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Praying Together: The Priority and Privilege of Prayer in Our Homes, Communities, and Churches
Nearly all Christians would affirm the centrality of prayer for a healthy Christian life. And yet, for many, prayer is often a challenge, requiring intense personal commitment and self-discipline. However, as Megan Hill points out in Praying Together, our normal approach to prayer leaves out a crucial component: other people. While personal prayer is important, God designed the church to be a community of believers who regularly pray together. Exploring the Bible's rich teaching on what it means to gather at God's throne with one voice, Hill lays a theological foundation for corporate prayer and offers practical guidance for making it a reality--in our families, churches, and communities.
158 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2016
About the author
Megan Hill
11 books26 followersMegan Hill is a pastor’s wife and a pastor’s daughter who has spent her life praying with others. She serves on the editorial board for Christianity Today and is a regular contributor to Her.meneutics and the Gospel Coalition.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 18, 2022
This book was bold, convicting, and encouraging. A great one to go through with friends!
November 6, 2020
I'll be honest that with the advent of the internet, social media and blogs often replace the small amount of time I have for reading books. And as a meatier book, this one is one of those that can be harder to get into. It is not as light and fluffy as so many of the books that compete well in this age. I first started on it when the internet went out in the hospital room that I was staying at with my son, and I have been richly rewarded for the effort. Megan Hill weaves encouraging stories with sound exegesis on the value of praying together. None of the Scriptures she shared were new, but I found that my individualistic bias had blinded me to richness that they contain on this topic. Indeed she shares not just why we should pray together, but how to do it and what benefits we derive. I found myself both encouraged about how often I do already pray with other believers while also being challenged to make it a greater priority. I love the way she presents the ordinary believers in the church as the ones who have so much to teach us and encourage us in our faith and prayer life as we pray together. Indeed it is a privilege to come before the throne of our great God with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
August 11, 2021
Giving 5 stars doesn't mean the book is perfect. No book is of course. It doesn't mean that everything in the book is exactly as I'd want it. However, in this case, it means I would love for others to read it. The thought-provoking conversations I've had this summer around this book and the personal conviction it has provided makes me want others in my circles to read it.
July 13, 2022
Read this summer with a group of girls after being encouraged to read it by Ranelle last year. Excellent book on prayer, convicting and encouraging. A rare Christian lit book that has already made a practical impact on my life.
June 21, 2019
I found this book so helpful. There were treasures to be found on nearly every page and I filled my commonplace notebook with quotes. She provides a concise, yet also a thorough and helpful theological overview of prayer, she discusses some of the fruits of praying together, and ends with several practical applications of how praying together could look in our churches, small groups, family relationships, and for gospel proclamation around our tables. This book inspired several great personal reflections on prayer as well as aspirations for the future.
July 13, 2021
This was a very inspiring read. Hill put forth compelling and biblical reasons to not forsake praying together with other Christians. There are also some great practical ways to start and keep praying with and for others. There were two brief points of secondary doctrines that I personally disagree with, but it didn’t affect her main points at all. It was basic, genuine, and refreshing. 4 stars because she at some times it was a bit repetitive and dragged a little. Not suitable for a small group, but very helpful for personal study or maybe doing one on one with a prayer partner or mentee.
April 23, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to hear the author speak at our Women's Retreat. Very thought provoking, scripture supported, and personally convicting.
March 9, 2024
Outstanding book and quite possibly one of the best I’ve ever read. I was convicted, challenged, encouraged, and even brought to tears by Megan Hill’s words on the subject of prayer…individually, corporately, with family and friends, and those we cross paths with in our everyday lives. Truly life changing.
July 21, 2019
A simple but profound and convicting primer on corporate prayer.
May 5, 2016
I love beautiful prose and apt illustrations. When I book teaches me a new word (or two or three!), I know I am in for a treat. But my favorite thing of all about excellent Christian writing is when I forget the author and stop even noticing the beauty and wisdom of the words, because my heart is actively being drawn to meditate on the Triune God as revealed in Holy Scripture. And thus it is with Megan Hill’s, “Praying Together: The Priority and Privilege of Prayer in Our Homes, Communities, and Churches.”
