Praying the perfect prayer for others when you can’t find the right words.
Have you ever been asked by someone “Please pray for me.” and you said “Yes, I will.” but then you weren’t quite sure what to pray? Or, maybe the memory of an old friend flashed into your thoughts and you wanted to say a quick prayer for them but had no idea where they were in this season of their life? Well, there are times when we really want to pray for someone, but sometimes we’re not sure what exactly to pray for.
In Colossians 1:9-14, Paul shows us how to pray for others.
Colossians 1:9-14 Amplified Bible (AMP) 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about it, we have not stopped praying for you, asking [specifically] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things], 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts]; 11 [we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints (God’s people) in the Light.
In Paul’s example we can request that they:
- Understand God’s will
- Gain spiritual wisdom
- Please and honor God
- Bear good fruit
- Grow in the knowledge of God
- Be filled with God’s strength
- Have great endurance and patience
- Stay full of Christ’s joy
- Give thanks always.
Here’s a prayer you can pray using the Word of God to lift up a loved one with full expectation that God’s Word will not return to you void, but that it will fulfill what it’s purposed to do.
Dear God,
I come before you thanking and praising You for your Word. I lift up __[Name here]__ to you now, asking [specifically] that he/she may be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom with insight into Your purpose, and in understanding of spiritual things, so that he/she will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity, to fully please You in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts; I pray that he/she may be strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to Your glorious might, so that he/she may have every kind of endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of God’s people in the Light. In the name of Jesus I thank You for the manifestation of these promises in her/his life . Amen
Now, continue to thank God and believe that it is DONE!
