This is a question that arose from another thread:
Valerie wrote:It seems the Jews, and the NT Church had prayer meetings- outloud- there are examples in Scripture about that- if it was like how you describe I am not sure, these circle type, probably since the Scriptures don't go into details about it people must guess- but we know that Jesus in the Lord's prayer said "Our Father" not "My Father" and this would be an example of how He was seemingly referring to corporate prayer-seems every church we've ever attended, has their own way- God sees the heart, the fact that you recognize the tendency to be concerned with what others are thinking I think is natural to wrestle with- we're human!
I would suggest that Jesus teaches:
King James Bible Matthew 6:6
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
and Paul also has advice regarding prayer
Ephesians 6:18 (ESV)
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
and then Sudsy's favourite:
[1 Timothy 2:8 (ESV)
8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;
and from the Old Testament
King James Bible
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
SHOULD we take any of these literally - Jesus said to shut the door, Paul said to pray every where and at all times, with hands raised, while Daniel prayed at an open window - or are these just indications that prayer is needful?