This is an excellent book on prayer that I endorse and recommend without hesitation.
Unlike some of my other favorite books on prayer—some are richly theological, but a little weak in the practical application; others are phenomenal in diagnosing our real-life struggles regarding prayer and offering “solutions,” but present only the pale veneer of a shell of robust practical theology—Megan strikes a beautiful balance of Scriptural exegesis with relevant illustrations and instructions. She is also extremely encouraging!
Megan organizes Praying Together into three parts: 1) The Foundations of Praying Together (Relationship, Duty, Promise); 2) The Fruits of Praying Together (Love, Discipleship, Revival); and 3) The Practice of Praying Together (Praying with the Church, Partners and Groups, Family and Guests).
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from Praying Together:
• Our relationship with the God who is three-in-one assures us that all three will involve themselves in our praying—making the prayers of a Christian part of a grand, heavenly conversation.
• A company of praying people is a company of people equally dependent on God. But we also come to prayer with equally good help. The most eloquent giant and the most timid new believer can pray boldly together because Jesus prays for them both.
• In prayer together, we love one another … Our common experiences are an opportunity for mutual love, and hearing the prayers of sympathetic friends gives us comfort. We take this same comfort from Christ as he prays for us.
• Praying together is a loving act of Christian discipleship.
• Thanking God together is an effective guard against ingratitude.
• Whether I feel like it or not, I pray.
• The Christian never prays alone. And the Christian never leads others in prayer by himself but always has the promised and sufficient help of the three: the listening Father, the meditating and interceding Son, and the helping Spirit. With this confidence, you can take steps (I’ll suggest three) to better lead others in prayer …
• If it is good for us to pray in all our human relationships, it is especially sweet to pray regularly with our closest friends.
• Praying together ought to be an element of the hospitality that God repeatedly commands us to offer … our prayers together refresh the hearts of saints and stand as a testimony to the unconverted.
• Brothers and sisters, let us pray.
Amen and amen! And thank you, Megan, for this gift to the Body.
With much gratitude,
Tara Barthel, Author of Living the Gospel in Relationships and Co-author of Peacemaking Women and Redeeming Church Conflicts
PS
Megan also includes wonderful study questions and a detailed bibliography, so this is a book that could (and should) definitely be used in group settings.
This is an excellent book on prayer that I endorse and recommend without hesitation.
Unlike some of my other favorite books on prayer—some are richly theological, but a little weak in the practical application; others are phenomenal in diagnosing our real-life struggles regarding prayer and offering “solutions,” but present only the pale veneer of a shell of robust practical theology—Megan strikes a beautiful balance of Scriptural exegesis with relevant illustrations and instructions. She is also extremely encouraging!
Megan organizes Praying Together into three parts: 1) The Foundations of Praying Together (Relationship, Duty, Promise); 2) The Fruits of Praying Together (Love, Discipleship, Revival); and 3) The Practice of Praying Together (Praying with the Church, Partners and Groups, Family and Guests).
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from Praying Together:
• Our relationship with the God who is three-in-one assures us that all three will involve themselves in our praying—making the prayers of a Christian part of a grand, heavenly conversation.
• A company of praying people is a company of people equally dependent on God. But we also come to prayer with equally good help. The most eloquent giant and the most timid new believer can pray boldly together because Jesus prays for them both.
• In prayer together, we love one another … Our common experiences are an opportunity for mutual love, and hearing the prayers of sympathetic friends gives us comfort. We take this same comfort from Christ as he prays for us.
• Praying together is a loving act of Christian discipleship.
• Thanking God together is an effective guard against ingratitude.
• Whether I feel like it or not, I pray.
• The Christian never prays alone. And the Christian never leads others in prayer by himself but always has the promised and sufficient help of the three: the listening Father, the meditating and interceding Son, and the helping Spirit. With this confidence, you can take steps (I’ll suggest three) to better lead others in prayer …
• If it is good for us to pray in all our human relationships, it is especially sweet to pray regularly with our closest friends.
