Matthew 18:19-20
19 Again I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

Most of the time we prefer praying in private. There are other times, however, when it is important/needed to pray with others. Jesus promises, ¡§If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them.¡¨

In certain situations, there simply is more power in prayer together.

Especially when we are facing the challenges together. You don't have a church hall - pray together, you want to become fruitful as a family group - pray together; you want to thank God for everything at the end of the year - pray together. We have gathered together on so many occasions to pray together.

Having others pray with you when you're passing through a particularly tough time can also be a comfort and source of spiritual strength. Part of our responsibility as Christians is to support each other through our prayers. Your prayers can significantly improve the lives of others. Praying with someone who is not a disciple can be the best thing one can do with him/her apart from studying the bible and other things as per their need.

Revelation 8:4
The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand.

Your prayers move the heart and hand of God to take action on their behalf. Through your prayers others can receive most of the same benefits that you receive when you pray for the same things for yourself - including blessings (spiritual & material), protection, freedom from anxiety and fear, healing, and more.

Because you pray you are also in a better position to help others directly. The Lord often uses people as His representatives on earth to bring people to have faith in Him, so it could very well be that He wants to use you to help bring faith in someone's life just by simple act of praying with them.

I remember when my father was suffering from cancer in early 2008 and I had just started coming to church although intermittently; the disciples from city ministry in Mumbai came to the hospital to visit him and pray for him and pray with me for him. I experienced the same care and concern when he was in the last stages of cancer. There were multiple occasions when disciples not only donated blood for my father but also came and prayed for him.

During my early years as a disciple, there were many occasions when I was weak in my faith or I would be down in sin and not want to come to church. The brothers would reach out to me and pray with me. It is like someone who wants to leave the hand of God is being helped by someone to hold God's hand once again. Jonathan did the same thing with David. He helped him to find strength in God.

James 5:14-16
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

The very fact you pray for others shows that you're concerned about their happiness and well-being, and this puts you in a position to better understand His loving plan for their lives and how you can help them see the plan of God. When you pray for someone who is sick, or with someone who is struggling with sin, and God might heal them as a testimony to them and others of His miracle-working power, and to cause their relationship with Him to be healthy again

Challenge

• Ask someone in the church or in your campus or your neighborhood; Is there something they would like you to pray for them. Pray with them and help them put their request before God.
• Find someone in the church or outside of church for whom you can be a prayer friend.