Listening to Each Other in Prayer

We are often told to listen to other people. We need to listen because we don’t understand each other. Misunderstandings multiply especially when tension rises.

Our resurrected Lord wants us to keep close to him in prayer. He hears us as we call upon him, and he understands. And we know he understands.

When Christians pray audibly together, we often hear each other best, in my experience, because our Lord is the primary audience.

Last week, some of us from the church I serve were able to participate in the Indianapolis Prayer Service with our City-County Council.

At mid-day, our councilors and other leaders in the city took time from their regular work to pray together in the name of Jesus Christ for our city in response to a tumultuous weekend. Even the mayor found a few moments to join us. Participants came from a range of churches with a whole variety of policy views. I'm thankful for Pastor Tim Lindsey of Public Servants' Prayer who has faithfully prayed with these leaders in private for years. His prior faithfulness enabled this public prayer time to be organized quickly in our hour of dire need.

I doubt we could have heard so much of the heart of so many, I doubt we could have understood each other so well, if we had spent the hour and fifteen minutes in any other way.

You can view the whole service here. But for now, I encourage you to at least watch the following six-minute highlight featuring Dr. Charles Ware. He is a long-time pastor and institutional leader in Indianapolis who has labored for racial reconciliation throughout his whole ministry. God gave the city a great gift in Dr. Ware, and it was refreshing to have him lead us in prayer. Listen, and you'll understand him a little more as he speaks to our Heavenly Father (video credit: Micah & Sarah Barnes):