• Praying together ought to be an element of the hospitality that God repeatedly commands us to offer … our prayers together refresh the hearts of saints and stand as a testimony to the unconverted.
• Brothers and sisters, let us pray.
Amen and amen! And thank you, Megan, for this gift to the Body.
With much gratitude,
Tara Barthel, Author of Living the Gospel in Relationships and Co-author of Peacemaking Women and Redeeming Church Conflicts
PS
Megan also includes wonderful study questions and a detailed bibliography, so this is a book that could (and should) definitely be used in group settings.
March 27, 2018
Quotes from the book:
"Christians can sometimes rapport prayer like a math problem, believing that enough people praying with enough boldness will force God to answer in a way we want. Instead, in the words of Ian Murray, "God has chosen to make prayer a means of blessing, not so that the fulfillment of his purposes becomes dependent on us, but rather to help us learn our absolute dependence upon him."...We ask humbly, and we await his good answer."
"In a culture enamored of spontaneity and so-called authenticity, it is important for us to realize that we must first form the habit of praying together before we will instinctively pray together in all the little moments of our days."
"As Terry Johnson writes, "Our children should grow up with the voices of their fathers pleading for their souls in prayer ringing in their ears, leading to their salvation, or else haunting them for the rest of their lives.""
"...nothing could be less welcoming than sharing with guests the physical provisions of our home while thoughtlessly excluding them from its source of spiritual nourishment."
"As we pray, we proclaim to our guests -and remind ourselves!- that we are each spiritual beings who owe worship to God and approach him only through the blood of Christ."
"Brothers and sisters -without hesitation or apology, for the good of our families and guests, in obedience to the Word, for the glory of our God- let us pray together in our homes."
"Christians can sometimes rapport prayer like a math problem, believing that enough people praying with enough boldness will force God to answer in a way we want. Instead, in the words of Ian Murray, "God has chosen to make prayer a means of blessing, not so that the fulfillment of his purposes becomes dependent on us, but rather to help us learn our absolute dependence upon him."...We ask humbly, and we await his good answer."
"In a culture enamored of spontaneity and so-called authenticity, it is important for us to realize that we must first form the habit of praying together before we will instinctively pray together in all the little moments of our days."
"As Terry Johnson writes, "Our children should grow up with the voices of their fathers pleading for their souls in prayer ringing in their ears, leading to their salvation, or else haunting them for the rest of their lives.""
"...nothing could be less welcoming than sharing with guests the physical provisions of our home while thoughtlessly excluding them from its source of spiritual nourishment."
"As we pray, we proclaim to our guests -and remind ourselves!- that we are each spiritual beings who owe worship to God and approach him only through the blood of Christ."
"Brothers and sisters -without hesitation or apology, for the good of our families and guests, in obedience to the Word, for the glory of our God- let us pray together in our homes."
April 3, 2021
I had a hard time engaging in this book at first but with as much I was reading about prayer, I decided to pray that the Lord would help me focus and listen to what it was the author was trying to tell me (and in turn, what God was trying to tell me, since this is a very scripture-rich book.) I am so glad I continued through. Although it did not have quite as many anecdotes as I would like (anecdotes really help me keep my attention in books like this!) I did appreciate the ones she included. They were succinct and helped add to the truth of that particular passage.
In all, this book opened my eyes to the great neglect of corporate and private prayer that so many churches and Christians forsake! In recent years I’ve left church feeling dull and listless. Which has been so sad for me as I felt such a passion for the local church when I became a Christian.
Reading this book helped open my eyes to what has been missing in much of my private life and also in churches I have attended off and on throughout the years (being a military family has given us many opportunities to visit new churches.) This is not to be negative toward any church I’ve been apart of, but I do pray that with the knowledge given to me in this book (derived from scripture) will help guide me to a church that focuses on the importance of prayer. Maybe the prayer ministry filled with elderly people on Wednesday nights isn’t such an outdated idea after all.
