Praying Together

 My daughter is the athletic trainer for Faith Christian school.  She also helps coach the basketball team and they were playing in a tournament not too far away from us.

So the team asked if they could stay at our house and we had the privilege of seeing Kyrie's  people and feel their love and acceptance of her.  

This was an amazing group of girls who were courteous and kind and appreciative. I was happy to provide them with fruit and eggs and juice and of course Rise N Roll for breakfast!  

It made my momma heart smile to see the pile of shoes by the door and to have a use for the large collection of air mattresses I have amassed over the years.

Today we got to go watch the team in action and after the game the students gathered with their opponents and stood hand in hand, blue and maroon mingled together, and a student led them in prayer.  

The invitation was offered before the game as it is every game.  Win or lose would you like to pray with us?  The daily outcome and the schedule didn't dictate their prayer routines.

And it was accepted over and over again. 

But what is so powerful about this group joining together in prayer? 

Praying together allows us to have a shared focus or purpose.  

It unites.  

It builds understanding. 

It invites the Spirit, acknowledging that we need His help.

Elder Marvin J Ashton spoke of his experience in praying with the twelve apostles.  "Has our prophet taught us anything through his prayers? Very often the Twelve and the First Presidency pray together. When President Kimball takes his turn to be voice, he generally includes this phrase in his prayers: “Bless our enemies. Help us to understand them, and them to understand us.” He doesn’t ask for vengeance or retaliation, just for understanding so differences can be resolved. Perhaps family differences and neighborhood problems could be resolved if we would follow our prophet’s example and pray for patience and forgiveness."

Praying together helps us remember that Satan is the true enemy.

And it joins our individual power into something greater so we don't have to stand alone. 

How grateful I am for these good people who reminded me.