Praying for One Another

When Peter was in prison, the believers did not each pray alone at home. “Constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church” (Acts 12:5). On the last night, “many were gathered together praying” (Acts 12:12).

Jesus’ promise. Long before that night, Jesus said, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).

Agree. To agree means to be of one mind. When believers pray together, they bring the same need to God with one heart.

In His name. Jesus went on, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). In the midst means right there among them.

Peter was there. Peter heard Jesus make this promise. Years later, the church prayed together for him while he was in prison.

What His name means. To gather in Jesus’ name means to come to God because of Jesus and to ask for what Jesus would want. It is not a magic word at the end of a prayer.

Small is enough. Jesus did not say two thousand people. He said two or three. Even a small group praying with a friend is a meeting Jesus Himself joins.

A good Father. Jesus said the answer comes from “My Father in heaven.” A good father does not give every request at once. God answers in His way and His time, and He always does what is good.

Peter and James. God set Peter free, but He did not stop Herod from killing James. Both men were loved by God. God always hears His people, even when His answer is not the one we hoped for.

Mary’s house. The believers in Mary’s house were praying together when Peter knocked at the gate. Jesus was in the midst of them, just as He had promised.

Why we can come. We do not come to God because we are good. We have all sinned. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus died on the cross and rose again so that we could come.

What we learn. Praying together matters. Jesus is with His people when they gather in His name.

What to do. Ask a friend or someone in your family to pray with you this week for one person who is in trouble.

The church prayed for Peter when he was in danger. Years later, Paul often asked other believers to pray for him in the same way.

A request to Rome. Paul wrote to the believers in Rome, “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me” (Romans 15:30).

Strive together. To strive means to work hard, like a team pulling on the same rope. Paul wanted his friends to pray hard alongside him.

Love behind it. Paul asked “through the love of the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit fills believers with love for one another, and love wants to pray.

What to pray. Paul asked them to pray “that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe” (Romans 15:31). He was in danger, just as Peter had been.

Not only safety. Paul also asked them to pray that his gift for Jerusalem would be welcomed, and that he could visit them “with joy by the will of God” (15:32).

By the will of God. Paul did not tell God what to do. He asked, and he trusted God to decide.

A rescue remembered. Paul wrote to another church about a time he thought he would die. He said it happened “that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9).

He delivered us. Then he said God “delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us” (1:10).

Helping together. Paul added, “you also helping together in prayer for us” (1:11). Their prayers were a real part of God’s help.

Many thanks. Paul hoped “that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf” (1:11). When God answers, many people thank Him together, just like the believers in Mary’s house.

From prison. In another letter, written from prison, Paul said he expected good to come “through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:19).

The best rescue. We all need saving from sin. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Jesus died on the cross and rose again to give us that gift.

What we learn. Even great believers like Paul needed others to pray for them. Your prayers for others really matter.

What to do. Ask a pastor or missionary what you can pray for. Then pray for them this week.