Guidelines for Participants in Corporate Prayer Meetings by Eddie Smith

I think the following should be considered when participating in corporate prayer meetings, so that everyone in attendance can be effectively involved.

Guidelines for Participants in Corporate Intercession

by Eddie Smith

·       Come prepared to pray by stirring up your faith.

·       Sit together.

·       Speak up while praying because others cannot agree with what they cannot hear.

·       Pray simply and conversationally, while avoiding "preachy" praying and ministerial tones.

·       Keep prayers concise, clear and to the point.

·       Don't read long passages of Scripture.

·       Don't pray as you would in your private devotionals or pray through your personal prayer list.

·       Ask God; don't explain things to Him.

·       Avoid addressing others in the room while also attempting to pray to God.

·       Once you have prayed, wait for other people to pray before praying again.

·       When in doubt about what to pray, ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on your church and city.  All other requests are fulfilled when that occurs.

·       Try not to pray too big or too small.  Pray for things the group can "get its faith around."

·       Don't be afraid of silence. It's sometimes golden.

·       Listen to and affirm each prayer that you agree with.

·       Submit to the guidance of the meeting leader.

On one hand, I don't want to try fitting people into a man-made mold but on the other hand - without guidelines like these - our corporate prayer times can fail to involve everyone in attendance.

I think these instructions can be useful, if used wisely and graciously, by those who want to pray corporately.