It’s Monday. Most of us have meetings to go to today or later this week. Here is a prayer before a meeting. It’s published on the St. Louis University Prayerbook, a site where members of the SLU community share prayers.
Heavenly Father, we come to you today asking for your guidance, wisdom, and support as we begin this meeting. Help us to engage in meaningful discussion; allow us to grow closer as a group and nurture the bonds of community. Fill us with your grace, Lord God, as we make decisions that might affect the students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends of Saint Louis University. And continue to remind us that all that we do here today, all that we accomplish, is for the pursuit of truth for the greater glory of You, and for the service of humanity. We ask these things in your name, Amen.
For other prayers on this site, see the Prayers by St. Ignatius and Others.
www.ignatianspirituality.com
Here is a collection of Prayers for Meetings of any kind: Business meetings, Sunday school meetings, church or family meetings, and prayer meetings.
Opening Prayer for Meeting
Lord, we are meeting today to conduct matters
of business. Guide our hearts and our minds in the
spirit of fairness, right thought and speech. Impart your
supreme wisdom upon our activities so that our affairs
may reach a successful conclusion. Thank you for being
our source of guidance today. Amen!
Read our full collection of Opening and Closing Prayers
Prayer to Come to an Agreement
Dear God, we seek your help with our affairs today.
Bless this meeting with your divine intelligence, and
help us to make the best use of our own. We are
of diverse opinion here. Yet we wish to mend our
differences and reach agreement satisfactory to all.
Please share a little of your wisdom with us to help
us do right by all concerned. Thank you for your
Heavenly blessing. Amen!
Sunday School Meeting
O God, we thank You for this privilege of meeting
today in Your house. Help us worship You
acceptably. Bless Your word to us all.
Bless our pastor and people, in the name
of Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.!
School Board Meeting Prayer
Loving and Gracious God, you are indeed the giver of all good gifts
and we thank you today for all your blessings, for the successful outcomes
of our school events and for all our staff members, both the teaching and
support members.
We ask that you bless them abundantly and we continue to seek your wisdom,
guidance, courage and strength. Be with us in our deliberations and help us
to be wise in the decisions we make for the good of all those who have placed
their trust and confidence in our leadership.
Give us insight to lead with integrity that our decisions may reflect what is
right and good. Keep us from short-sightedness and pettiness. Help us to make
decisions that are for the good of all and guard us from blind self interest.
Dear Lord, grant us the humility to always seek your will in all that we do and say.
All Glory be to you, loving God, now and always through Christ and the Holy Spirit
forever and ever. Amen.
Hosting a prayer meeting? Check out these great Prayer Meeting Ideas.
Family Meeting Prayer
Our family gathers today in joyous occasion,
thanks to our Lord who looks after us all.
Bless this happy meeting and may we all
be praised in Your gracious name!
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Prayer Request: Post Your Own “Prayers for Meetings”
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If you’d like, you can post your prayer below so the PrayWithMe community can help pray with you.
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A prayer group is a group of Christians who meet regularly to pray.
Prayer is a powerful weapon against the devil, and it is also an important tool in encouraging and uplifting others.
A prayer group needs people committed to praying together. A prayer group invites and encourages others to share their prayer needs and as a group, offers prayers of praise, petition and thanksgiving to God. It should be a safe place for people to share their concerns, joys and heartaches, knowing that many are praying on their behalf.
How to Start a Prayer Group
- Seek out other Christians and ask if they will pray with you on a regular basis.
- If you are finding it difficult to invite others to join you, don’t be discouraged. Pray that God will lead you to someone.
- Remember: you only need two to start a prayer group.
- Pray that your group will grow.
- Choose a suitable meeting place. For example, meet in each other’s home; meet outside in a park; find a spare room in the office during your lunch hour.
- Make a commitment to meet at a certain time once a week, fortnightly, monthly, or whatever suits you.
- Set aside a specific time period — most groups are comfortable with one hour.
- If you wish to bring your prayer group to the attention of others, begin to advertise as soon as possible. A notice could be placed in church or school newsletters and bulletins, or in community noticeboards. It will attract other Christians to your group, and it will let your church and/or community know that you are praying for them.
Tips for Prayer Group Leaders
- Pray regularly for your group, that it will grow in love and unity.
- Encourage your group to support one another. The care that you give each other can be a powerful witness to those around you.
- Keep a book with names, addresses and telephone numbers of your group.
- Keep another book with a record of things prayed for.
- Work out dates, times and venues of meetings for six months ahead, and give a copy to each member of the group.
