the promise when multiple believers get together to pray and forgive one another; You have promised to be there every time.
5. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. – Colossians 3:16 NLT
Heavenly Father, You are full of rich love and mercy. Strengthen me to seek out counsel and wisdom that only You can give with fellow believers. It’s difficult to ask for help, so make me teachable. Give me the boldness to overcome this fear so I can prayerfully lift others up. Amen.
6. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near. – Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT
Lord, help me continually think of ways to serve and pray for others around me. Give me the motivation and the heart to continue to love my brothers and sisters the way Jesus does. Strengthen my desire to continually meet with others as I live this life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
7. And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. 15 And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for. – 1 John 5:14-15 NLT
God, I know You hear me. You are good and gracious and You only desire good things for Your children. Give me the boldness to continually meet with the community You’ve blessed me with, even when it’s uncomfortable. Continue to stretch and grow me as I learn this discipline of being in fellowship with others. Amen.
8. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. – Romans 12:12 NLT
Father, thank You for the hope You’ve given us through Jesus. Give me the heart to keep praying with others through all the hardships we face in life. I know where two or three are gathered in Your name; You are there. Help me to believe and trust in this promise even when life feels out of control. In Christ’s name, amen.
