The Power of Praying Friends-by Heidi McLaughlin
Posted: November 11, 2024
One of the simplest and most powerful ways to cultivate and deepen friendships is to pray together. It’s free. All it costs you is your time and commitment. When people ask me, “Heidi, when and how did you learn and love to pray?” My response is always: “Out of desperation.”
Most of us learn to pray out of desperation.
Grieving the deaths of two husbands I prayed fearlessly and passionately because I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. That’s why I can pray on the spot, in a group, in front of hundreds of people because I’m not praying to impress , I’m praying to my Abba Father who hears my prayers.
We don’t pray to impress or sound smart or holy.
For over 10 years, without missing a single month, I’ve been praying with two friends by Skype and now Zoom. One lives in Alabama and one in Southern California. All three of us are authors and international speakers and we understand each other’s lives and needs, and so we can pray intentionally and fearlessly After Jack’s death (my second husband) they loved on me, and helped to carry my grief from a distance through prayer.
Prayer divides our burdens.
I belong to a global group where we pray for one another all around the world. A family going through the war in Ukraine experienced the most horrific hardship this past week. As if the war isn’t deadly enough, the husband had a heart attack and flat-lined. Prayer warriors around the globe went into prayer and this wonderful man was resuscitated and is alive.
Praise leapt in my heart.
I have another group of prayer warriors that met every few weeks where it is safe, where we can be vulnerable and pray fervently. I facilitate a Bible Study group where, over the years, women have learned to pray with fervour and are no longer afraid what they sound like. You know why? Because they have experienced and witnessed the power of praying friends.
This past Sunday at church I had the incredible privilege of praying with friends who have giant-sized needs. Did my prayers fix their life? No. But my prayers lifted their burdens, they knew they were not alone and it gave them hope.
I lovingly encourage you to find your praying friends it will change your life. It will change your life and I’m not kidding. You say you want to change the world? Start by praying.
