In My Own Words: the Benefits of Community Prayer
- Aug 28, 2008
- Series: In My Own Words
by Chris Eckert
Members of the CTK community are personally involved in the church's vision to see people changed, our community renewed, and the city transformed. This space will be dedicated to highlighting cases where the CTK vision is worked out in the practice of our members. The goal is to connect people to the work that is going on in their church. In this report, Chris Eckert talks about his experience attending last month's CTK prayer service.
Prayer seems to be one of the most neglected means of grace among believers today. For me, I frequently allow the pace of life to squeeze out my prayer life. The problem with this is that the less I pray, the less I rely on God's provision, and the more I try to wrestle through life in my own strength.
For me, prayer is often the most accurate indicator of my understanding of God's power and rule in my life, but I also know my own heart can be deceptive (Jer. 17:9). That is why I need other believers in my life helping me to view God correctly and to submit to His lordship by way of prayer.
Recently, I attended the CTK evening prayer service. My wife Claire had to be there to help out, and so I thought that I would just go with her. I wasn't expecting much from it. I figured we'd sing a few songs pray a little and go home. And I was right; we did all of these things. But there is something about gathering before the creator of the universe with a community of believers that makes times like that supernatural. I feel like I really met with God in an out-of-the-ordinary, intimate way.
Times like that are essential for me to grow in how I understand and experience God's grace. I am learning that if I am to walk with God consistently, then I need to have consistent times of personal as well as corporate prayer.