Last night when our Wednesday Prayer Meeting ended, a woman my pastor had prayed for shared about the comfort she now felt. Another thanked him for praying for her. She is headed down a new path filled with many unknowns. His prayers for her brought comfort and assurance. Both women are not alone is feeling the comfort that comes with prayer. Prayer brings God’s children to a place of comfort. In taking our needs before Him, we are placing our trust in His hands, shifting the burdens to His shoulders, and moving forward guided by our Sovereign God.

Wednesday night prayer meetings have changed for our church over the years. From an evening set aside to meet, to one low attended, they all but stopped when Covid hit. Knowing the importance of prayer and the need to stay connected, those who were able met by Zoom. My pastor would share an encouraging reminder from scripture, we would share requests and pray. Those meetings will always hold a special place for me because it was there I gained the courage to pray in front of people.

Praying in front of people always brought me to a place of anxiety. It is not that I did not want to talk to God. I just did not want to talk to God in front of others. I felt like my prayers were not good enough, like I did not know enough of the spiritual phrases to make my prayers sound eloquent. During those months God helped me realize that prayer was not about me or how well I spoke, prayer was about talking to Him. Prayer was about taking the needs of fellow believers before the throne and asking Him to come and meet them where they were. It was about Him meeting with me.

Zoom prayer meetings turned to Facebook, so the prayer time could reach more of our church family. Though we no longer had the same interaction, my pastor still brought encouragement from the Word and offered both prayers and praises to God on our behalf.

Prayer changes you in so many ways. When you pray you are bonded to other believers as you share your burdens. As you pray together you build faith, you offer hope, you shower with love, and you bring comfort, because together you are talking with God about what is happening here on earth. Together you are seeking His help, His strength, His guidance, and asking that His will be done.

Throughout Scripture, we are reminded to pray for one another.

“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18)

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16)

We know the importance of prayer as Jesus would find a quiet place to pray.

“And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.” (Matthew 14:23)

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

“And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed.” (Luke 22:39-41)

Sometimes we do struggle with how to pray. When we cannot find the words or stumble with the phrases, know the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf.

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27)

Paul cannot stress the importance of prayer more as he reminds believers to “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

So, have you taken some time to pray? Have you walked quietly with the Lord each day sharing your heart, bearing your burdens, lifting your praises, and bringing glory to Him? Have you come alongside another allowing them to lean on you, showing comfort, building their faith as you point them to Him with your prayers of intercession? Do you join in prayer with a group of God’s people? As you bow before the Father in prayer, you are bound together as brothers and sisters in Christ going before our Sovereign God in praise, in supplication, and in a joint love for the One who brought His children together as a family.

Today, take time to pray.