How Missional is your Prayer Meeting?

Many UK  churches if they still have prayer meetings at all on a regular basis get bogged down in praying for a dear sister's angina and similar needs in the fellowship.  Some have so called prayer meetings but actually spend most of the time singing songs and discussing what to pray for. Singing can be part of a valuable time of corporate worship. Sharing important fellowship news can likewise be a good use of time. But when prayer gets squeezed into listing personal needs and people's names to God as though he doesn't know everything can turn 'prayer' times into therapy sessions rather than interacting with the Holy one.  

Prayer is about discovering and responding to what is on God’s heart. Real prayer is not boring, it can be a battle and hard work at times but should not be monotonous or uneventful. So how can we lead prayer meetings effectively? We need to facilitate creativity, encouraging different kinds of prayer, the use of scripture and people's God given imagination. Most of all we need the Holy Spirit to lead us and each other. Prayer meetings can work effectively run by one person but it is great to have input from several at least. When many people have prepared and have a stake in the meeting and are engaged they are more likely to pray meaningfully.  What a joy it is when people are enthusiastic to pray, listen to each other, support each other but also have an ear to what is on God's heart.

Father teach us to pray...