I have been meeting with the same friend for the last 8 years to pray regularly. We met “BC” (before children) while we both worked for the same organization on Capitol Hill.

Our times of prayer together have looked differently over the years (we used to meet in each other’s offices and now we primarily walk and pray in our neighborhood). The topics covered in our conversations are different, too, as our lives have changed, shifted, and enlarged to include families of our own.

I’d like to share with you some treasures that I have gained from walking with this good and godly friend over almost a decade of time:

1) We keep showing up – even when life gets tough – actually, especially when life gets really tough. I know that when I am wallowing a pit in self pity, I don’t want to stay there. And I know she won’t let me. Which brings me to #2….

2) We speak the truth in love – every Christian needs someone else who they can go to who will be lovingly honest with them when it comes to issues of sin and sanctification. If my attitude is one of negativity and complaining, my friend will lovingly tell me this – and pray with me that I might see change in that area of my life.

3) We listen – I think a lot of our time together is really spent just listening. Sometimes we know what God is asking of us but we are fearful or anxious or just need prayer support to walk it out. And all of that is simply part of being human. We need others in Christ’s Body who can bear our burdens with us and encourage us to see the truth and walk it out, no matter how hard it may be.

4) We pray – though it’s always organic and never exactly planned out, we lift up each other and our concerns to The Lord and ask Him together that we might see Him move in our lives and families. And – He answers. Which brings me to #5…

5) We rejoice in answered prayer – so often, we will pray about something one day and before even a week goes by, see God answering our prayers before our eyes. I believe that God has used these times to encourage us to keep on keeping on and to remind us that He delights in hearing our prayers.

6) We are real with each other – we don’t come to each other pretending or posing to be perfect Christians. We come, often beaten down from battling in the trenches of daily life, humbled and confessing eagerly.

I confess I am nowhere near this real or vulnerable with most people. And I think that’s okay – we shouldn’t spill all our baggage to everyone we know.

But we should have a few people that we can be this real with – friends who love God, are trustworthy, and care more about our souls than our pride – because this is where real spiritual transformation can occur in our lives.

“Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” – James 5:15-16.

Do you have a friend you have prayed with over the years? If so, what have you gained from this relationship? Perhaps now would be a great time to let that person know how much they mean to you. If you have a friend you would like to start praying regularly with, go ahead and reach out – they may be just as eager to pray with you!

Remember that prayer is not only a personal spiritual practice but a corporate one:

“Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together.  Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other’s hearts in prayer“. ~ Charles Finney