Important Reasons with 30 Scriptures about praying for others 

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Here are important Reasons with 30 Bible verses about praying for others with inspirational quotes to lighten you up.

It is amazing to have a God that listens! It is amazing that God wants us to talk with Him! It is a great blessing that we can pray for our Lord. Christ is our perfect intercessor. We don’t need to have someone else to pray for us. Praying for others is one way we can care for and love each other. Let’s look at what the Bible has to say about praying for others.

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God commands us to pray for others

Praying for others is not just a blessing, it’s also an essential part of the Christian life. It is a commandment to share our burdens with one another. Prayer for one another is one way to do this. Intercessory prayers are prayers that are offered on behalf of another person. Praying for others strengthens the bond we have with them and strengthens our relationship with God.

1. Job 42:10 “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

2. Galatians 6:2 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

3. 1 John 5:14 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

4. Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

 

Why should we pray to help others?

For many reasons, we pray for others: for comfort, salvation, healing, safety, and so on. Prayer is a way for God to align our hearts with His will. Prayer can be used to pray for someone to come to know God or for their dog to return home.

5. 2 Corinthians 1:11 “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”

6. Psalm 17:6 “I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.”

7. Psalm 102:17 “He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.”

8. James 5:14 “Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

9. Colossians 4:3-4 “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.”

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How to pray for others?

It is commanded that we pray continuously and offer thanksgiving in all circumstances. This also applies to the way we should pray for others. We are not told to pray in a monotonous manner, or that only eloquent prayer will be heard.

10. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

11. Matthew 6:7 “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”

12. Ephesians 6:18 “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.”

His Mercies Are New Every Morning

 

How important is it to pray for others?

One of the benefits of praying is experiencing the peace of God. God works in our hearts when we pray. He conforms us to His will and gives us His peace. We ask for the intercession of the Holy Spirit. We pray for them out of love and desire to see them know God better.

13. Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

14. Philippians 1:18-21 “Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

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Pray for your enemies

Not only should we pray for the people we love, but also for those who hurt our feelings, even those we might consider enemies. This keeps us from becoming bitter. This helps us to be more compassionate for others and to forgive ourselves when we make mistakes.

15. Luke 6:27-28 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

16. Matthew 5:44 “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

 

Take on each other’s burdens

Our greatest reason to pray for each other is that we are commanded by God to share our burdens. All of us will reach the point where we stumble and fall. We need each other. This is the purpose of the church. When our sister or brother falls, we are there to help. We carry their burdens. This can be done in part by taking them up to the throne of grace.

17. James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

18. Acts 1:14 “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

19. 2 Corinthians 1:11 “you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.”

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God uses our intercession to our spiritual growth

When we are faithful by praying for others, God will use our obedience to help us grow spiritually. He will help us to grow in our prayer lives. Praying for others can help us be more burdened in our ministry to others. It helps us trust God more.

20. Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

21. Philippians 1:19 “for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”

 

JESUS PRAY FOR OTHERS

Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede for others

Both Jesus and the Holy Ghost intercede for us before God the Father. When we don’t know how to pray, or when we do a poor job at finding the right words to say, the Holy Spirit intercedes to God for us with the words that our soul is longing to say but is unable to do so. Jesus also prays for us, which should bring us great comfort.

22. Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

23. Hebrews 4:14 “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.”

24. John 17:9 “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those, you have given me, for they are yours”

25. Romans 8:26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”

26. Hebrews 7:25 “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

27. John 17:15 “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”

28. John 17:20-23 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”

 

 

Intercessory prayer as a model in the Bible

Scripture contains many models for intercessory prayers. Genesis 18 is one example of such a model. This is Genesis 18. Here, Abraham prays to God for the people of Sodom & Gomorrah. They were sinners and wicked, so Abraham prayed for them. Although they didn’t believe God would destroy them for their sins, Abraham still prayed for them.

29. Genesis 18:20-33 “Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.” So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” And the Lord went his way when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.”

 

PRAYING FOR OTHERS

What should we be praying for?

It is commanded that we pray for all people, with petitions, prayers, and intercession. 1 Timothy 1:3 says we should pray this way in order to live peaceful, quiet lives in all areas of godliness. Only by growing in godliness, holiness, can a peaceful and quiet existence be possible. It is not a peaceful life where nothing bad happens, but rather a quiet feeling of the soul. The peace that endures no matter what happens around you.

30. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we might live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

 

Quotes about praying for others

  • “It is not only our duty to pray for others, but also to desire the prayers of others for ourselves.” – William Gurnall
  • “When you pray for others God listens to you and blessed them. So when you are safe and happy remember that someone is praying for you.”
  • “We never know how God will answer our prayers, but we can expect that He will get us involved in His plan for the answer. If we are true intercessors, we must be ready to take part in God’s work on behalf of the people for whom we pray.”
  • “True intercession involves bringing the person, or the circumstance that seems to be crashing in on you, before God, until you are changed by His attitude toward that person or circumstance. People describe intercession by saying, “It is putting yourself in someone else’s place.” That is not true! Intercession is putting yourself in God’s place; it is having His mind and His perspective.” ― Oswald Chambers
  • “Intercession is the truly universal work for the Christian. No place is closed to intercessory prayer: no continent, no nation, no city, no organization, no office. No power on earth can keep intercession out.” Richard Halverson

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5 Bible Stories About Praying For Others

  1. Prayer is the Best Answer

The word of the Lord came to [Abraham]… “A son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars — if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness. — Genesis 15:4-6

Abraham had a very specific question for God — the God who had at one point promised to make him a great nation (Genesis 12:2). Abraham and Sarah had no children. So how was God going to fulfill His promise? Abraham raised the issue and addressed the Promise-Maker respectfully as “Sovereign Lord”. (15:2).

God did not give Abraham a date or time to answer. God instead reiterated His promise and provided an object lesson. Abraham could not count the stars in heaven. He would not be able to count his descendants either. God did not give him any specifics.

Sometimes, when you ask the Lord a question, He might answer it with His presence. His presence will give you strength and endurance that surpasses any details you might have imagined.

If God answers your prayers by His presence, you will have all that you need.

2. The Call is Here

Samuel went to his place and laid down. Samuel! The Lord appeared and called Samuel as he had at other times. Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” — 1 Samuel 3:9-10

Now think about the most recent ah-hah! Moment. How did you connect the dots? What new insight did you gain? It’s an amazing feeling! Imagine the moment when you realize that God is alive and present to you. This moment marks the realization of God’s presence and aliveness with you.

Samuel heard his name three times, and he visited Eli the priest three times. Who would have called him other than Eli the priest? Samuel said each time, “Here I am; you called me.” The first two times Eli’s response was, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” The third time, though, “Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy” (1 Samuel 3:8).

God is always present, active, and alive in the lives of His children. His calling is not always obvious or anticipated.

If you believe God is calling you, take a moment to listen and pray.

 

3. Reflex Action

My rock, my fortress, and my deliverer are the Lord; my God, who is also my rock, is where I find refuge, my shield, and the horn that will save me. He is my refuge, my strength, and my savior. 2 Samuel 22:2-3

We care about someone or a situation. We pray with fervor and invite others to join us in prayer. We recall God’s promises from Scripture. We thank God for His unending love by looking at the cross. Is our reaction to His gracious response heartfelt praise or passionate thanksgiving? It is not enough often.

David delivered Saul’s message. He celebrated God’s goodness with a joyful psalm. But the Lord doesn’t need original praise songs. He loves to hear “Thank you!” like any parent.

Amazingly, we can even use David’s praises as our thanksgiving prayer. The same God who saved David from Goliath, Saul, and other enemies is our Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, protecting us from the “torrents to destruction” (v. 5). David, thank you for giving us words to express our feelings!

Lord, change my heart to give thanks whenever I see Your blessings.

 

4. Joy and tragedy

The child grew and he eventually went to his father with the reapers. His father asked him to say, “My head!” He said, “My head!” To his father, a servant told him, “Carry him home to his mother.” The boy then sat down on her lap until noon and then died.

What’s your instinctive reaction when something terrible happens? Worry! Rage Rage? Perhaps you ask friends for help. Perhaps you pray to the Lord.

The woman was a friend to the prophet Elisha. Her husband and she had made a room for the itinerant prophet Elijah. Evidently, God’s power was upon Elisha. He purified a spring in order to supply water for an entire community. He provided a jar of oil to a widow who was poor. He prophesied that his childless friend would have one — and she did. The son died. Evidently, Elisha’s God had an unspeakable power.

This mother was devastated and had no other options. What advice could a friend offer her in this situation? She knew that she needed to see the man of God.

For help and support in times of tragedy, reach out to the men and women who are God’s servants.

 

5. A Relieved and Sleepy King

They have not hurt me.” They have not hurt me.” — Daniel 6:19-22

What time in your life were you most afraid of? Recall those feelings, your heart racing, your barely breathing, and your prayer, “Help me, God!”

Take those feelings to Daniel’s den. These are lions. These are carnivores who have not had food in a while, so you could be a meal. As they circle the den, you can hear the low roar of their roar. Hear their warm breath. You’ll be able to smell their gamey scent. Look at their razor-sharp claws and teeth. This is the danger God delivered Daniel from — and “the king was overjoyed” (Daniel 6:23). After Daniel was freed from the den, “no wound” was found on him because he trusted in his God (v. 23).

Footnote: “The men that falsely accused Daniel were…thrown into the lions’ den… But before they reached the floor, the lions overpowered and crushed all of their bones”  Our very real God protects His people from real danger.

 

Conclusion

Praying for others is the best way to glorify God. In all aspects of our lives, we should glorify God. We can reflect on Jesus’ prayer for us by praying for others. We also reflect God’s goodness when we pray for others. Praying for others brings us closer to God. Let us pray for one another and lift each other up to Heavenly Father!