Prayer Chorus

They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

Acts 1:14

This passage from Acts describes the early Christians, who continually met together, praying and waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. And they were not disappointed! Cumulative intercession—whether people are praying in the same room or across a community or nation—has a mighty impact.

A good illustration of this principle appears in the opening scene of the classic Christmas movie It’s a Wonderful Life. Snow is falling on the streets and buildings of Bedford Falls, while inside homes and offices, many people are praying: “I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.” “George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.” “He never thinks about himself, God. That’s why he’s in trouble.”

Finally a little girl pleads, “Please, God, something’s the matter with Daddy. Please bring Daddy back!”

Although each person prays alone, the voices join together from all over the community, asking God to aid a man named George Bailey. In the movie, God hears those prayers and sends an angel to help George.

That movie is just a story, but it does express a real truth. Maybe the babble of prayer in the movie is what it sounds like when God hears people all over a city or even the world praying for a person or situation. Each voice may start out alone, but by the time it reaches God’s throne of grace, it’s part of a huge chorus, each voice asking for the same thing.

Even if you’re praying alone, you never know how your prayers contribute to God’s greater plan. If you feel lonely when praying for something big, ask God to bring you a prayer partner and to raise up more pray-ers to join in your petitions.

Father God, when we think our voices are small and don’t count, help us to remember that we are not alone. Use our prayers, rising from all over the world, and join them together to fulfill your purposes. Thank you for letting our prayers be a part of your big plans.

Units of prayer combined, like drops of water, make an ocean which defies resistance.

E. M. Bounds(1835–1913), American minister and writer