Listening to God for Each Other
 Here is a simple structure for a group involving listening to God on behalf of each other, contributing insights, and praying for others. The time needed depends on the size of the group, but 45 minutes should be sufficient.
EXERCISE
- Invite each person in turn to share a situation they are currently praying for or a person they are concerned about. Other members of the group should simply listen without discussing or asking questions.
- Then, in silence, listen to what you think God be saying concerning the situation or person mentioned.
- If anyone is given a word, insight, Bible verse, picture, speak it out as simply as you can, without discussion. If nothing is given, stay in silence.
- One person should then pray, holding the situation or person briefly before God.
- After this move on to the next person and continue as before.
- At the end spend a few minutes reflecting on what happened.
NOTES
These might be described as ground rules for running the session:
- Tell people there should be no discussion during group time. People's contributions should be accepted at face value.
- Encourage people to wait in silence and listen without dashing in with words.
- Encourage people to speak out if something comes to them even if it seems rather strange. But if nothing comes stay in silence. It must be made clear to the group that the prayer session has not failed if no words are spoken. Neither should there be pressure for everyone to speak. This should enable people to relax and therefore be more attentive to the Holy Spirit.
- The person prayed for will know if other people's contributions and insights fit or not. If they don't appear to then, it may be that they are words to be stored up for another time. Remember that God is good and only wants the best for his children.
- Discourage anyone who wants to take over or dominate the group. It is important that each person who wants has a share of the time available.
- Underline the importance of keeping confidences. Concern for someone can so easily degenerate into gossip.
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