PRAYING FOR YOUR LOCAL CHURCH

Before there were youth groups, kids clubs, and small groups, there were prayer meetings. In suburban and urban areas in America in the 19th and through most of the 20th century, most churches met on Sunday mornings and had a weekly prayer meeting on Wednesday nights. Just ask a seasoned saint how church was done when they were young. Nowadays, midweek studies seem to be focused on fellowship, studying the Bible, and outreach. None of those things were bad and all of those likely happened in the past, but was there a benefit to regularly scheduled meetings with the purpose solely to pray?

Prayer is vital to the church. It fuels our passion, gives perspective on our place in the body, fosters compassion and empathy for people, connects us on a deeper level with the people of God, helps us grow closer to God, reveals how God is working, humbles us, builds us up, and edifies the church. It changes so many things!

Praying for the church changes you. Praying for others in general is a humbling experience. If you are one to criticize and complain about your church, praying specifically for it’s needs will soften your tone and help you get perspective and wisdom on situations. It also fosters in you a compassion for the sinners in your local body of believers like we see in Paul’s prayers (Phil. 1:3-5, 2 Tim. 1:3-4).

Praying with the church changes you. Be active in corporate prayer. I don’t just mean that you should volunteer to pray out loud or offer up prayer requests, but while other people pray, try to keep your mind engaged by praying with them instead of just listening to them. As the pastor asks God to work through His sermon, pray for that as well. Say an “amen” or a “yes, Jesus” in your mind or out loud. And listen for the structure and method of people who pray well. You can learn a lot about prayer by simply copying those prayer warriors in your church. All of this can drastically change your desire to pray and your heart towards and during prayer.

Praying for the church while you’re with the church changes everyone. Due to the social effects of Covid-19, the most used Bible verse of 2020 & 2021 might be Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” There is something about gathering with other believers that is vital to our spiritual lives. God did not create us to be a rock or an island away from others (the pain is worth it Simon & Garfunkel!). Praying with others for the church makes us aware of what is going on in the body and gets us excited about God’s work or convicts us to get the work done. It is refreshing and sobering at the same time. It is also the glue that connects us together in the glorious purpose of life: to glorify God and share His truth!

Changing prayer in the church starts with you. Are you connected with a local church? Are fired up for praying with other saints but have no idea where to start? Find out if there’s a prayer chain and get on it. Take a look at the church website and pray for each ministry listed. Attend a prayer meeting if your church has them. Start a weekly prayer meeting if your church doesn’t. You could even just start with your friends or the people you sit next to on Sunday morning. Maybe you commit to meeting 15 minutes before the service or Bible study and praying with whoever is there. Like I mention in so many other blog posts, it doesn’t have to be big and fancy, just humble and honest and started as soon as possible. No go pray for and with the church!

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