Praying for other Christians is one of the sweetest benefits of being part of the church. God provides us a community of people with whom we get to share life. What a great privilege to demonstrate love for others as we pray to God on each other’s behalf. In the Bible we are encouraged and commanded to pray for one another. This ministry of prayer is a crucial part of the one another commands.
Over my life as a Christian, I have heard very few people explain howto pray for each other. Yet, we would all agree that this is so crucial to life in the church. If it is so important, then how do we pray for each other?
Be Watchful to Pray
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers (1 Peter 4:7).
Peter encourages every Christian, motivated by the soon return of Christ, to look for opportunities to pray for each other. As you engage each other daily in life in various ways like conversation, serving together, and over social media, keep your eyes open for occasions to pray for other Christians. Opportunities exist all around – suffering, pressures, sin, significant events, anniversaries, among many others. Pray to God on behalf of this other person. If possible, pray withthe other person as a means of encouragement.
Be Serious to Pray
When you pray, there are key items to consider as you pray for another person.
For possible temptations. If you were in the same circumstance, what temptations might you experience? Where would you be tempted to sin, doubt, question, or otherwise not exhibit faith? What do you believe you would want to do in the same situation?
For God’s plan.In this other person’s life, pray for God’s providential care. Request for God to answer their prayers according to His will. Make supplications with the other person. As well, pray that this other Christian brother or sister would recognize and be comforted by God’s sovereignty in the midst of the circumstance.
For Wisdom.When the early Christians faced dire circumstances, their pastor James prayed that God would provide them wisdom to help guide them (James 1:2-5). As we go through the various trial, we pray for God to give wisdom which He promises to give generously and without reproach. This practical ability to know how to apply God’s Word in the specific context of the trial is vital for a God-honoring response to it.
To Recognize God’s Provisions.God always generously provides in the midst of all our situations. As you pray, pray that God would help this individual recognize His provisions to and for them. Here are a few to contemplate:
- God’s presence. This person is not alone in their situation. God never leaves us or forsakes us (Josh 1:5). Christ promises to be with us until the end of the age (Matt 28:20). The Spirit indwells the believer as well (Eph 1:13-14).
- Christ’s righteousness. Thankfully as a child of God, this person is clothed in the righteousness of Christ (Phil 3:9). Being in Christ provides the Christian with both the ability and desire to honor God in this specific situation.
- The Spirit’s power. God provides him or her with the power to do what God wants done in the midst of this circumstance. It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead, seated Christ at the right hand of God, put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church (Eph 1:19-23; 3:16). This is the power we pray that the Christian remembers.
- God’s Word. God provides the Bible as a lamp, a light, and a standard to help provide wisdom in this situation (Psalm 119:105). God’s Word helps the believer know how to think and know what to do while navigating the intricacies of their pressure (2 Tim 3:16-17).
To Be Filled in the Spirit.Paul challenges the Christian generally to walk carefully through life daily and specifically to be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18). As we pray for this person, we can ask God that this person might have a God-consciousness, allowing the Word of Christ to dwell in him or her richly through this circumstance (Col 3:16).
To Be Grateful for the Mercies of God.Usually a tough circumstance provokes one of two responses – pleasing God or pleasing self. It is under these pressures that the mercies of God can help motivate the believer to test or prove what is the best response in them (Rom 12:1-2; 2 Cor 5:14-15). The prayer request is that this brother or sister in Christ would be motivated by the mercy of God to be both encouraged and faithful under the burden of the temptation or trial.
