The Power of Praying Together

“Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
~ Matthew 18:20

We’ve all heard stories of groups of people who come together in prayer and receive amazing results. One church grew by leaps and bounds after some of its members began gathering before the morning service to pray for growth. In another case, a man was healed of late-stage lung cancer following intensive prayer support from his son’s congregation.

Is there power in numbers? Does God hear us better when we join our voices together?

If, by “power” we mean the ability to produce whatever outcome we choose, then, no, clearly not. For every cancer patient cured by prayer, there are many others who receive no cure even when hundreds of people are praying for them. But the act of praying together brings us into God’s presence in a fuller dimension than when we pray alone. There’s a reason why Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a banquet, rather than a table for two! Life’s important experiences are meant to be shared.

When I was five years old, my family spent a vacation at the sea shore. One evening we saw a spectacular sunset. The shimmering colors enthralled me, but the greatest joy was that everyone else was just as excited as I was. My sister and I kept jumping up from our beach chairs to point out new colors to our mother, who oohed and aahed appreciatively. Our grandparents, drawing on their vast store of memories, pronounced it one of the finest sunsets they had ever seen. Even our busy dad had a peaceful look on his face. The sharing of the experience meant more to me than the experience itself. In the same way, when we share the light of prayer, we not only feel closer to God but to one another.

Recently, my husband and I enjoyed a delightful evening at the home of some friends. As the serving dishes were passed from hand to hand, we discussed recipes, told jokes and caught up on the latest news. Afterward, savoring the memory of that dinner, I realized how praying together is very much like sharing a meal. It's true that the food would not be any less nourishing if each person ate separately, but breaking bread together feeds our spirit.

Some benefits from praying together are:
1. Praying together, collectively more prayers are prayed. Each of us has a unique way of praying and praying together brings a new voice to the need.

2. Praying together gives me a deep feeling of belonging. When I am part of a group, I feel that I am a necessary part of a greater purpose.

3. Praying together improves my mood. Looking out among others and feeling their love and care regardless of how I felt when I began, I leave feeling comforted.

4. Praying together opens my heart to the needs of the people around me and reminds me that sometimes I can be the answer to someone’s prayer.

Although I know God is always with me, and I often pray alone and enjoy the benefits of my solitary prayer time, I feel his presence most strongly when I'm praying with others. I believe lifting one another in prayer is one of the richest experiences we can share. Together, we are strengthened and blessed.

How to Pray

Prayer is one of the greatest skills in the world. It is the spiritual power that flows from God into our daily lives. Astonishingly, prayer illuminates problems, lifts weights, overcomes obstacles, restores health, and brings many astounding results.

1. What should you say when you pray?
Just talk to God as a child would talk to a father whom he loves and with whom he feels in harmony. Tell the Lord everything that is on your mind and in your heart.

2. Talk to the Lord in simple everyday speech.
Do not use an exaggerated formal speech. You would not talk to your father that way, and He is your Heavenly Father. In public prayer, it is perhaps proper to address God more formally. But in personal, private prayer you might, for example, say "You" to God rather than "Thou." This does not diminish respect for Him but serves to make the relationship more natural.

3. Tell God what you want.
Tell Him you would like to have it if He thinks it is good for you. But also say and mean it, that you will leave it to Him to decide, and you will accept His decision as best for you and others involved. If you do this regularly it will be possible for God to give you the wonderful things that you should have. It is frightening, the marvelous things we miss because we insist upon something else, something only a fraction as fine as He wants to give us.

4. Practice praying during the day.
For example, talk to God as you drive your car. If you had a friend with you, you would talk to him or her, would you not? Then imagine the Lord is there, for He is, and just talk to Him about everything. If you are waiting for a bus, talk with Him. But at night, when you go to bed, I recommend that you kneel by the bed and pray. However, if this has been your custom and if it has become merely a formality, get into bed, relax and then pray.

5. Words are not always necessary when you pray.
Think how good God is, how kindly, and that He is by your side guiding you and watching over you.

6. Try helping others by your prayers.
Pray for the troubled or the ill. Pray for your loved ones, for people you do not like, and for those who have not treated you well. It will do more for you to pray for those you resent than for those you love. If you doubt this, try it for six months and see what happens. Prayer is an emanation of power. Select some person who may be a problem to you and shoot prayers at him. Conceive of yourself as surrounding him with healthy prayers, goodwill, and faith. I have seen the most astounding, almost unbelievable, results.

7. Do not make all your prayers into the form of asking God for something.
Let your prayer consist of all the wonderful things that have happened to you. Name them, thank God for them and make that your whole prayer. You will soon find that these prayers of thanksgiving grow longer and longer, and you will have more and more things for which to thank God.