While individual prayer is indispensable, God also designed us for community. He intends prayer to be a shared activity that builds up others. The book of Acts describes believers constantly gathering together for prayer (Acts 2:42). Their collective cries became a spiritual megaphone that shook cities and birthed revivals.
If we wish to overcome life-dominating sin, it is essential that we find a church to attend. A church is God’s means of grace to us, where we receive “gas in our tanks” and energy to overcome and do His work.
When looking for a church, look for two specific things: 1. They practice and encourage private and group prayer. 2. Their preaching focuses on the gospel of Jesus Christ, straight from the Bible.
And when you find a church like this, resolve to not miss a service unless an emergency happens. Faithful attendance at a praying and gospel-preaching church will mature you. It is God’s means of grace for you.
The early church depended fully on the promised Holy Spirit, who came to indwell all believers because Jesus completed His work (John 14:16–17). They knew their mission required Spirit power fueled by unified prayer (Acts 4:31). As new Christians, we need to follow their lead.
Joining fellow believers to intercede makes our prayers exponentially more effective (Matthew 18:19–20). Group prayer expresses God’s vision of a shared purpose and calls on God for specific needs and requests. Our fellowship and faith deepen as we seek God alongside one another. We gain a new perspective hearing our Christian brothers and sisters pray. And assembling to pray prevents us from becoming isolated and self-focused. It is a means of grace.
God shapes us through the community of believers, and group prayer is the heartbeat of that community. It’s where we encourage each other, bear burdens, envision God’s Kingdom coming here on earth, and unite to see His will done in our day (Matthew 6:10). Prayer meetings show what it means to be the living, breathing Body of Christ.
Of course, group prayer is impossible without Christ. As our great High Priest, Jesus intercedes constantly for us (Hebrews 7:25). His sacrifice for sins tore the temple curtain open, giving us direct access to God’s throne room to pray boldly together (Hebrews 10:19–22). We have this privilege only because of the gospel.
Private and corporate prayer must become lifelines for new followers of Jesus. They open channels for the Holy Spirit to nourish us, guide us into truth, transform us into Christ’s image, equip us for service, and empower our witness. A vibrant prayer life is just as vital to spiritual health as oxygen is to physical health.
Question 2. Have you found a church you can attend? If yes, please tell us about it. If not, will you make it a priority to do so?
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