What to Pray for Anyone
Do you ever find yourself wondering what you should be praying for your friends, neighbors, enemies, or anyone in your life?
Two soldiers once decided to smuggle a goat into their barracks as a prank. One, anticipating a potential flaw in their plan, asked, "What about the smell?" Without hesitation, the other replied, "The goat will just have to get used to it!"
When it comes to praying for others—or even for ourselves—are we sometimes like that soldier who missed the point? While it's good to pray for immediate needs, it's easy to stop there and overlook what’s most important: what’s on God’s heart for that person. Are we missing something deeper in our prayers?
Ephesians 5 says, "Be careful how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of the time (opportunity) because the days are evil." How can we make the most of our opportunities to pray for others?
If Jesus were praying for you—or for your friend—what would He pray? What about Paul? We don’t have to wonder too much, because we have their examples in Scripture, along with the whole unfolding story of God’s plan from the Bible to guide us.
Here are some prayer priorities I believe apply when praying for both non-believers and believers. After all, we’re all on a journey toward spiritual maturity—including myself. And we’ve been given the mysterious gift of prayer—an invitation to join God in His work of expanding and building His kingdom.
Here's what I pray for others these days...
- A Hunger for God
- A Credible Witness
- Repentance and Faith
- Refreshing and Renewal
- Reconciled Relationships
- Revival
- Becoming Salt and Light
- Pray for a Hunger for God
The problem is, we often seek that restoration in everything but God. Even after becoming a Christian, the idols of this world continually try to dull our desire for Him.
Philosopher Blaise Pascal, put it this way,
"What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace?
This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself”
Ecclesiastes 3:11 states, "he [God] has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
Psalm 14:2 reminds us, "The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt"
The miracle of grace turns our hearts toward God—opening our eyes to our alienation, our need for a relationship with our Creator, and igniting a hunger to seek and desire God Himself. Without that hunger and pursuit of God, what else truly matters in a person's life? Restored union with God should be the priority in our prayers for others.
Our first prayer should echo King David's: "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" (Psalm 34:8). Too often, I fear we pray for others—especially non-believers—asking for good things in their lives, yet neglect to pray for a hunger to know and follow God. Much of our praying, for ourselves and others, can miss what is truly on God's heart.
- Pray for God to bring them a credible Witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Rom 10
Yet, it's not our witness that saves, but the gospel itself. As Paul said, "The gospel is the power of God for salvation" (Rom. 1:16). How often, though, are seekers led astray? And once someone accepts Christ, they are incredibly vulnerable. Peter calls them "babes in Christ" (1 Pet. 2:2). And how vulnerable are babies?
That’s why we must continually pray for a renewed awareness of the gospel—its power and implications for every life. And we must also pray for authentic, Spirit-filled witnesses to surround those we are lifting up—people who will live and speak the truth of the gospel in love.
Matt 9:37,38: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” - Pray for laborers to go into the harvest - near your friends.
- Pray for Repentance and Faith
The tension between Divine sovereignty and human free will is a mystery that's hard to grasp. One pastor described it as two parallel lines stretching into eternity—we can’t see where they meet, but in eternity, it will make sense. Despite the mystery, God has given us the gift of prayer, so we can ask that our friends will turn to Christ and receive Him (John 1:12)!
- Pray for a Refreshing and Renewal
Too often, we let "cultural Christianity" become our standard—pleasing people, seeking comfort, and following what sounds good rather than pursuing the truth of Scripture. We must pray that the Holy Spirit would convict and lead believers into true obedience, where real life and refreshing are found (John 14:21, 23; Romans 8:14-15).
Act 3:19"Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord"
Titus 3:5"He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior"
Rom 12:2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,"
Rom8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
- Pray for Reconciled Relationships
God's standard for relationships—whether in friendships, marriages, or within the church—is living in harmony. When someone refuses to pursue reconciliation or forgiveness, their spiritual growth is hindered, as is their joy and walk with God. It takes courage to approach a relationship marked by alienation or tension, but the peace that follows is worth the effort. Even if the other party refuses, you can have peace knowing you obeyed God.
