No Regrets Small Group Leader Resources
Prayer Partners
“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my
Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:19-20
Two (or sometimes three) Christians who are willing to come together before the Lord and who commit
themselves to meeting together regularly for any or all of these purposes form a prayer partnership.
Commitment. Prayer partners are not just “bowling buddies,” who meet regularly to participate in an
activity. Rather, they are Christian sisters or brothers who have committed themselves to each other in a
unique relationship. To invite another into one’s prayer life involves a willingness to be open and honest
with that other person. And the cost of such sincere and intimate sharing is vulnerability. It is in some
ways risky, but it is a risk that the Lord honors when two people become serious about meeting with Him
and growing together in the Spirit as members of His body.
Priority. The seriousness of this commitment before the Lord and before each other affects the priority of
the relationship in each partner’s life. As with any serious relationship, to build a prayer partnership costs
time. Sometimes, laying down one’s life for others means a sacrificial investment of time. (Jn 15:13)
Growth. The priority of the relationship in each partner’s life affects his willingness for the partnership to
grow. Few partners begin as David and Jonathan. Few prayer partnerships begin with complete honesty
and perfect trust. But expect growth – and growing pains. As partners are walking together and are “being
changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another” (II Cor. 3:18), there are bound to be some
bumps. Willingness to work through these rough spots together measures the importance of the
relationship and the seriousness of the commitment.
Pitfalls. A prayer partnership is not a substitute for one’s personal relationship with the Lord. It is still
necessary to meet the Lord in quiet time, to “go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father
who is in secret” (Mt 6:6). As prayer partners walk together in the Spirit, they sometimes help to balance
one another, but they never stand on one another’s shoulders. Their sole foundation is always the Lord
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No Regrets Small Group Leader Resources
Jesus himself. A prayer partnership should be evaluated and reoriented whenever either partner has
difficulty praying when alone or has difficulty meeting God and knowing his presence when alone, as
well as whenever one begins depending on the partner for assurance of salvation. A prayer partnership
can be an effective part of a Paul/Timothy discipling relationship, offering marvelous opportunities for
growth to both partners.
What Do Prayer Partners Do? Prayer Partners:
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Share specifically things the Lord has taught them and things they know the Lord is trying to
teach them.
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Share purposefully, avoiding a mere social session of aimless gabbing.

Pray specifically for one another’s needs, for things each plans to do and for common concerns.

Pray purposefully, expecting God to act in their lives and willing to be used of God in answering
their prayers.
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Pray habitually, looking to the Lord as a first response to situations rather than a last resort.
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Pray for each other through the week and not just when together.

Discover ways to share with each other through letters or by telephone when they cannot meet.
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