PRAYER PARTNERS: HOW IMPORTANT ARE THEY?

 PRAYER PARTNERS: HOW IMPORTANT ARE THEY?

It is a sign of a healthy Christian life when someone cries out, “I want to have a prayer partner!” We can never overestimate the importance of having prayer partners. The bible does not hide the fact that we will do better in life if we work as a team.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Eccl 4:9-11NIV

Nowhere else does this hold truer than in the matter of spiritual activities. The reason being that within the body of every human being is an ongoing battle between the flesh and the spirit. The soul of man is the central processing unit (CPU) and it manifests whatever comes from either side. A man who is fighting this kind of battle will most likely fall one day, “But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want Gal 5:16-17NIV

Take note of the clause, “You do not do what you want”.

Also take note of another clause, “they are in conflict with each other”.

This battle runs in the life of every human being. The reason we did not feel this conflict before we came to Christ is because our spirit person was dead and our fleshly personality had the total control, so the desire for the things of the spirit were either dead or in its minimal stage that was of no threat to our flesh. The things the flesh desire are the things that satan and the worldly system desire. Since the real battle is between the world of good and evil and our flesh subscribes to evil, satan is at peace with the choices of the flesh.

On the contrary, when we come to Christ our spirit personality is resurrected and the battle for control starts. The spirit personality tilts to the things that are towards God and the growth of our soul towards godly virtues. This is not what our flesh wants.

In your spirit person, you know that you ought to read the bible but your flesh wants to watch indecent contents on the Social Media. You know you ought to fast at least every Thursday of the week, but your fleshly person wants to eat. You now know the benefit of getting up to pray in the night but the flesh won’t have that; it would prefer that you watch movies till late in the night or just go to bed. Before your salvation and the resurrection of your spirit, attending church services and fellowships, were not very important but now that you are born again and your spirit person is hungry for more of God, you don’t just want to go to church, you are interested in every detail of the activities that happen there.

Due to this conflict you need to know how best to fight and win. One of the most effective ways to fight this battle is to have other good believers who are pursuing this end as you. Even though we read it say that two are better than one, the same bible said that an evil person around you could mess up what God is working out for you.

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 1 Cor 15:33NIV

So, every company is not right for the believer. When the disciples were facing persecution, they had their own team or people to return to.

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God Acts 4:23-24NIV

It was these people who joined them in prayers.

When Daniel’s life was threatened by Nebuchadnezzar, he had prayer partners to ask to pray with him.

Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon Dan 2:17-18NIV

Even the Lord Jesus Christ required prayers from His prayer partners.

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Matt 26:36-38NIV

You cannot become so big that you no longer need prayer partners. In fact, the more you grow, the greater is your need for prayer partners. Unfortunately, many servants of God do not understand this. They even feel shy to express their need for prayers. This is especially so when servants of God boast about the spiritual power they have more than everyone else.

When prayer partners are most needed -

When you are stressed and depressed. Just invite your prayer partner or walk into a prayer fellowship and be quiet for a while.

When you want to make an important decision. Tell someone to pray along with you.

When you are seeking to hear from God or getting some direction on some issues.

When you are too tired or confused to utter prayers on your own. At moments like this, devil will want to stalk you because you are in your weakest moment and vulnerable. You need to contact your prayer partner as soon as possible.

When you need someone else to kick-start your prayers. You are not just able to start praying on your own.

When you have a big spiritual challenge like the sudden death of a child, spiritual attack on your family or a bad news from home.

When you want to develop and grow your prayer life to a higher level. You need to have a fix time and place to meet with your prayer partners or team.

Where do I find the right prayer partners?

From what we stated above, you can see that your prayer partners ought to be people around you. Too sad that most of us brag that we don’t relate with people in our immediate environment. If you cannot mention one person around you that fits in for a prayer partner, then you have to review your connections. May be you are in a wrong company.

Your prayer partner does not necessarily have to be very strong spiritually. He may be someone who is also seeking to grow up in spiritual matters. He mostly will have struggles of his own. Both of you are just coming together to keep yourselves warm.

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Ecc. 4:11

The advent of technology makes it easy for us to have prayer partners who are staying even in another continent. There is no problem with that for a start. Yet, there are things that only people nearby can do.

Even if your spouse is not as strong as you would want, still ask him or her to be your prayer partner. Start with short moments of prayer and then grow with time. Your colleagues at school or workplace can be your prayer partner. I strongly advice against an opposite sex who is not your spouse as a prayer partner, unless there are other persons present. That brings me to add that you can have more than five members in your team.

You did not have the power to choose your parents or siblings, but you are the one to choose your friends. Now, think of at least three persons you would want to propose to as your prayer partners. Write down their names and take two nights to ask the Holy Spirit to open their hearts to accept to be your prayer partners. You can also ask the Lord to show you if they are not the right ones for you. They maybe members or your local church.

I think your spouse will be wonderful for this.

(Please, let us know before you ask someone on PNUR Network to be your prayer partner, unless you know that person before you joined the PNUR Family)

Let me know what you find.

Emma your brother pnurnigeria@gmail.com