Prayer is one of the most special privileges we have as Christians. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we are allowed to talk to the Creator of the universe Himself by the power of the Holy Spirit. In fact, our great and awesome God not only listens to us, but desires to hear our prayers. This is an extraordinary gift, and I know that I, at least, don’t use it as much as I should.

The Apostle Paul exhorts us to “pray at all times in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18), which is a difficult task to accomplish! For me, it is easy to say a quick prayer, but days can fly by and I’ll forget to pause and spend time really talking with God. However, I have found that praying with other people encourages and inspires me to pray better and more frequently.

At our church, we hold a midweek Bible study and prayer meeting. Every Wednesday evening, many faithful members of the congregation gather to share prayer requests and pray together. Hearing the prayers of Christians who are far more sanctified and mature in the faith than I has helped me to learn the reverence with which we should approach God. God may be our loving Father, but He is also the Creator and Judge of the universe. As such, He is infinitely worthy of our respect. While we do have the privilege in Christ to ask boldly of God, we should still pray to Him with deep reverence.

I love praying with Christians who have been running the Christian race for many years and getting a glimpse into the relationships they have with the Father. Spending time in prayer with older Christians has helped me to cultivate a deeper respect for God in my own prayer life.

On the other end of the spectrum, I have learned lessons in prayer from those who are just beginning to run the Christian race, and who have only recently mastered the art of running at all. I have four younger brothers, two of whom are seven and five. These little guys display such profound, childlike trust in God that I often think of Matthew 18:3 when they pray—there is no entrance into the kingdom of heaven unless we turn and become like children. Their simple faith convicts me of my own doubts and fears, and I remember how completely I trusted in God’s power and love at their ages.

When life is frightening and everything seems to be going wrong, it is hard to trust that God always has His people’s best interest in mind. At times like these, it comforts me to see the implicit faith of my younger brothers, who never struggle with doubts about God’s goodness. They remind me that we can put all our trust in God and He will never let us down. If God didn’t want the best for His people, then why would He send His only Son to die for them? The childlike trust in God of my brothers challenges me to put to death all my doubts and fears, and pray in faith.

Praying with other people, especially those who are at different stages in their Christian walk, is incredibly helpful to encourage and strengthen your own prayer life. Just as Jesus first taught us to pray, I have learned so much about prayer from others who live Christlike lives. And through my younger brothers’ example, I am learning to pray to God with confidence and trust. Jesus taught His disciples to pray “Our Father,” which shows that He intended for them to pray corporately. So we, as His disciples today, should pray together and learn from each other. God has given us the gift of prayer, and we should enjoy this privilege we have as God’s children to talk with Him.