- If you are praying for specific institutions, such as local schools or businesses, make an appointment with the appropriate people and convey the following (as appropriate):
- Your concern for the pressures people face today (whether those people are school children, people in the workforce etc)
- The formation of your prayer group
- Your willingness to pray for specific needs
- As your group grows, consider a co-leader to help and support you.
- Allow another person to lead the group from time to time, so that it doesn’t become dependent on you.
- Be mindful that if you leave, someone needs to replace you.
Tips for running prayer group meetings
- When you meet, reassure people that they don’t have to pray out loud. Some people need time before they feel comfortable praying in front of others.
- Have a list of prayer points ready before each meeting. This can be added to when you get together.
- If the meeting is in a home, and you are going to offer refreshments, consider offering them at the end rather than at the beginning of your time together.
- As far as possible, keep to the agreed time schedule.
- Begin with an opening prayer, dedicating your time together to the Lord.
- Give a short devotional, or nominate another person in the group to do so (having asked them ahead of time).
- Sharing time: this period will develop as people begin to know each other better and as special needs become apparent.
- Combined prayer can begin with praise and thanksgiving. Try to vary input, such as reading of Psalms, singing, or play praise music.
- Remember: There is no right or wrong! If a particular format suits your prayer group one week, but doesn’t seem right the next, that’s alright. Choose the style of prayer group meeting that’s right for your group.
Essentials of a successful prayer group
Be committed to praying with others
Jesus responds to united hearts. When we show our willingness to pray in harmony and love, the Lord promises to be present.
Take advantage of any opportunity to pray with others
Accept the invitations offered to pray with others. Ask others to join you for informal prayer. Offer to pray about concerns or problems raised in conversation with others. You don’t have to wait for the prayer group meeting to pray with someone or to pray for their needs. God loves to hear your prayers! Do it informally, simply and briefly on the spot. If the person is not a member of your prayer group, first ask their permission before sharing their problems with your group.
Confidently suggest prayer when problems are faced.
There is nothing too big or too small to bring to God’s attention. Anyone may call their prayer group or their church to prayer when a need is recognised. Breaking off the discussion in a board or business meeting for a season of prayer gives God opportunity to apply divine wisdom to the situation.
Give others a chance to pray
When praying in a group, leave some issues for others to cover. Keep your prayers short and to the point. Long comprehensive prayers are better offered in private.
Affirm the prayers of other audibly
While in group prayer tell God you agree with the prayers already offered and you affirm and uphold these petitions.
Use the names of other group members in your prayers.
Make an effort to memorise the names of each person in your prayer group. Mention their name as you affirm their prayer in the group.
Treat the prayers of others with respect
Leave the content of your group prayers with the Lord. It is not helpful to carry information shared in prayer away from the group or to air it elsewhere.
Follow through on your prayer promises
If you have promised to pray for someone or something in your prayer group, follow through. If you are likely to forget their request, keep a notebook handy and write requests as you receive them. Give people confidence knowing that their needs will be taken to the Lord by yourself and, if they wish, your prayer group.
Pray specific prayers
Get specific in your prayers. Give God the details, and don’t be afraid to ask Him for what you want. He has promised to answer the prayers of those who seek His will.
Who or what should your prayer group pray for?
If your prayer group is struggling for ideas on what you could pray for, here are some suggestions. You can pray for:
- Your pastor and his family
- Those in service industries — nurses, doctors, police, ambulance etc.
- Volunteers in your community and overseas.
- Service organisations such as ADRA, Salvation Army, and Red Cross
- Your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews — and don’t forget the children of your friends.
- Schools, both Christian and non-Christian, that they will teach our children to be responsible citizens.
- Christian teachers in non-Christian schools, that they might be an effective witness.
- Your neighbours and families in your street or suburb. Is there a family who is struggling? Ask God to meet their needs.
- Government leaders and officials
- Your supervisor at work
- Your colleagues
- People suffering from the effects of natural disasters all over the world, whether it is drought, flood, earthquake or any other disaster.
- Refugees and others who have lost their homes due to civil war.
- Those suffering from religious persecution. Pray that their faith will remain strong, and that their persecutors will come to know Christ also.
- Your family
- Your spouse
- Missionaries, both at home and overseas, endeavouring to share the good news of the Gospel.
www.prayeronline.org.au
For all our talk about prayer, we probably don’t do enough of it. One of the best ways to improve in prayer, however, is to do it in community. This is why Christians often pray in groups. From the early church onward, corporate prayer has been a hallmark of devotion and a source of power for Christians. Many Christian revivals can trace their origins to a small prayer meeting — beside a haystack or at a local establishment.