God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit live in perfect community, and we are created to reflect that unity in our relationships. One day we will, and in the meantime, we should strive to reflect it here and now. The stakes are high for those watching us—do they see a supernatural love and difference in our relationships? Let us pray they do!
2Cor13:9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.
Mt5:23 "So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."
Mt 5:89 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
Eph4:32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Col3:13 "bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
Jn13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Rom12:18 "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."
- Pray for Revival
- Stephen Olford says revival is “the sovereign act of God, in which He restores His own backsliding people to repentance, faith, and obedience.”
- J. I. Packer describes it as “God’s quickening visitation of His people, touching their hearts and deepening His work of grace in their lives.”
- Martyn Lloyd-Jones says, “Revival, above anything else, is a glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is the restoration of Him to the center of the life of the Church.”
- Richard Robert Owens calls revival “an extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit producing extraordinary results.”
Praying for revival means asking the Holy Spirit to move powerfully in our world for the glory of Jesus Christ. It’s praying for an awakening among those who are spiritually asleep, not walking in their calling (Eph. 5:8, 14). We are asking God to make the church all it was meant to be in this critical hour—to carry out the mission and vision of Jesus.
When the church is "being the Church," and fulfilling its God-given purpose, it naturally leads us to the next step in prayer, as we partner with God in seeing His kingdom come.
Is57:15 "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite."
Ps80:7 "Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!"
Hab3:2 "O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy."
2Chron7:13 "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
- Pray to become Salt and Light
But this renewal can only come through believers who are fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit’s will and empowered to do good works (Ephesians 2:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12). When the church is not only being the Church but also doing what the Church is meant to do, we begin to see God's kingdom advancing in tangible ways. Let us pray for Jesus' vision for his followers to become a reality!
Mt5:13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Micah 6:8 "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
How do we pray?
There's more to prayer than simply asking God to work. We need to be "on praying ground," meaning we must have no unconfessed sin and be fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit. We also must be clothed for battle:
Eph6:10 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints..."
Absolutely, there are countless other things we can pray for on behalf of others! However, let’s not overlook the most crucial matters—the things that are on God’s heart! For further growth, I encourage you to study the prayers of Jesus and the apostles, especially Paul.
I hope you find this helpful, as it has truly benefited me. May His kingdom come and His will be done in your prayers!
And if you would like prayer, don't hesitate to contact me. I would be honored to pray for you and can pass your requests on to team of prayer warriors who will lift you up, before the Father. Blessings to you!
"May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." 1Thes5:23,24
The Heart of An Artist?
As I’ve written before, all artists are not only called to be artists but to be authentic artists. Only authentic artists have the true heart of an artist.
So how does this play out? What marks show your authenticity as an artist who lives for God’s glory? In my book, I think I’ve made it pretty clear. An authentic artist is someone:
- who knows their gifting (and accepts it)
- who develops their skill (is always learning and growing)
- who creates and expresses their art from a “spiritually alive” heart. (And is growing!)
- who lives in community with other believers
- who is pursuing God's purpose and mission for their life
As Scripture defines it, this person has received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior – someone who has repented of their sins, surrendered to Jesus' Lordship, and is bearing fruit. Another way to put it is – this person is increasingly living from the “new heart” she received at the point of her salvation!
So what are the marks of this “new heart” as an artist?
Here are the major categories I believe the Scriptures point us to:
- Authentic spirituality – surrender to God’s Spirit in all areas of their lives
- Creativity – dreaming, imagining, experimenting, expressing truth and love through their art
- Excellence – giving your best effort in everything, not settling for “good enough”
- Relational integrity – pursuing reconciliation and agape love in all relationships
- Discipleship – expressing your art in worship toward God and for the good of others. Our art should express not just the gospel, but a Biblical worldview over all aspects of life. It should express beauty that points others to God, as does all creation!
There is an upward and an outward aspect of our new hearts and this should be expressed in our art (and our lives).
Jesus put this quite clearly, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Questions to ponder: Do you have the heart of an artist? Is this your true self? If so how is it being expressed these days? What about this is Jesus address in your life now?
