One of the most important things we can do as Christians is pray for one another. But we often don't know how to pray. So here are seven things that you should pray for your fellow Christians. I've challenged my church family to pray for one other member/family per day. If you'd like to use this list to do something similar in your church, here's a document you can adapt and use in your own context.
1. Pray that we would truly know the love of Jesus and be filled with that love.
“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:18-20)
2. Pray that the Spirit would open our eyes to know him better and worship him continually.
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Eph. 1:17-19)
3. Pray that the Spirit would strengthen us to bear fruit and live a life of thanksgiving.
“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” (Col. 1:9-12)
4. Pray that we would receive comfort from God in our trials, and that we would offer comfort to those going through trials.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Cor. 1:3-4)
5. Pray that we will serve and use our gifts for the building up of the body.
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Cor. 12:7)
6. Pray that we will boldly tell others the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20)
7. Pray that we will live a life of prayer, in constant awareness of God and in constant dependence on God.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:16-18)
“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Eph. 6:18)
As the Heidelberg Catechism reminds us, prayer is the most important part of a grateful life (Q&A 116). We need to constantly be asking God for his empowering grace and working of his Spirit in us, and thanking him for the way he continually pours out good gifts upon us.
1. Pray that we would truly know the love of Jesus and be filled with that love.
“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:18-20)
2. Pray that the Spirit would open our eyes to know him better and worship him continually.
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Eph. 1:17-19)
3. Pray that the Spirit would strengthen us to bear fruit and live a life of thanksgiving.
“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” (Col. 1:9-12)
4. Pray that we would receive comfort from God in our trials, and that we would offer comfort to those going through trials.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Cor. 1:3-4)
5. Pray that we will serve and use our gifts for the building up of the body.
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Cor. 12:7)
6. Pray that we will boldly tell others the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20)
7. Pray that we will live a life of prayer, in constant awareness of God and in constant dependence on God.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:16-18)
“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Eph. 6:18)
As the Heidelberg Catechism reminds us, prayer is the most important part of a grateful life (Q&A 116). We need to constantly be asking God for his empowering grace and working of his Spirit in us, and thanking him for the way he continually pours out good gifts upon us.
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