A Corporate Prayer

As a church community, we do not just pray on our own in our devotions with God but also gather as a community of believers to pray to God. There are many benefits that come from believers gathering together to pray. It edifies and encourages one another, strengthens the relationship of one believer to another, helps to carry each other’s burdens, and unites us as one church in whatever it is that the church is praying for. That is why God has designed every believer to be part of a church community. There is no such thing as solo Christianity.

Father in heaven, I thank You for the church community of which I am part. They are a church that values gathering to pray for each other and pray together for specific requests as a church. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What Do You Do In A Corporate Prayer?

In Acts 2:42, we see the early church coming together to learn doctrine from the apostles, hear the preaching of the Word, break bread, and pray together as a church community. When believers of the same faith gather together to pray and worship God, it illuminates and inspires everyone.

In corporate prayer, or when the church gathers, they usually pray for three things. The first consists of praising, worshiping, thanking, and adoring God in prayer. As believers united by Christ in faith, it is always encouraging to see other people praise and worship God in prayer (Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7) (Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Psalm 29:1-2).

 

The second is when believers pray for one another. In Galatians 6:2, it is written that we are to carry one another’s burdens. What encouragement it is to hear when our fellow brothers or sisters in Christ come before God’s throne of grace ( Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16) to pray for us and the difficulties we are going through. That is one of the benefits of being in a church community. You will have fellow believers in the faith who will walk with you no matter what season of life you are experiencing.

Another prayer that a church community can pray as they gather is for any prayer concern the church has. For example, let’s say there is an upcoming election; it is surely the concern of the church that the election shall be held with the utmost honesty and integrity and that the elected officials shall be those who will serve and do what is in the best interest of the public, while also upholding good morals. It could also be that the church has a specific initiative, and therefore you can collectively pray for it to bear fruit. It involves any prayer concern the church has as a whole body of Christ.

How To Do A Corporate Prayer?

Corporate prayers are usually done in prayer meetings [How To Run A Prayer Meeting]. In a prayer meeting, believers gather to pray for specific prayer points. However, offering up a corporate prayer does not require a formal prayer meeting or church event. Even if it’s informal, as you and your fellow Christian friend meet to pray for each other or certain matters, it is already a corporate prayer (For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20).

It is also important to note that meeting or praying together does not make any prayer more powerful. Just because you typically pray as an individual towards God does not mean that your prayer is weak. In James 5:16, it is written that the prayer of a righteous person has great power and is effective. The essence of corporate prayer is being united in Christ. As believers, we come together with the same faith to pray, be encouraged by one another’s faith and prayer, and stand together in whatever we are praying for. (Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16)

Father in heaven, I pray that we will always make time to gather as believers to worship, thank, and praise You in prayers, pray for one another’s well-being, and for our prayer requests as a church. May we always see the essence in praying together as one. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Praying individually to God in our devoted time with Him is often something we hear people teaching and encouraging us to do. While that is important, of course, we should also keep encouraging one another to gather together and pray. A community of believers coming together before God’s throne of grace to humble themselves cast their cares to Him, and ask for the grace and mercy they need is a truly beautiful sight. It is beautiful that we pray on our own, but it is also beautiful when prayers are offered with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.