As we embark on 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting together as a church family, one of our goals is for each community group to spend an entire meeting in prayer. To some, spending an hour or more in group prayer may seem daunting or unfamiliar. This guide is designed to help your group practice and enjoy praying together.
Instructions and Preparation
- Appoint a facilitator who will read the community group prayer prompts aloud. The rest of the group will read along and follow the prompts.
- You will be guided into several moments of silence that will allow you to ask the Holy Spirit to meet you and guide you. You may use a timer to keep you on track. If moving around or standing up helps you focus and be attentive to the Spirit, feel free to do so. When you get distracted, simply ask the Spirit to help you re-focus.
- Your group will be reading Psalm 23 and responding in prayer. Pay attention to what happens in your body (feelings) and mind (thoughts) as you focus on the scripture being read aloud and the words others pray.
- Your meeting will conclude with a few discussion questions.
Community Group Prayer Prompts
Facilitator: “I will start us with a short prayer followed by five minutes of silence. Please get comfortable.”
Facilitator: “Lord, we are here to hear from you. Please minister to us during this time. Meet with us and guide us. Remove our distractions and give us the awareness of your presence with us.”
Five minutes of silence
Facilitator: “I will now read Psalm 23 twice, slowly, pausing after each reading.”
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23)
Facilitator: “Enjoy five more minutes of silence and ask the Lord what you heard from Psalm 23. Ask Him to help you during this time. Take note of which words or verses the Spirit draws your attention to.”
Five minutes of silence
Facilitator: “Now we are going to read the passage phrase by phrase. After each phrase, we will pause for one minute to pray silently and individually, and then we will take the next two to four minutes to pray together or simply be silent. After that, we will move on to the next phrase.”
Facilitator reads each verse slowly and pauses for individual and corporate prayer.
Facilitator: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Pray silently for one minute; then pray corporately out loud or be silent for two to four minutes.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.” Pray silently for one minute; then pray corporately out loud or be silent for two to four minutes.
“He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Pray silently for one minute; then pray corporately out loud or be silent for two to four minutes.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Pray silently for one minute; then pray corporately out loud or be silent for two to four minutes.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Pray silently for one minute; then pray corporately out loud or be silent for two to four minutes.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Pray silently for one minute; then pray corporately out loud or be silent for two to four minutes.
Facilitator: “As we begin to wrap up, let’s take a few more minutes of silence to pay attention and listen to God. Let’s consider these questions:
- How are you wanting to grow my relationship with you?
- Where am I doubting your leading, your goodness, and your mercy?
- How do you want me to believe or live differently?
Let’s take five minutes of silence to ponder these questions with the Lord.”
Five minutes of silence
Facilitator: “Lord, we thank you for your active and powerful presence. I pray that you will continue to help us experience union and intimacy with you. Continue to use your Word, your Spirit, and your people to help us experience your transforming love.”
Discussion Questions
- How was that practice for you? What about it did you enjoy? Was there anything that was uncomfortable? If so, why?
- What did you notice about what others in the room prayed?
- What invitation do you sense the Lord is extending to you?