In all, this book opened my eyes to the great neglect of corporate and private prayer that so many churches and Christians forsake! In recent years I’ve left church feeling dull and listless. Which has been so sad for me as I felt such a passion for the local church when I became a Christian.
Reading this book helped open my eyes to what has been missing in much of my private life and also in churches I have attended off and on throughout the years (being a military family has given us many opportunities to visit new churches.) This is not to be negative toward any church I’ve been apart of, but I do pray that with the knowledge given to me in this book (derived from scripture) will help guide me to a church that focuses on the importance of prayer. Maybe the prayer ministry filled with elderly people on Wednesday nights isn’t such an outdated idea after all.
October 13, 2022
A lot of the “front” material of the two sections are nothing new but they are important and a good reminder- humans are very forgetful. That’s why we read the Bible over and over and need lots of reminding. I liked the conclusion the best. The author points out that she purposefully did not point out the “famous pray-ers” as examples in the book so we wouldn’t get bogged down by thinking that only big name, “important” people can make a difference. She uses normal people throughout history as examples so we can see that anyone’s prayers can be impactful and everyone benefits from prayer. Prayer can be intimidating and I myself certainly struggle with getting extremely distracted in prayer, whether by myself or with a group. I think this takes time and we will see ebbs and flows. I can’t remember the exact quote and by whom but essentially it’s “Pray until you pray.” So just keep at it and it will get better. God will listen. He prays with us. We are not alone.
March 4, 2017
If you have never read a book on prayer, like me, I recommend starting with this book. Megan Hill has written a very detailed and relevant book on what prayer is and how you should be praying. I really enjoyed her examples of how prayer has brought revival and shaped communities as well as individuals.
Something that struck me was her emphasis that prayer is a relationship between us and the Trinity. She says "In prayer, we approach a loving, listening Father, and we are helped by the intercession of the Son and the groaning of the Spirit." I admit that my understanding of the Holy Spirit is lacking and I found while reading this book that I often give Jesus credit for things the Spirit does.
I enjoyed this relatively short book, only 125 pages of content. She also included study questions at the end which makes it a perfect book to do with a friend or small group.
Something that struck me was her emphasis that prayer is a relationship between us and the Trinity. She says "In prayer, we approach a loving, listening Father, and we are helped by the intercession of the Son and the groaning of the Spirit." I admit that my understanding of the Holy Spirit is lacking and I found while reading this book that I often give Jesus credit for things the Spirit does.
I enjoyed this relatively short book, only 125 pages of content. She also included study questions at the end which makes it a perfect book to do with a friend or small group.
May 29, 2017
A wonderful encouragement to pray with others, both in church meetings, informal groups, and families. Hill discusses the biblical basis for praying together, what happens when we do, and how we could go about it in different contexts. The real strengths of this book are the sections that are distinctively about praying with others: I particularly valued the discussions on prayer in the contexts of discipleship, hospitality and parenting. Along the way, Hill offers some choice quotes, real-life illustrations and memorable phrases - as well as direct exhortations to get on and pray! The discussion guide at the end means this would make an excellent resource for a small group. I would have given this five stars if the "practical" sections had been a bit more practical, and if her use of Scripture had been a bit more reflective.
June 28, 2020
This is a wonderful addition to one's library of books on prayer. Most books on prayer will mention group prayer but not to the extent that Megan Hill does in this book. Hill explores all the opportunities we have for praying with others: members within the church, corporate prayer meeting and family and friends after a very concise exploration of the theology of group prayer.
It's an easy but challenging read that highlights a gap in many believers prayer lives. Hill recognises the sensitivities people often have praying together and provides encouragement on how to work through such.
Hill has clearly studied a great deal on the subject and I appreciated her quality references and bibliography that adds further weight to the appeal of this book.
Highly recommended.
It's an easy but challenging read that highlights a gap in many believers prayer lives. Hill recognises the sensitivities people often have praying together and provides encouragement on how to work through such.
Hill has clearly studied a great deal on the subject and I appreciated her quality references and bibliography that adds further weight to the appeal of this book.
Highly recommended.