Growing Out of the Wilderness
It’s hard not to miss the constant complaints Israel had with God in “the land between” found in the books of Exodus and Numbers. For years now I have been blessed to read through the Bible at least once a year – blessed definitely! I always find great encouragement, nourishment, and yes, reproof and challenge. The historical books go from scene to scene and I usually try to read an entire scene in one sitting if possible.
The book of Numbers has some incredible scenes often meant to teach us and show us how not to proceed as followers of Yahweh – Israel’s God. It covers their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land in which God miraculously led and provided for the massive group of former Egyptian slaves. Most obvious is the story of 12 spies sent to check out the Promised Land. (chapters 13-14) Ten of them fail to believe in God for Israel’s triumph over the land. Except for Joshua and Caleb, they all fell into disbelief and despair bringing the rest of Israel along. Of course, God responded with the consequential lessons of loss –
- loss of entrance into the promised land
- loss of life in a fruitful land
- hardship for their children for 40 years in the wilderness.
What about us? When we look at our own lives, we must realize we have the same types of tests before us. (1Cor10:1-13)
Every one of us begins a journey with God when we accept His Son as our Savior and Lord. It’s a journey of discovering
- who we now are in Christ
- why we should now live as his sons and daughters
- how we should now live in God's eternal kingdom.
The cycle of failure doesn’t have to continue for any of us. And it’s a blessing to realize that ultimately, God does bring us to maturity. (1Thess 5:23) But why bear the pain and loss? Why miss the blessings, fruitfulness, and adventure He has planned just because we don’t want to change? Of course, there’s a lot more to change than just our desire… that will have to be covered in other posts. But it starts with nurturing our desire and vision in Christ.
If there’s anything that marks an authentic Christian, it's the desire to worship God wholeheartedly. This means engaging in the ongoing battle of repentance, faith, and obedience by the Holy Spirit's power.
Eventually, God will bring us to maturity and fulfillment in the Promised Land. Let’s just keep growing out of the wilderness unbelief and disobedience.
Is America Good?
Is America Good?
It was the French statesman, historian, and philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville who is often attributed with saying, “America is great because America is good.” But what makes America good? What makes anyone good? While a measure of goodness is possible without God, true goodness is only possible through regenerated people. And those people are found in the Church. This is why, as believers in Christ, our passion must first be for the Church (American Christians) to experience revival. If America is ceasing to be good, might it be because the Church is not reflecting or producing godly goodness?
What would America look like if the majority of churches were beacons of righteousness and love? How transformational would this be for our nation—and not just ours, but any nation?
Political change should rate far below our burden for revival in the Church. The greater burden we should carry as Christians in America is for the Church to experience and live out its call to be salt and light. Alexis de Tocqueville saw this almost 200 years ago, and it remains true today. So, if we pray, let it be first for the Church of Christ to experience repentance, healing, and transformation. God wants His people to be His people, wherever they are and under any circumstances. The world is complicated, as are the issues we face as a nation, but surely the most basic solution is for the Church to be all that Jesus called us to be, whatever the cost. It begins with prayer (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."
When I Was a Child
“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” 1Cor13:11
It’s not hard to look at our culture and see that many of us have not yet made the transition Paul speaks of here in his chapter on love. Having been a believer and follower of Christ for many years, I still have to ask myself, “Have I given up childish ways?”
The more we look into the gospel of Christ and His plan for each of us, the more it becomes clear that Jesus isn’t just interested in saving us for heaven. Upon receiving Him as our Savior, he begins a work of grace in each of us to bring us to maturity – to bring us from babyhood, through childhood, to maturity in Him. And while our physical bodies transition from infancy to adulthood relatively easily and with little effort, the journey of our souls is quite different. Maturity on the emotional, relational, and spiritual levels requires our will and a lot more. It doesn’t just happen. When adults act as children there is disharmony and chaos which will lead to death. (Romans 3:23)
I love to write about spiritual authenticity and maturity because it helps me process truth and grow. But I also see this as the primary issue facing believers in our world today.