Whether you meet at Panera Bread or in an empty Sunday school classroom doesn’t matter. You can even try a haystack. What does matter is that you’re praying. What matters even more is the all-powerful God to whom you’re praying. If you truly yearn for revival and for a mighty work of God, prayer is the means.
Who can start a prayer group?
I’ve met many Christians who want to pray more, and who want to start a prayer meeting. The question they often ask is “Can I? Should I?”
It’s important to begin by making this point very clear: You don’t need to possess leadership, influence, or personality to effect change by prayer. Prayer is the inherent right of every child of God. The effectiveness of your prayer doesn’t depend on your personal connectedness or status within your church. Anyone can start a prayer group.
Pastor, you can begin an informal prayer meeting on a given weekday. Workaday dad, you can meet up with a few church members for breakfast before work. Mom, you can meet for a few minutes of prayer during your kids’ playdate. (And since you’re watching the kids, you don’t even need to close your eyes while you pray.)
Anyone can start a prayer group. And more of us should.
Who should be in a prayer group?
Prayer groups are not cliques. They are simply a gathering of Christians whose shared purpose is to praise God, plead with him, and expect him to work. These are times of sacred communion, not ego stroking or gossip sharing.
When you start a prayer group the people who will come are those who will want to come. This isn’t a force-them-to-do-it event. When your prayer group has an open invitation, you’ll attract people who are open to God working in prayer. That’s the kind of person you want in a prayer group.
How do you start a prayer group?
Begin with a belief in prayer. Prayer requires faith (Matthew 21:22). If you want to start a prayer group, you must own a belief that prayer works.
Decide where and how to meet. Logistics matter, even with something as sacred as prayer. Prayer groups and prayer meetings can take place anywhere and at anytime. Whether it’s the flagpole or the break room, you’ll need to figure out where you’re going to meet. Here are a few ideas.
Sunday prayer groups. Meeting on Sunday before church is a great idea. Doing so naturally opens up opportunities to pray for the morning worship, for visitors who may be in attendance, for the pastor as he preaches, and for the worship team as they minister. Sunday prayer groups often meet an hour or half hour before the service, and use some empty room in the church facilities.
Morning prayer groups. As a coffee-shop frequenter living in the Bible belt, I can’t be at Starbucks through the 7AM hour and not see a group meeting for prayer and Bible study. You don’t have to meet at Starbucks. Anywhere works. Meeting during a morning time allows the truly dedicated to make the effort to meet for prayer.
Saturday morning prayer groups. Out of all the times of the week, Saturday morning is perhaps the least productive. It’s usually a time for sleeping in, which is pretty important. This time can also be used for prayer.
Be creative. Prayer can be done anywhere and at anytime. While living in South Korea, I knew many Christians who would combine their early-morning exercise (a hike up the mountain) with an early morning prayer meeting. 5am on a mountaintop is surely a great time and place to pray. Perhaps you share a commute with Christians. What about meeting for a prayer huddle on the subway? Maybe you don’t have time to go somewhere and meet. Pick up the phone and have a prayer meeting.
Inform and invite others. Once you know where and when to have your prayer group, the process is pretty simple. Simply let people know that you’re meeting. “Hey, I’m going to be at Starbucks at 7am. You can join me for prayer if you’d like.” No confrontation. No demands. No condescension. Just a “Hey, I’m praying. You can join me.” You might get a few people. You might get nobody at all. It’s not up to you to cajole people into praying. You may not fill stadiums with massive prayer groups, but you’re still praying, and that’s what truly matters.
Keep praying
The Bible’s “rules” on prayer are pretty simple. We don’t have any hard-and-fast rules on formulas, duration, or posture. Most of us aren’t required to use prayer mats. We don’t need to figure out which direction is east. However, Jesus did make a big deal about persistence in prayer (Luke 11:5-8; 18:1-8). Prayer is an exercise in persistence. Don’t give up.
There are all kinds of ways to effect change in our world. There are millions of means for spreading the gospel, for sharing the name of Christ, for helping the poor, for feeding the hungry, and for combating the evils of sex trafficking. But all of these efforts come back to one crucial activity — prayer.
We are powerless apart from prayer. God answers prayer. He delights to do it! He longs to hear his people pray. So go forward. Start a prayer group.
Daniel Threlfall has been writing church ministry articles for more 10 years. With his background and training (M.A., M.Div.), Daniel is passionate about inspiring pastors and volunteers in their service to the King. Daniel is devoted to his family, nerdy about SEO, and drinks coffee with no cream or sugar. Learn more about Daniel at his blog and twitter.
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