Ebook
Nearly all Christians would affirm the centrality of prayer for a healthy Christian life. And yet, for many, prayer is often a challenge, requiring intense personal commitment and self-discipline. However, as Megan Hill points out in Praying Together, our normal approach to prayer leaves out a crucial component: other people. While personal prayer is important, God designed the church to be a community of believers who regularly pray together. Exploring the Bible's rich teaching on what it means to gather at God's throne with one voice, Hill lays a theological foundation for corporate prayer and offers practical guidance for making it a reality—in our families, churches, and communities.
“Out of this generous love, he has given us his Son, who ever lives to intercede. Again and again in Scripture God shows his inclination to hear the prayers of even one person. Abraham alone pleaded for Sodom (Gen. 18:22–33). Moses alone interceded for Israel (Num. 14:13–19). Elijah was one godly man—things had gotten so bad in Israel that he thought he was the only godly man—whose prayer for rain was heard and granted by our Lord (James 5:17–18).” (source)
“‘People who know their God are before anything else people who pray,’8 writes J. I. Packer.” (source)
“Westminster Shorter Catechism’s memorable definition of prayer: ‘Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies.’” (source)
“First, praying together ought to be a significant part of our public worship on the Lord’s Day” (source)
“praying together is, as Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, ‘the very essence and life of the Church.’2” (source)
“Megan Hill has given us a primer on prayer that is both useful
and eloquent. Many of us, myself included, are prone to entertain
an untruth about prayer: that it should always be easy and
spontaneous, free of any hint of discipline or forethought. Megan
empathetically and expressively lifts our eyes toward a higher
vision, grounded in the truth of Scripture, of prayer as a
delightful duty to be practiced, savored, and shared.”
—Jen Wilkin, Bible teacher; author, Women
of the Word; None Like Him; and In His
Image
“Megan Hill is a wise and godly woman, a friend, and one of my
favorite authors. She writes to move us to pray together in our
homes, communities, and churches. She does three things in
particular to help us to pray together in this book. She offers us
encouragement, experience, and counsel—all richly biblical and
theological. The chapter “Praying with the Church” is by itself
worth the price of admission. The book is brief enough to be read
in a sitting and deep enough to be savored for a semester. If you
and your brothers and sisters in Christ pray together with more
hope, delight, and expectancy because of reading it, I am sure that
Megan will feel her aim is realized.”
—Ligon Duncan, Chancellor and CEO, Reformed
Theological Seminary
“When Megan Hill prays, one feels the force of an entire life
spent communing with the triune God. Now, Hill provides both the
theology and practical guidance to usher others into a rich life of
prayer among fellow Christians and in corporate worship. This book
will remind you of how good and pleasant it is when God’s people
dwell—and pray—together in unity.”
—Katelyn Beaty, Managing
Editor, Christianity Today
“Another book on prayer? Yes, and no. Yes, the focus of this
book is about urgent, corporate, sustained prayer of the kind that
Scripture urges and Jesus extols as necessary if we are to endure
in the battle that faces the Christian church. And no, for this is
not just a book about prayer. Megan Hill is an accomplished author
and godly pastor’s wife and mother. What she has to say comes from
a sharp and discerning mind but also from the treasury of rich
pastoral experience. Could it be that this book is God’s instrument
in reviving among us a healthy, vigorous, infectious prayer
life—prayer partnerships—that will redirect the course of this
world? I think it possible. I pray that it is.”
—Derek W. H. Thomas, Senior Minister, First
Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina; Teaching Fellow,
Ligonier Ministries; Chancellor’s Professor, Reformed Theological
Seminary
“Praying Together wasn’t written as a guide to
improving your prayer life, but it’s impossible to read without
feeling compelled to pray more often, more sincerely, and with more
people. Megan Hill’s reverence for prayer and her personal stories
of devotion made me grateful for the gift of prayer and for a God
who uses prayer to bring us to him and to each other. Praying
Together offers vital encouragement.”
—Kate Shellnutt, Associate Editor,
Christianity Today;
Editor, Her.meneutics
“Come let us pray! A covenant child of God, who learned to pray
in Word and deed, calls Christ’s church to devoted, fervent prayer.
Megan has given us a standard for kingdom praying that will bring
growth and grace personally and corporately. Come, fill and
disciple your hearts in remembering together who God is and what he
has done. Brothers and sisters, are you ready?”
—Jane Patete, Former Coordinator of Women’s
Ministry, The Presbyterian Church of America
“Reading this beautiful book on prayer is like enjoying a meal
with a friend. Our hostess, Megan Hill, serves the wisdom of the
Word, well-baked with centuries of godly Reformed and Puritan
writers and seasoned with many personal experiences. Her
reflections on prayer are gentle and practical, and by God’s grace
I would expect you to be eager to take her recipe and use it often
in your home and church.”
—Joel R. Beeke, President and Professor of
Systematic Theology and Homiletics, Puritan Reformed Theological
Seminary; author, Reformed Preaching; coauthor,
Reformed Systematic Theology
“Praying Together made me want to grab a friend and
pray. Megan Hill reminds us of the privilege, duty, and delight
that await us as we join one another in communion with God. Weaving
together the Bible’s testimony about prayer and the blessing it has
been to the church through the ages, this book will drive you to
your knees in the anticipation of the great things God will
do.”
—Melissa B. Kruger, Director of Women’s
Initiatives, The Gospel Coalition; author, Growing
Together
“Megan Hill helps us to see, with admirable clarity and
practical insight, how the triune God invites believers to gather
together in prayer—in the church, in our families, and in a host of
other settings. She points us to the rich promises and the
remarkable blessings attending corporate prayer in Scripture. Her
examples and illustrations stir us to pray with others. Read this
book and join the chorus of saints lifting their voices to
heaven.”
—Guy Prentiss Waters, James M. Baird Jr. Professor
of New Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson,
Mississippi
“Megan Hill offers a biblical foundation as well as practical
instruction for joining together to pursue an ever-deeper
relationship with the Father, through the work of the Son, by the
power of the Spirit. We will always find reasons not to pray
together. But if we hope to live as conduits of the power of God—if
we hope to feed the hungry, unbind the prisoner, comfort the
grieving, and shine light in the world’s dark corners—Hill
encourages us to begin, together, on our knees.”
—Martha Manikas-Foster, Producer and Host,
Inside Out, Family Life
“Megan Hill learned to pray as a small child in the company of
her parents and members of her local church. Now she’s written a
rich resource on corporate prayer, helpful for families, small
groups, and churches. I look forward to gathering friends and
reading Praying Together. Better yet, I look forward to
praying with them.”
—Jen Pollock Michel, author, Surprised by
Paradox and Teach Us to Want
Megan Hill (BA, Grove City College) is the author of several books, including Praying Together; A Place to Belong; and Meg Is Not Alone. She also serves as the managing editor for the Gospel Coalition. A pastor's wife and a pastor's daughter, she lives in Massachusetts with her husband and four children, where they belong to West Springfield Covenant Community Church (PCA).