How to Pray for Others (Ephesians and Colossians)
A friend of mine shared that she often prays for people she knows by inserting their name into Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21. Then I remembered Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9-14, and saw that it worked well, too. So, I used the New Living Translation version of the scripture as a guide to create these prayers.
(By the way… it works pretty good for praying for yourself as well. Just sayin…)
Ephesians 3:14-21
When I think of all God’s gifts and blessings, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,
The Creator of everything in heaven and on earth…
I pray Father, that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You will empower ____ with inner strength through Your Holy Spirit. I pray that Christ will make His home in _____ heart as ____ trusts in Him more and more. I pray that ______ roots will grow down deep into Your love and that that will keep _____ strong.
And Father, may _____ have the power to understand, as all Your people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your precious love is. May _____ experience the love of Christ, even though it is too great to fully understand. And then Lord, _____ will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You.
Now all glory to You Father, who are able, through Your mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ever ask or even think. Glory to You in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! For it is in His Holy Name I pray – Amen.
Colossians 1:9-14
From the first time I met* you, I have continued to pray for you, and this is what I pray.
Dear Father, I pray that You will give ____ a complete knowledge of Your Holy Will, and also give ____ spiritual wisdom and understanding. Give ____ this Lord so that the way that ___ lives will always honor and please You, and that ____ life will produce every kind of “good fruit.” I know Lord, that this will cause ____ to grow as ____ learns to know You better and better.
I also pray that ____ will be strengthened with all Your glorious power so that ____ will have all the endurance and patience that ____ needs. May ____ be filled with joy, always thanking You. You, dear Father, have enabled ____ (and all of us) to share in the inheritance that belongs to Your people, who live in the light. Because You have rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and sin, and transferred us to the Kingdom of Your blessed Son, Jesus Christ, Who has purchased our freedom with His blood, and has forgiven our sins, and it is in His name that we lift ____ up as we pray – Amen.
*The actual scripture says “Since the first time I heard about you.” Paul had never been to Colosse, but he had heard of their love and great faith.