I talked with a parent about the idea of “community prayer” last week. The idea is that by sharing your concerns and prayer needs with those around you the community is rallied around your need bathing it in prayer. I loved this idea! I even twittered this brilliant little thought I had:

Never underestimate the power of God’s people praying in one direction.

Sounds good right? I took much pride in my ability to come up with such a great little concept in well under 140 characters- a little wisdom honey dripping from my lips. There’s only one problem.

It isn’t exactly true.

After I said this (seemingly) brilliant nugget I thought of a specific passage where God acted when his people prayed in the same direction.

Look what it says in Exodus 2:23-25:

“During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.”

“Wow, look at what happened when God’s people prayed!” I thought. Then I realized that my statement was a bit off.

You see, there was no power found in God’s people in this passage. They were trapped, desperate, weak, alone, and pitiful. The power came from God alone. Yes they were one in mind and heart but the power wasn’t in what they did but in the one they were submitting to. The truth of the matter is this:

Never underestimate the power of God when his people pray in the same direction.

Think about when Peter was in prison in Acts 12. The church was gathered in prayer for his release and safe return. They were in community prayer for the life of their brother. They were all focused in one direction but it was God who acted. It was the power of God that sent the angel, that dissolved the chains, that opened the prison gates. Peter thought it was all a dream until he realized that he was standing alone outside of the prison.

I am in love with this idea of community prayer. I want to engage my brothers and sisters in it more and more but let’s not kid ourselves here. Let’s remember where the true power lies- firmly at the feet of the creator and sustainer of the universe.

Never underestimate the power of God when his people pray in the same direction.