How do I pray for someone I do not have anything particular to request?
Question:
Good evening,
I wanted to ask you something that came to my mind recently. I am trying to get better at praying for others; specifically, people who have not given me any ways that I can pray for them. How can I pray for someone if I do not know exactly how to pray for them, yet I want to pray for them?
Answer:
Everyone has common needs. Just as you ask God to take care of you, it is appropriate to ask God to take care of others. I found some examples of Paul's prayers that should give you some ideas as to the topics you can talk with God about.
Praying for someone who is not a Christian:
"Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation" (Romans 10:1).
Praying for a church:
"Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 15:5-6).
"For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe" (Ephesians 1:15-19).
Praying for a Christian:
"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).
"I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus" (I Corinthians 1:4).
"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you" (I Corinthians 16:23).
"Now we pray to God that you do no wrong" (II Corinthians 13:7).
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:14-19).
"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ" (Philippians 1:9-10).
"For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light" (Colossians 1:9-12).
Praying for a preacher:
"And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, ... that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak" (Ephesians 6:19-20).
Response:
Thank you so much. Your response was very, very helpful! Very much appreciated.
