Together - Daily DevotionalSample

Gathered Together to Pray for One Another

Reading: Acts 12:5-17

Key Verse: “he came to the house ... where many were gathered together praying” v.12

James the brother of John was martyred for being a disciple of Jesus. Herod planned a similar fate for Peter and put him in prison but the church prayed without ceasing.  An angel rescued Peter who went straight to Mary’s house where many were gathered together praying.

Here we see another purpose of the called out together ones – united prayer. They could have prayed individually but they chose to assemble together to experience the combined passion and faith that would add power to the effectiveness of their prayers.

James, the brother of Jesus, urges us to pray for one another, not just ourselves (James 5:16).  The context of this verse is that prayer follows the confession of faults to one another. Faults and difficulties are talked out, not talked about!  United prayer together will then bring God’s help. 

In the OT the people of God would come together in times of national emergency (2 Chron.20:4, Ezra 8:21-23). When the entire British Army was trapped at Dunkirk, in desperation King George 6th called for a National Day of Prayer to be held on 26th May 1940. Millions of people across the British Isles flocked into churches praying for deliverance and we know the result!

Prayer: I commit myself to pray with people for Your help for others and my nation