How to pray for someone: a simple way, with examples

To pray for someone, bring their name and their need to God, ask for something specific for them, and trust him with the answer. A good prayer for another person is short and honest: thank God for them, ask for what they need (and what they may not know to ask for), pray a verse over them, and leave the outcome with him. If you told them you'd pray, do it right away, then tell them you did.

Below: why Christians pray for each other, a 5-step way to pray for anyone, what to pray for each kind of need, the prayers Paul prayed for his friends, how to pray out loud with someone in person, how to pray for people who are hard to love, and how to keep the promise "I'll pray for you."

Why pray for other people?

Because God asks us to, and because it is one of the clearest ways to love someone. Paul urged "that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men" (1 Timothy 2:1, WEB). James wrote, "pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective" (James 5:16, WEB). Praying for someone is often called intercession: standing between a person and God, and speaking to God on their behalf.

Jesus did it. Before Peter's denial, he told him, "I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn't fail" (Luke 22:32, WEB). In John 17 he prayed for his disciples and then "for those also who will believe in me through their word" (John 17:20, WEB), which includes every Christian since.

Samuel even called it a sin to stop: "far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you" (1 Samuel 12:23, WEB). Praying for others also loosens worry's grip on us. You can't fix your friend's diagnosis, but you can carry it to someone who can, and that is a real thing to do.

How to pray for someone in 5 steps

This works for a friend, a coworker, a stranger who asked, or someone you only read about. It takes 2 to 5 minutes.

1. Picture them and say their name. "Father, I bring you [name]." Prayer for a real person starts with the person, not the problem.
2. Thank God for them. Paul almost always started here: "We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers" (1 Thessalonians 1:2, WEB). One specific thing: their kindness, their faith, that they trusted you with their need.
3. Ask for the need they named. Be specific. Not "be with Sarah," but "give Sarah's surgeon steady hands on Thursday and give Sarah sleep the night before."
4. Ask for what's under the need. Behind a job loss is fear; behind an illness, loneliness; behind a hard marriage, tiredness. Pray for peace, faith, good friends, and that they know God is near.
5. Hand them over. "They are yours. Your will be done." You are not responsible for the answer; you are responsible for asking.

If you'd like more structure for your own daily prayer, the ACTS prayer model puts praying for others in its last step, supplication, after praise, confession and thanks.

What to pray for someone: by need

When you don't know what to say, start from the need. Each line below is a place to begin, with a verse to lean on.

If the need is worry, our prayer for anxiety and worry has full words built on Philippians 4 that you can pray with someone's name in them.

Pray the prayers Paul prayed for his friends

Paul's letters hold some of the best prayers ever written for other people, and almost none of them ask for easier circumstances. They ask for knowledge of God, love, strength and hope. Put a name in and pray them as they are.

"that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling" Ephesians 1:17-18 (WEB)

Pray it: "Father, give [name] wisdom and a clearer sight of you. Open the eyes of [name]'s heart to the hope you've called [name] to."

"that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" Ephesians 3:16-17 (WEB)

Pray it: "Strengthen [name] on the inside by your Spirit today. Let Christ make his home in [name]'s heart."

"This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment" Philippians 1:9 (WEB)

Pray it: "Make [name]'s love grow, with wisdom to know what's best."

"that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, that you may walk worthily of the Lord" Colossians 1:9-10 (WEB)

Pray it: "Show [name] your will in this, and help [name] walk in a way that pleases you."

And when you have nothing else, the old blessing still fits anyone: "The LORD bless you, and keep you. The LORD make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you. The LORD lift up his face toward you, and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26, WEB).

How to pray with someone out loud, in person

Being asked "Can I pray for you right now?" can feel awkward. A few things make it easy and kind.

1. Ask first. "Would it be OK if I prayed for you right now?" If they say no or not now, that's fine. Say "I'll keep praying on my own," and mean it.
2. Ask what they'd like prayer for. Don't guess, and don't add a sermon. "What would you like me to pray?"
3. Keep it short. Thirty seconds to two minutes. Use plain words and their name.
4. Touch only if it's welcome. A hand on the shoulder can comfort; ask, or don't.
5. Pray for them, not at them. Prayer isn't the place to correct someone. Ask God for good things for them.
6. End warmly. "Amen. I'll keep praying this week." Then check in later.

A 30-second example: "Lord, thank you for Maria. You know how heavy this week is with her dad in the hospital. Give the doctors wisdom, give her dad comfort, and give Maria rest and peace tonight. Let her know you're close. In Jesus' name, amen."

By text, the same pattern works: "Praying for you right now: that the scan goes smoothly and you can sleep tonight." People often save those messages.

