Corporate Prayer

Well said.

We can be in our prayer closet in a room full of people. Prayers offered during a heart felt prayer meeting for example. All the other people are tuned out (for lack of a better term) when talking directly to God with our words and thoughts of praise and prayer.

Further, I believe that the Holy Spirit gives us an ear to discern the difference between ritual/performance prayer and prayer from the heart, regardless of where voiced. Whether our own prayers or the prayers of others around us.

Lastly, as an individual, I don't think there's any difference in the power of prayer that comes from the heart, regardless of where those prayers are uttered. That said, I believe that God does hear and respond to the utterings of many. God uplifted and blessed when many fell on their knees in worship. Quite the opposite when those prayers became few in number as blibical history unfolded.

 

I realize that corporate prayer is necessary for meetings and services. However, for small prayer meetings, I prefer each person saying a private prayer for each request.

For me, the best format for a small prayer meeting, would be for each prayer request to be made known and for each person to privately pray for each request. Providing the written prayer requests or writing them down as they are presented, could be used so each person could privately pray for each request. The private prayer could be silent or softly spoken so as not to distract others from praying.

Let's face it in many corporate prayers, a main concern is how the prayer will sound to the others there. This can be a distraction from sincerely praying to God.