PERSONAL:  We encourage you to step out in faith by praying together with other people. Many people pray to God only by themselves. Even Jesus needed to get alone to communicate with His Father (Mark 1:35). Jesus said "But when you pray, enter into your closet, and shut the door, and pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which sees in secret shall reward thee openly." (Matt6:6)  This however, was not a prohibition against corporate prayer, but rather a warning against showing off in front of others. We need our private time alone with the Lord, yet we really need to pray along with others too.

COMMUNION: Jesus is the Word of God. We can receive of Him daily. The Bible, especially Psalms, is our handbook to prayer. Without a relationship with Christ and a knowledge of Him, prayer can become empty, ritualistic words. Which would you prefer: to have a friend read you a letter or speak to you from their heart? Pray from your heart and also listen. Pray/communion with the Lord is two-way.
 
 "But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they   think that they shall be heard for their much speaking."     Matt 6:7
 
COVENANT:  We ought to speak our prayers from our heart according to the Word. When we pray along with others we encourage them, humble ourselves, and guard each other from asking wrongly (James 4:3). Faith can be multiplied in a group. Jesus said "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as  touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them."  (Consider Memorizing this!)   Matt 18:19-20

God hears an individual's prayers, but there's greater glory when people gather together in His Name. When the answered prayers of 2 or more are obtained, there are witnesses to give God praise. More believers have their faith built up. When we agree with God's Word and with each other, mighty things happen in the unseen, spiritual world. Please note that all the parts of the Our Father are plural. God wants us united!  When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, He said:

 "When you pray say, Our Father ... Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done ...
  Give us ... forgive us ... deliver us from evil."    Luke 11:1-4  Matt 6:9-13

GOD'S POWER:  "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit ..."        Zech 4:6

The disciples waited for the empowering of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the   women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren."         Acts 1:14

 Jesus said "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and  it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that  seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall  ask for bread ... will he give him a stone?  ...  how much more shall your  heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"        Luke 11:9-13

 "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."           Phil 4:6-7
                                     
We need God's help even to pray! Every step of the Way means leaning on Him.  If our prayers were always answered the way we wanted, our faith would never grow.  We need to pray and leave the rest to God. Asking starts the process (God requires us to choose to receive) and sometimes answers come right away. Seeking leads us towards the answer (this may be prayer that seeks His unrevealed Will). And Knocking is when you are at a closed door, in God's Will, and you need to persevere until it's opened. Our Father is eager to see us grow and answer us. Don't give up too soon. Christ is faithful and true. We need to be too. Are we willing to learn His perfect ways? Can you trust Him even if He says "NO"?

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL HELP US TO PRAY!:  "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our  weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself makes  intercession for us with groanings that words cannot express. And He Who  searches the hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes  for the saints according to the will of God. "                      Rom 8:26-27

 " Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"    Eph 6:18

HINDRANCES: Of course, if there is sin in our life, we need to repent or our prayers will be hindered. The next biggest hindrance to praying together is committing to do it. Fear of failure, embarrassment, laziness, and pride all hold us back from victories. Don't let feelings bind you from succeeding in God's Will. Break that ice! Many people lose heart in their faith walk because they're separated islands. Will we be united to one another as part of the Body?

COUPLES:  "Families that pray together stay together". If parents will begin to pray together, they will grow much closer to each other, their family, and the Lord. We need to let our lights shine before each other; let's not hide our faith life (Mat 5:15). How will the children learn? We learned to pray together. There was initial resistance, but now it's a tremendous blessing in our lives. It's the best marriage insurance there is. Please help each other be accountable
before the Lord.  Please try this!   Both you and the Lord will be blessed! 

SOME SUGGESTED GUIDELINES:  A lot of uneasiness can be eliminated if some simple guidelines are spelled out so that people aren't uncomfortable. Certain times and places should be clearly designated.  A leader could encourage people to pick an area that suits them. This guards new people against false expectations and protects those at different levels of faith and prayer. Trust, room to grow, and edification need to be developed among prayer partners.

DESIGNATE PRAYER AREAS:   Which may be different corners of the same room.

 1) An area for  Quiet prayer.
 2) An area for  Individual intercession.
 3) An area for  laying hands on one another and being free to minister.
 4) An area for those who want to agree together audibly in small clusters.
       May be the same group or area as # 3.
 5) An area where a prayer leader leads a group in prayer (like Larry Lea).
 6) An area where you can talk and share the burdens on your heart and
       possibly confirm what the Spirit is saying to the body while not
       disrupting others (maybe just the hallway).
                                     
NOTES:

a)  1st timers often want distance to check it all out. People may be scared off from coming to prayer meetings because they are not comfortable with one of the above formats and don't know if their style will be available to them.

b)  If set lengths of times are established, then again a novice won't feel trapped in the meeting. Or let it be know that one can leave at any time. If the regular gathering is done by a certain time, those who want to pray longer can always stick around to pray some more.

c)  Consider praying in shorter segments to allow others to interject/add to the present prayer topic. This allows others to be a part of the prayer process and for all to have their faith built up. Those who have an easy time with the flow of words should be conscience of yielding the lead to another especially in case the Spirit gives a word to one of the others in your circle.

d)  People want to hear the praise reports. Don't forget to give them.

e)  If the meeting has a prayer leader leading it, leave some time at the end for individual ministering or private prayer. Relationships need to be formed.

f)  Sometimes people just need someone to talk to first. If there isn't a mutual concern (or the feeling of it) or the chance to share concerns, then a bond won't be formed. Prayer will be hindered if we just start praying and they don't feel cared for. We all need to be related in order to give and receive.

g)  A time to listen to the Lord. This may have to be done at home usually.  There may be times when the Lord wants us just to listen. Wherever and whenever don't skip this 50% portion of prayer.

Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit versus preconceived lists. We ought to be sensitive to and to respect one another. Trust has to be built up. Beware of judging, giving advice, or of subtle gossip. Prayer requests must be kept confidential (unless you're given permission to share them outside the group)! Each person's dignity must be protected or you'll destroy the prayer group.

ORDER OF PRAYER:
    Praise, Thanks, Worship  -       Petition, Intercession    -       Protection                   
        Submission   -   Forgiveness   -    Worship  

LISTS:
    Ourselves,      Our families
    our Leaders ;    Church, pastors, deacons, staff, families ,    government,     other authorities
    Prayer requests
    Missionaries,       Ministries  ,        countries