You pray for others by naming the person, naming what they need, and saying a short prayer. You don’t need special words, and you don’t need to know how it turns out. You just bring them to God.
If you’re still building the habit of praying each day, how to pray each day covers the daily part. This post is about praying for other people.
Name the Person
Start with a name. Not “bless everyone,” but “Lord, I’m praying for Daniel.”
A name makes it real. It also keeps your mind from drifting, because you know exactly who you’re bringing before God.
Name What They Need
Then say what you think they need. If you don’t know, say that too. “I don’t know what she needs, but You do” is a real prayer.
You don’t have to be right about the need. You’re not diagnosing anything. You’re asking God to care for someone you love.
Pray a Short Prayer
Keep it short. One or two sentences is enough.
Paul wrote to Timothy about this kind of prayer:
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
1 Timothy 2:1
Notice the word “intercessions.” That’s praying for other people. It’s a normal part of prayer.
A Simple Pattern to Follow
If you’re stuck, use these four steps.
- Name the person.
- Name what they need, or say you don’t know.
- Pray a verse for them, if one comes to mind.
- Close in Jesus’ name.
You can do all four in under a minute. On a busy day, step one alone is a real prayer.
Praying for Someone in a Hard Season
When someone is hurting, keep it simple. Ask God to be with them, to give them what they need, and to guide the people helping them. You don’t have to explain their situation to God. He already knows it.
The Key Point
Name the person, name what they need, and pray a short prayer. The outcome is God’s to hold, and yours is to keep bringing them.
If you’d like help praying for others, the Prayer tab in Righteously has a “How to Pray for Others” guide, along with a prayer topic each day. See how the Prayer tab works.