September 9, 2021
This was a very inspiring read. Hill put forth compelling and biblical reasons to not forsake praying together with other Christians. There are also some great practical ways to start and keep praying with and for others. There were two brief points of secondary doctrines that I personally disagree with, but it didn’t affect her main points at all. It was basic, genuine, and refreshing. Not suitable for a small group, but very helpful for personal study or maybe doing one on one with a prayer partner or mentee.
April 26, 2023
Who is the most important person in your life? With whom do you share the deepest and most intimate relationship? Now, imagine that you never speak to that person. Would this improve your relationship? Would it show the importance of that relationship?
How much more do Christians need to prioritize the speaking to their Heavenly Father through His appointed means of prayer!
A convicting book on the necessity and privilege of prayer - corporate and private. Also full of practical advice on how to pray and incorporate prayer into everyday life.
How much more do Christians need to prioritize the speaking to their Heavenly Father through His appointed means of prayer!
A convicting book on the necessity and privilege of prayer - corporate and private. Also full of practical advice on how to pray and incorporate prayer into everyday life.
June 7, 2023
If you're looking for a book that covers the theology of prayer (rather than a "self-help" oriented to-do book), this is a good place to start. It covers a variety of angles in a readable way. Part one covers why we pray together and part two covers what God does when we pray (the fruit of prayer). Part three covers some how but really she concentrates on the different contexts to pray (church, partners, family, etc.). She's no J.I. Packer (she says this herself!), but she offers a good roundup of Biblical prayer that's approachable.
May 31, 2018
I would highly recommend this book to others. It's a quick read that packs a lot of punch. Hill had some great encouragements, insights and stories about prayer. It gave me a lot to think about and a wishlist for changed routines and options of how to add more prayer within groups and through our church.
April 13, 2019
This book was super encouraging as a whole. It was what I was looking for. The last 3 chapters being application were probably what I was looking for the most but having the first two section to give good solid foundations the application part makes sense so make sure you read it front to back. Thanks so much Megan Hill for this book.
July 30, 2021
This was a very good book. I would definitely recommend it. It's clarifying and inspiring. It doesn't tell you the practical logistics on how to pray (think formula, schedule, etc.), but I think that's one of it's best qualities. The point isn't to figure out how to fit prayer into our lives. The point is we need to be fitting our lives around prayer.
December 31, 2021
Well written, great enticement to pray Biblically.
What was covered:
Foundations of Praying Together
-Relationship
-Duty
-Promise
Fruits of Praying Together
-Love
-Discipleship
-Revival
The Practice of Praying Together
-Praying with the Church
-Praying with Partners and Groups
-Praying with Family and Guests
What was covered:
Foundations of Praying Together
-Relationship
-Duty
-Promise
Fruits of Praying Together
-Love
-Discipleship
-Revival
The Practice of Praying Together
-Praying with the Church
-Praying with Partners and Groups
-Praying with Family and Guests
October 26, 2016
Theologically insightful, practical, precise. Powerful entreaties. Efficient and effective illustrations. Obscure treasures from church history...not your typical female- authored, Evangelical spirituality book. Awesome!!
January 13, 2018
I found the many stories helpful by giving a picture of what praying communities look like. Theologically sound but readable. May not be a re-read but definitely a book to skim through as a reference.
March 11, 2019
This book started out a little slow for me, but as I approached the middle and eventually the end I felt so thankful for the wisdom and fire this book ignited within me to pray well communally. This book is an immense gift to any believer looking to pursue His heart for and in prayer.
June 21, 2018
Good motivation to pray with others. Liked her citation of older books on prayer--made me aware of some books that may be of interest to me in the future. Some good ideas, too, I hadn't thought of.
August 13, 2018
Great resource on prayer! I will read again in the future and use the discussion questions next time.
January 30, 2019
Took advantage of this minus 50 degree weather to finish this book today. Loved it!! Well written. Learned a lot about praying together and increased my desire to pray with others! Highly recommend!!
February 7, 2019
An excellent and challenging book on the necessity and blessing of prayer in the Christian's life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews