How Do I Pray for Someone Else?

Intercession is when we pray to God on behalf of someone else. The word “intercessor” has roots in Greek, meaning “to meet with, come between." There are many meaningful ways to pray for others. Here are some specific tools that can help us along the way. The nine articles below will help you understand how and when to pray for others.

How to Pray for Someone Else: Intercessory Prayer by Emily Vanden Heuvel -- Praying for someone else is called intercession. We can confidently go to God with these intercessory prayers, knowing that God will hear us because Jesus Christ first interceded for us.

Praying for the Sick by Emily Vanden Heuvel -- One of the most common prayer requests is for healing for a loved one who is battling sickness, has been injured, or is recovering from surgery.

Praying for Those Not Walking in Faith by Emily Vanden Heuvel -- Is it appropriate to pray for God’s promises, gifts, and grace for someone who isn't following Jesus Christ? Does God listen to prayers offered on behalf of those who don't have faith?

Praying for Someone Who is Grieving by Emily Vanden Heuvel -- There is something very powerful about praying with a person who is too brokenhearted to pray for themselves. These special spoken prayers can comfort those in pain.

Praying for Our Estranged Relationships by Christopher Hunt -- Christians are just as likely as anyone else to have a broken relationship with someone close. How do we pray for those with whom we have strained or severed relationships?

Praying When You Feel Helpless by Christopher Hunt -- We hate the idea of not being able to take action in a situation, to “do something” to help someone who is sick, hurt, or in trouble in some way. Prayer may be the best and most productive way to “do something.”

Prayers for Students and Teachers by Julia Gho -- How can we support the educators and students in our lives and community? Prayer is an effective way to lift them up during their times of need.

Praying for Political Leaders by Emily Vanden Heuvel -- It’s hard to escape the political buzz when it seems to be everywhere. No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, as Christians, God calls us to pray for our leaders.

Praying for Our Enemies by Jordan An -- Of all the commandments in the Bible, this one given by Jesus may be the hardest. Living in a world that prioritizes fairness and “getting what you deserve,” praying for our enemies may be a struggle for many.

Bonus: Can I Pray for My Pets? by Christopher Hunt -- The Scriptures make it clear that God values animals as his creations. Yet today, even knowing this, we still wonder if God hears our prayers about our pets.

Did you find this article helpful? We’ve put together a short ebook called “How Do I Pray?” which introduces six ways to reinvigorate your prayer life. Download it for free right here.