Praying For Others

Do you regularly pray for others? Jesus did! Begin today by following His example!

Jesus prayed for His friends. . .

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. (NIV) Luke 22:32
 

Jesus prayed for His disciples. . .

9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name the name you gave me so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. (NIV) John 17:9-16

Jesus prayed for all Christians. . .

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (NIV) John 17:20

 Jesus prayed for those who nailed Him to the cross. . .

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. (NIV) Luke 23:34

 Jesus represents us to the Father at Heaven’s throne. . .

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (NIV) Hebrews 7:25

(Note: Jesus’ intercession is His representation of His people at the throne of God. Those who have a relationship with Christ, are able to draw near to God in prayer because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.)

Anchoring Deeper:

Who do you pray for? your family? friends? neighbors? coworkers? enemies? missionaries? leaders? ministers? teachers?

Is praying for others a big enough priority in your life that you will get up early or stay up late to devote the adequate time in prayer for them?

You may struggle to remember to pray for others. If so, write it down and vow to pray each day for those who you’ve told you will pray for them. Make a commitment today to spend uninterrupted time with God in prayer for someone else. Need some suggestions? Check out some Requests from the Bible.