practicing private + corporate prayer

Good morning, sisters! For the past two days, we’ve been reading instructions and studying examples of private and corporate prayer in the Bible. And today? Today is the day we get intentional.

Praying alone, at an appointed time: If you’re anything like me, you shy away from making resolutions because you’d rather not make them at all than risk not keeping one. I encourage you to give this fear over to the Lord, remembering that we can’t do anything good on our own anyway. Instead:

• Review the passages we studied about praying alone (Matthew 6:6, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12, Acts 10:9, and Daniel 6:10).

• Find/make realistic space for daily prayer time.

• Pick a specific location and call it yours.

• Share this commitment with another believer and commit it to the Lord as well.

Praying with others: One of these will naturally be more challenging for you than the other. Perhaps you are comfortable praying in quiet, but praying with other believers makes you sweaty. Or maybe it’s the other way around. Sisters, I encourage you to speak out in humble confidence, calling on His name in the company of the saints.

• Review the passages we studies about praying in pairs and in community (Acts 2:42, Acts 20:36, James 5:16, 1 Thess 5:17)

• Whether it be with a close friend, with your spouse, or with someone you’ve just met, ask the Lord to show you a person with whom you can pray.

• Do it. Seek an environment where it is natural to move to the Lord together in conversation. It may feel unnatural at first, but I encourage you to press through. The prayer doesn’t have to be lovely or long. According to Martin Luther, “The fewer the words, the better the prayer.” Praying together, confessing your sins to one another, even going to God in thanks – these are all ways to live in and enjoy Christian community.

Finally sisters, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2