Here is a good contrast of the difference in our personal christian development, growth, and active relationship with God between when participating in public prayer and when we participate in private prayer. Let’s first read Brooks’ words, then we’ll elaborate.
O sirs! remember that in private prayer we have a far greater advantage as to the exercise of our own gifts and graces and parts, than we have in public [prayers]; for in public [prayers] we only hear others exercise their parts and gifts, &c.; in public duties [prayers] we are more passive, but in private duties [prayers] we are more active. Now, the more our gifts and parts and graces are exercised, the more they are strengthened and increased. All acts strengthen habits. The more sin is acted, the more it is strengthened. And so it is with our gifts and graces; the more they are acted, the more they are strengthened.
I love being apart of prayer with my brothers and sisters in Christ. There is something special in the unity of faith and spirit when believers are in prayer together. There is no substitute for public prayer, as there is no substitute for an individual’s private prayer time. They are both essential and both are blessed by our God of Prayer.
What I believe happens with a good number of Christians is that they accept participation in public prayer, such as in a worship service, as:
1. It is Sufficient Prayer Time for my soul and for others. This is often a view that thinks, “I was a part of prayer time at the church service, that serves as my prayers for the week.”
or
2. It is a More Effective Prayer Time: A view kind of like, “I’ve prayed with other believers. My personal prayers cannot be stronger/more effective than a group of believers praying together.
The truth is, praying with others and private prayer serve an essential service, and minister in different ways. We are depriving others as well as ourselves of God’s grace and mercies if we do not practice both types of prayer. Thomas Brooks points out that when we only participate in a public prayer we are not fully exercising our faith and heart the same way than when we have separated ourselves in peaceful solitude with our heavenly Father. When alone with God, we more fluently and fully pour out our soul. We engage our affections in a deeper way. We communion in conversation with God differently. We allow HIM to minister to us in a one-on-one relationship. And the list goes on and on.
The benefits and blessings of praying with other believers should never be neglected any more than our private prayers. We need to exercise our faith and love in both settings. One strengthens the other; one prepares us for the other.
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Brooks, T. (1866). The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks. (A. B. Grosart, Ed.) (Vol. 2, p. 184). Edinburgh; London; Dublin: James Nichol; James Nisbet and Co.; G. Herbert.
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