When we think of prayer, we should all acknowledge that most of our praying is for others, and it should be. We all have more influence with God on behalf of others than we do for ourselves. God made it that way so that we are interdependent; we need each other.

But when we spend time praying with others, praying for common goals, needs, and people, many significant things happen in our lives.

We grow in our faith. Our belief that God answers prayers and that the time we spend praying makes a considerable difference in the lives of those we intercede for grows stronger and stronger. Jesus said on numerous occasions that our level of faith determines how much God will work in us and through us. If we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can move mountains, and nothing will be impossible for us. Praying does for our faith what lifting weights does for our physical muscles.

The level of influence the devil and his demons have in our lives is reduced significantly when we spend time praying with others. They gain influence in our lives through the various sins we commit, such as anger, bitterness, worldliness, and lying. Obviously, the more power they gain in our lives, the more we will sin, and the more power they gain, the terrible downward spiral many are in. Corporate prayer breaks that cycle and cleans us up spiritually.

God speaks to us, and we hear Him in our thoughts. The devil and his demons talk to us as well. Most Christians can’t tell the difference between the voice of God and the voice of the devil, which is obviously a significant problem if you are trying to follow God’s prompting in your life. The devil and his demons masquerade as God, trying to fool us. During times of corporate prayer, the devil and his demons are silenced, and all you will hear in your thoughts is God’s voice prompting you on what to pray for. You will learn how to discern God’s prompting in your mind.