Immaturity in believers will do nothing to move our world out of darkness into the light of Christ!
As we fail to model/value Christ-likeness (maturity) we can expect childish speech, childish thoughts, childish reasoning, and ways to continue to characterize our relationships, our churches, and our culture. With the vacuum of maturity, our families, friends, and neighbors are not compelled to grow up.
We shouldn’t be surprised to see childish ways among those who don’t know Him. Sadly, we see it being celebrated and applauded in our culture today perhaps more than ever. But as Christians, we must ask, “Am I pursuing maturity today?” “Am I worshiping/cooperating with God?” “Am I giving up childish ways?”
It’s no mistake that the apostle put these thoughts in the middle of his treatise on love. And love is what’s at stake in our families, our cities, and our world. Join me in the pursuit of authentic (Christ-like) love. What's your next step to being a fully devoted worshiper of God?
No Easy Button
“I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” 1Chron21:24
He was finally King. It took countless sleepless nights, countless turns and returns. Someone had been after him from the time his eligibility for King was announced (actually prophesied). He been betrayed, chased and finally vindicated.
As one of his first acts as King, David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. He wanted to put God first in the nation. He wanted the ark (a symbol of God’s power and salvation) at the center. He arranged to have the ark brought to Jerusalem as part of a joyous, worshipful event but something went wrong. God had specified that the ark must be carried with poles. When it was brought in on a cart, the oxen pulling it stumbled and the driver Uzzah, steadied it with his hand. That was death for Uzzah and it put an end to the procession.
Fast forward nearly 30 years toward the end of David’s life. Again he is seeking to worship God. This time at the direction of a prophet, David must build an alter. This would stop the pestilence ravaging the land because of his disobedience. Araunah, the owner of the threshing floor where the alter must be built tells David to just have his property and his oxen for the offering – no small gift I’m sure. It would have been EASY for David to just accept it and make the offerings. After all, he was the king right? Plus this would save him, and the kingdom some money right?
David however, was not willing. He’d learned something earlier about worship and God’s heart: “But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.”
There are lots of lessons from this story. You may have already picked some up yourself.
One is that WORSHIP IS NEVER FREE. It costs something to worship God. Let that sink in. As a Christian the amazing truth is that our ability to come before God and be accepted by Him, is not based on any offerings we can make. No matter how much we seek to “pay” for this acceptance it’s impossible – it costs too much. Jesus however, paid the price for us with his own life. This is the central message of our faith.
What we must continue to remember is that it costs to be able to worship God. It cost Jesus his life. I’m afraid that in our modern worship culture, sometimes we approach worship as if we are going to a movie, or a game, or something else for our own fulfillment, fun or satisfaction. We want our worship to be easy and we can ignore the price it cost for us to even think about entering God’s presence.
This is one reason we must always keep Jesus’ life and the cross at the center of our understanding when it comes to worship. I get nervous when I’m at a worship event, and amidst all the celebration, there’s no attention or meditation given to the cross.
Another lesson here is that while we don’t worship for acceptance before God, WORSHIP STILL INVOLVES SACRIFICE. Note that David’s sacrifices were also peace offerings – offerings that celebrated peace (acceptance) with God, as opposed to the burnt offerings for sin. Worship by its nature is about putting God first, not ourselves. It’s about honoring God through the “process” as well as the “product” of our worship.
The sacrifices we now offer are for God’s pleasure, to lift Him up above ourselves. Hebrews puts it like this: “ Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” Heb13:15
How does our approach to worship, stack up here? Does our approach to worship embrace this principle of sacrifice? I think this primarily this means I must die to myself when I worship. I must take up my place in Christ – demonstrating His humility, His love, His obedience (i.e. my new nature.) I must die to myself – even in the small decisions. David learned this – to carry the ark with poles, – to not take the easy way but pay for his offerings, – to not build the temple when God had told him his son should build it etc.
And for me? And for you? What have we learned? Dying to self will look differently in different worship cultures. (It’s even different on different days for me!) The list of ways we should die to ourselves could go on and on couldn’t it? I must die to myself in order to worship authentically.
NO Easy Buttons allowed.
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