Article by: Danita Jenae
I’ll never forget the first time I heard the foreign concept of having a prayer partner.
We were a new military family in town, and my husband was deployed overseas. I was struggling with isolation, postpartum depression, and desperately searching for any semblance of confidence in my mothering.
Honestly, I felt like a flat-out failure as a mom.
Then, two mentors introduced me to the idea of having a prayer partner.
They told me stories of their own prayer partners…over the span of many decades!
They made it sound like such a joy and a lifeline, so doable and unintimidating.
In the loneliness of all my cross-country moves, I loved the idea of building a friendship around prayer. And even better—establishing a friendship that would have lifelong purpose and eternal impact.
I ended up taking my mentors’ advice and asked another young mom to partner with me in prayer.
We had a learning curve, as any friendship does. But braving this new relationship was life-altering and game-changing.
Linking arms with my prayer partner taught me how to actively partner with the Holy Spirit.
My confidence in motherhood and my other callings quickly transferred from the shaky ground of my own abilities to an unshakable confidence in the Lord’s power.
Together, we learned to trust God to protect, provide, and be everything that we need to survive.
Turns out, my mentors were right! A prayer partner truly is a lifeline. Now, I can’t imagine doing life without one.
Linking arms with my prayer partner taught me how to partner with the Holy Spirit. Together, we learned to trust God to protect, provide, and be everything that we need to survive.
7 Reasons I Love My Prayer Partner
Having a prayer partner has strengthened my walk with the Lord in more ways than I can count! Here are seven beautiful reasons I love having a prayer partner.
Faith-building
A prayer partnership creates a deep well of faith, an assurance that God will hear and answer our prayers. And if one partner ever begins to doubt God’s faithfulness in the thick of a trial, the other prayer partner reminds her of all the times He came through before. If He did it before, we know He will do it again.
Community-building
Having a prayer partner develops a tight-knit camaraderie and friendship in the Spirit like no other type of relationship. A trusted prayer partner will become your closest confidant and your best support. They carry each other’s burdens, and they share in each other’s joys.
A trusted prayer partner will become your closest confidant and your best support. They carry each other’s burdens, and they share in each other’s joys.Miracle-making
My prayer partner and I often call each other in awe of how God answered a prayer. We’ve seen miracles; we’ve seen wonders; we’ve seen healings.
History-making
After a few years, partners begin to recognize patterns. Just this week, our conversation sounded like this… “I feel like we pray about this same decision every January.” “Wow. You’re right!”
A prayer partner can help you see a fresh perspective, blind spots, and patterns of weakness over the span of many years. At the same time, they can encourage you in the Lord to help you see all the times’ God remained faithful over the years.
A prayer partner can help you see a fresh perspective, blind spots, and patterns of weakness over the span of many years.
Legacy-leaving
The work of prayer outlasts our lifetime. Our prayers make a difference in our children and generations after them. The rewards are eternal and satisfying, knowing that each time you partner in prayer, you’re leaving the seeds of a legacy of faith.
Presence-practicing
Prayer partners learn to work together with God and enjoy His presence:
“If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them,” Matthew 18:19-20 (NIV).
In a prayer partnership, this promise Jesus made is no longer just a good theory but becomes a real-life experience.
Wonder-working
This one is my favorite, and it’s also the underlying thread of all these benefits!
Prayer partners often step back and marvel together at all the ways they’ve seen God answer their prayers. When you pray alone, it’s easy to forget that you asked God to move. And when He does move, it’s easier to not recognize it.
A prayer partner is another set of eyes that confirms the movement of the Holy Spirit, reminds us of His power, and assures us that we aren’t crazy when we see the impossible becomes possible!
You will see wonders at work when you begin to partner in faith and prayer. Guaranteed!
How To Begin a Prayer Partnership
Want to find a prayer partner, but don’t know where to start? Here are six simple steps to help you get your first prayer partnership up and running!
Step 1: Ask God to highlight a partner for you.
Pray that the Lord will bring into your life a trustworthy woman who likewise wants to grow in prayer. Even now, Lord, bring someone to mind. Persist in prayer and trust God to provide the right person in His perfect time.
Step 2: Invite her to pray regularly with you.
Have a person in mind? Share this article with her so she understands the concept and the blessings, then invite her to begin praying with you. Don’t be surprised if it takes a few tries to find a prayer pattern that works for you both.
Step 3: Commit to praying with each other regularly.
Sometimes, my prayer partner and I talk and pray for hours. Sometimes, we don’t have time to chit chat at all. We say, “I only have 5 minutes. Let’s pray!” And we do. We just jump in and cover the needs of the day for ourselves, our husbands, our children, and our friends. The most important aspect of establishing a prayer partnership is committing to the process of praying together consistently.
The most important aspect of establishing a prayer partnership is committing to the process of praying together consistently.
Step 4: Keep it confidential and maintain trust.
The quickest way to break trust is to gossip, slander, or cast judgement. None of these have a place in a prayer partnership. Show each other abundant grace and unconditional love.
Consider not even discussing your prayer partner’s requests with your husband, unless given explicit permission. Confidentiality is the key to a true and lasting prayer partnership.
Step 5: Take the pressure off.
Many prayer partners do end up becoming lifelong friends. But some prayer partners are only meant for a season. I’ve had both kinds, and love them all dearly!
Consider giving yourselves a good two-month or five-month goal and then check back in to see if you want to go another few months together.
Step 6: Pray God’s Word together.
Read Scripture out loud and then turn it into prayer. This is one of the most powerful and effective ways to pray! Consider using a free resource like 31-Days of Prayer to guide your prayers as you learn how to pray God’s Word with your prayer partner.
How to Maintain a Prayer Partnership
Investing in a prayer partner will strengthen your faith, change things eternally, and cultivate a cherished friendship. I don’t recommend doing life without one!
In closing, I’d like to share three simple ways to maintain a prayer partnership.
Don’t try to be perfect.
You may miss a day or a week; just pick it up again where you left off. Give yourselves loads of grace.
Celebrate wins together!
You will see unfathomable answers to prayer, miracles, and wonders come to pass. Answers you prayed for together! Recall these things together often, remembering what God has done and thanking Him for it.
Thank God for each other.
Don’t take each other for granted. This is a precious partnership and has the makings of a friendship that will out-weather any storm.
Investing in a prayer partner will strengthen your faith, change things eternally, and cultivate a cherished friendship. I don’t recommend doing life without one!– Danita Jenae
Danita Jenae is a recent military widow learning to grieve with hope. She’s also a young mom who is not afraid of glitter. Join Danita at TheQuirkyKingdom.com for free printable Scripture cards. Also, sign up for her Praying for Your Children Challenge to receive ten days of powerful Scripture-based prayers to help you (and your prayer partner) get started! You can also find Danita on Facebook and Instagram.
