What did Paul pray for other people?
9For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Paul wrote to the church in Colossae, many of whom had never met him in person. He prays that they will know God's will, live in a way that pleases Him, and keep growing. These are requests you can make for anyone, whatever is happening in their life.
16that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—
19to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
In Ephesians he prays for strength through the Spirit, and that they would know the love of Christ. If you do not know what someone needs, this is a good place to start.
What about someone who has walked away from God?
“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
This comes from a story Jesus told about a son who left home and wasted everything. Read Luke 15:11-32. Jesus told it to religious leaders who complained that He welcomed sinners. In the story the father sees his son “a great way off”. He had been watching the road.
When you pray for someone who has walked away, you can ask God to bring them home, and ask Him to keep your heart ready to welcome them. The story gives no timetable, and the son came home by his own choice. You cannot make that choice for someone. Praying is how you keep bringing them to God while you wait.
How can you pray for them?
- Name the person and what you are worried about.
- Pray a line from Colossians 1:9-10 or Ephesians 3:16-19 for them, with their name in it.
- Ask God for wisdom about what to say to them, and what to leave unsaid.
- Pray for yourself too: patience, hope, and love that does not depend on them changing.
For example: “Father, I bring Sam to You. Fill him with the knowledge of Your will. Strengthen him in his inner being, and help him know how much Christ loves him. Keep my love for him steady. Amen.” This is a prepared example. Use the name of the person you love.
What if you are worried for their safety?
Prayer belongs alongside practical help. Call them, visit, or contact someone who can help. If someone is in immediate danger, contact your local emergency number.
If you would like help finding words, write a prayer for them. You can also read how to pray Scripture to turn these passages into your own words.