Time seems to stop. The moment is still as I hear God whisper, “Come before me and empty your heart. Pour your sins, frustrations, and needs at My feet. And I will fill you with My light, My glory, and presence.” These are the words I sense God say in response to my prayer after communion. Somehow, it makes the moment even more reverent. Even more holy. It makes the moment even more precious and sacred.
There is more silence and hushed veneration over the church where God is undoubtedly speaking to each of His children during the moment of silence after communion. Soon the worship team begins to play. Some of us open our eyes and say amen. Still others linger in prayer. Still others shift between worship and prayer before eventually leaving the presence of the Holy Spirit and making our way out of the church and back into real life.
Communion and prayer are soul-stirring experiences that cause us to reflect on the holiness of Christ embodied in the gift of salvation. At a basic level, communion – also called the Lord’s Supper – is one of two sacraments (1 Corinthians 10:21) that Jesus instituted.
Jesus established communion on the night he was betrayed as he ate a meal with His disciples. The Sacraments symbolize and guarantee God’s promises to us via the bread and wine which symbolize Jesus’s body and blood. These are tangible reminders of Christ’s love and sacrifice on the cross.
In the early church, it was known as the “eucharist,” or as the giving of thanks found in Matthew 26:27. The entire account of the first Lord’s Supper is found in the Gospels of Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:19-25. And a portion of the account is also found in 1 Corinthians 11:24-26.
Jesus told us why we celebrate communion when He instated it. He said, “Do this… in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthian 11:25). Just as we depend on food and drink to live physically, we can only live spiritually through Christ.
One of the reasons why communion is important is because we believe Jesus is really, truly, spiritually present in the bread and the wine. Meaning that when we eat and drink these things, we are receiving the promises Jesus makes to us in faith. Those promises help us come face to face with our humanity. It also reminds us that Christ promises to forgive our sins (Matt 26:28), He will nourish and satisfy our needs (John 6:35), He will strengthen us, grow us, and help us persevere as we continue to follow Him (John 6:53-58). It also reminds us just how precious the gift of salvation is. Other reasons why we take communion include:
“To signify, seal, and apply to believers all the benefits of the new covenant. In this ordinance, Christ ratifies his promises to his people, and they on their part solemnly consecrate themselves to him and to his entire service.
To be a badge of the Christian profession.
To indicate and to promote the communion of believers with Christ.
To represent the mutual communion of believers with each other.
May we never forget what Christ willingly went through to take our place on the cross.”
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-25)
Now that we have discussed the dynamics and the beauty of taking communion, let’s talk about why it’s vital to pray after receiving communion. When we take communion, we are remembering Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. As we remember how Christ willingly and sacrificially took our places on the cross, we can then pray and thank God for Christ’s sacrifice. As we are taking communion, or communing, we can connect spiritually through the holy spirit through prayer. Taking time for prayer after communion allows us to express our gratitude and also celebrate how Jesus’ sacrifice saved the world.
Photo Credit: Unsplash/PIC2FRAMES
Heavenly Father,
I praise You for the sacrifice of Your Son that You have so lovingly and freely given us.
Lord Jesus, what a privilege it is to be able to come before Your throne of grace and partake of the precious sacraments of bread and wine, in remembrance of Your atoning sacrifice on the cross. You lovingly fed me at Your holy table through Your body and Your blood. By your Word and Supper, I am set free, and I am Your child.
Thank You for taking my place. Thank You for covering me with Your love, grace, and the enormous price of taking away my sins so that I am freely forgiven for all my faults.
May I never forget the price you paid on my behalf. As I go about my week, may this moment be on my mind, and may Your heavenly presence be close. May I live in remembrance of how Your body was broken and how Your blood was spilled for me.
Thank You for the ability to carry in my heart the riches of Your eternal goodness. May I be a living vessel and light to others throughout the week, lighting up the darkness with Your truths. What a joy and a privilege it is to fellowship with You my Lord, and to commune with You. No matter where I am or who I am with, I know that You are with me, indwelling me. Help me to live in a way that glorifies You and reflects the work of how You broke Your body for me and how You took my place on the cross. I rejoice in the blanket of Your grace as I rest in the arms of Your sacrificial love.
Whether I am doing the laundry, taking care of my family, rushing through a noisy crowd, or sitting in the solitary stillness of the night, help me to remember to commune with You. Help me to remember to seek You in it all. Whatever comes my way, whatever You have planned for me in the coming days, help me to delight in You. How great You are, my Lord, heavenly father, and mighty God.
My heart is humbled at the wonder that my God and King should care for me and desire an intimate relationship with me. Help me to remember how you set me free from the wages of death. I was dead in my trespasses and sins. But You, mighty God, sought me out. You redeemed me through Your Son and with Your own righteousness—You have cleansed me—whiter than snow. I will praise You in wonder. I will live in Your saving grace because You alone are worthy of all honor, all glory, and all praise. Amen.
“Remember the things I have done for you in the past. For I am God, and there is no one like Me. From the very beginning, I told what would happen long before it took place. I keep My word and fulfill my promises. I know the end from the beginning.” (Isaiah 46:9-10)
When we take communion, it postures our hearts and spirits to remember exactly who God is. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the author of our lives. He gave us every blessing and penned our lives, weaving it all together before even one of those days ever came to be. Prayer after communion reminds us of the eternal gratitude that is etched in our hearts. It reminds us that God is still God and He is in control. It also helps us remember, replay, and recount His eternal story to save the world through His Son and how precious our lives are to Him. It also reminds us that God is close by. He is waiting for us to come to Him in prayer—not just after communion—but in every moment of our lives. No moment is too minuscule. No struggle is too much for Him. He wants us to talk to Him as we go about living our lives—not just when we take communion.
Further Reading
Communion Prayers & Blessings to Give Thanks for the Lord's Supper
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