How to pray for someone who is sick

Ask for healing plainly; Scripture invites it. "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him" (James 5:14, WEB). Also pray for the doctors and nurses, for clear test results and good decisions, for less pain, for sleep, and for the family who is tired and scared. If the person is near the end of life, it is right to pray for peace, comfort and a good goodbye, alongside healing. If you can, offer something practical too: a meal, a ride, a visit. Prayer and help go together.

How to pray for someone who hurt you

This is the hardest prayer and one Jesus asks for by name: "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44, WEB). It doesn't mean pretending it didn't hurt, staying in danger, or trusting someone who isn't safe.

• Start honest. "Lord, I don't want to pray for them. I'm angry. Help me."
• Pray for their good, not their downfall. That they would know God, become honest, and find peace. Even one sentence.
• Pray for your own heart. That bitterness won't own you, and that you can forgive over time.
• Repeat. Many people find the feelings follow the praying, slowly, over weeks.

There is a quiet line at the end of Job's story: "The LORD restored Job's prosperity when he prayed for his friends" (Job 42:10, WEB), the same friends who had judged him harshly.

How to pray for someone's salvation

For a family member or friend who doesn't know Jesus, pray for what only God can do: that he opens their eyes (Ephesians 1:18), draws them to himself, and sends a believer they trust across their path. Pray for a chance to speak, and for the wisdom to know when not to. Pray for yourself too, that your life makes faith look real to them. Then keep praying for years if needed; Jesus told a parable so that we "must always pray and not give up" (Luke 18:1, WEB).

How to keep the promise "I'll pray for you"

Most of us have said it and forgotten. A few habits fix that:

• Pray right then. In person, by text, or silently as you walk away. The promise is kept before you can forget.
• Write the name down. A note on your phone, a card in your Bible, or a prayer journal. Our prayer journal prompts include a simple way to set up a prayer list.
• Spread the list over the week. Five names a day is easier than thirty at once.
• Set a date to ask again. "How did the interview go?" turns your prayer into friendship.
• Write down answers. A column for "answered" builds faith over months.
• Tie it to your daily prayer time. If you pray most mornings, end with your list. Our guide on how to have a consistent prayer life shows how to make that time stick.

Our guided plan's 10-minute prayers often pray for someone you know and leave quiet moments to add your own names; a few questions build your 40-day plan.

Praying for the people closest to you

Family is where most of our praying goes, and where it's easiest to slip into worry with our eyes closed. For your kids, our guide on how to pray for your children has a weekly plan, verses to pray by name and prayers by age. The same habits work for a spouse, parents or siblings: pray one specific thing for each, thank God for them first, and pray for who they are becoming, not only what you'd like them to change.

Mistakes to avoid

• Vague prayers. "Bless them" is fine sometimes, but specific asks help you notice answers and keep you engaged.
• Gossip dressed as a prayer request. In a group, share only what the person is happy to have shared.
• Promising outcomes. Don't tell a sick friend "God will heal you if you have enough faith." Pray boldly and leave the answer to God.
• Praying only for problems. Thank God for people too, and pray for their joys.
• Replacing help with prayer. If you can bring a meal, drive them, or sit with them, do both. "Bear one another's burdens" (Galatians 6:2, WEB).
• Thinking you must sound spiritual. God hears plain words. "Lord, help Jen" is a real prayer.

Common questions

What do you say when you pray for someone?

Say their name, thank God for them, ask for the specific thing they need and for peace and faith in it, and end by trusting God with the answer. Thirty seconds is enough.

Can I pray for someone without them knowing?

Yes. Most prayer for others is private. If you think it would encourage them, you can tell them later, simply: "I've been praying for you."

How do I pray for someone when I don't know what they need?

Pray one of Paul's prayers with their name in it, or the blessing in Numbers 6:24-26. The Spirit "makes intercession for us" when we don't know how to pray (Romans 8:26, WEB).

How often should I pray for someone?

As often as they come to mind, and on a set day each week if they're on your list. For someone in crisis, daily until it eases, then check in.

Does praying for someone else really make a difference?

Scripture says the prayer of a righteous person "is powerfully effective" (James 5:16, WEB), and it tells us to keep asking. God answers in his way and time, which may not be ours. Prayer also changes how we love the person we're praying for.

Is it OK to pray for someone of another faith or no faith?

Yes. Christians pray for all people (1 Timothy 2:1). If you offer to pray with them in person, ask first and respect their answer.

If you'd like a 10-minute guided prayer each day that leaves room for your own prayer list, answer a few questions to get your free 40-day prayer plan, or see all our prayer guides.

Sources

Scripture: World English Bible (public domain), eBible.org. Pages read for this guide: iBelieve, "7 Ways You Can Pray for Someone Today"; YouVersion reading plan "How to Pray for Anyone"; Strong Eru, "How to Pray for Someone in Times of Need".