Author James Banks calls prayer "love on its knees". This love is multiplied as we pray together.
In his book The Lost Art of Praying Together, Banks quotes the great 19th century American evangelist Charles Finney:
"Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians together than praying together. Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other's hearts in prayer."
This is true in my own experience. Sometimes, I have been overcome with emotion when I have prayed for someone who is suffering in our group. And I have seen the same with others.
I believe the Holy Spirit stirs our hearts as we pray for each other.
It is true that this deep love sometimes wells up in our hearts when we pray alone. But, as Finney says, our hearts go out to others in our group as we hear their prayers - sometimes desperate prayers.
Jesus called us to love one another and to be united. There is no better way than prayer to love others in our group of believers.
"It is hard to be mad at someone when you are praying in the right spirit, mindful that the same Lord who has forgiven your sins is listening," writes Banks.
"Praying together is one of the ways the unity that Jesus prayed for naturally occurs as the Spirit convicts us, changes our hearts, and draws us together."
Banks says that he belongs to a multi-racial group of ministers that meets in his home city of Durham, North Carolina every week to plead with God to bring revival to their city. As they pray together, the deep racial prejudices that have plagued the city melt away.
"We've learned that when we seek God honestly together in prayer, it's impossible to remain at odds for long."
Part of the reason for this is that Jesus promised to be with us in a special way when two or three of us are gathered together in prayer (Matthew 18:19,20).
How can we fight when Jesus is with us?
In his book The Lost Art of Praying Together, Banks quotes the great 19th century American evangelist Charles Finney:
"Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians together than praying together. Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other's hearts in prayer."
This is true in my own experience. Sometimes, I have been overcome with emotion when I have prayed for someone who is suffering in our group. And I have seen the same with others.
I believe the Holy Spirit stirs our hearts as we pray for each other.
It is true that this deep love sometimes wells up in our hearts when we pray alone. But, as Finney says, our hearts go out to others in our group as we hear their prayers - sometimes desperate prayers.
Jesus called us to love one another and to be united. There is no better way than prayer to love others in our group of believers.
"It is hard to be mad at someone when you are praying in the right spirit, mindful that the same Lord who has forgiven your sins is listening," writes Banks.
"Praying together is one of the ways the unity that Jesus prayed for naturally occurs as the Spirit convicts us, changes our hearts, and draws us together."
Banks says that he belongs to a multi-racial group of ministers that meets in his home city of Durham, North Carolina every week to plead with God to bring revival to their city. As they pray together, the deep racial prejudices that have plagued the city melt away.
"We've learned that when we seek God honestly together in prayer, it's impossible to remain at odds for long."
Part of the reason for this is that Jesus promised to be with us in a special way when two or three of us are gathered together in prayer (Matthew 18:19,20).
How can we fight when Jesus is with us?
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