How To Agree In Prayer Charles

Finney

Jesus told us to learn to agree in prayer

(Matthew 18:19)as the apostles learned to do (Acts 1:14). Below are
excerpts from Charles Finneys instructions about group prayer, taken from his
Lectures on Revivals of Religion.

Avoid Long Prayers

The prayers should always be short. When individuals suffer themselves to
pray long, they forget where they are, that they are only the mouth of the
congregation, and that the congregation cannot be expected to go along and
feel united in prayer if they are long and tedious, and go all around the world
and pray for everything they can think of. Commonly those who pray long in
meeting do it not because they have the spirit of prayer, but because they
have it not.

No Lectures or Sermons, Please

Some pray out a whole system of divinity. Some preach, some exhort the
people, till everybody wishes they would stop. They should keep to the point,
and pray for what they came to pray for, and not pray all over the universe.

Focus on One Thing at a Time

Each one should pray for some one object. It is well for every individual to
have one object for prayer. Two or more may pray for the same thing. When
one leads and the others do not follow, but are thinking of something else,
prayer is hindered. Their hearts do not unite, do not say Amen.

Follow the Holy Spirits Leadings

Great pains should be taken both by the leader and others, to watch carefully
the motions of the Spirit of God. Let them not pray without the Spirit, but follow
His leadings. Be sure not to quench the Spirit for the sake of praying
according to the regular custom. Avoid everything calculated to divert attention
away from the object.