I Don’t Know What to Pray

August 31, 2010

Our church encourages each of our members “not to neglect to pray for ourselves or others.” In fact, it is written into our church covenant. A good practice we recommend in this regard is to regularly pray through the membership directory of the church. As we do that, we should come across believers with whom we have developed relationships. In those cases, we should know what is happening in their lives. We may know a brother is struggling with a particular sin or facing a unique opportunity for the gospel. Knowing the trials, temptations, and opportunities of other members in the congregation is very helpful in informing our prayers (and it helps us walk alongside other believers and help in ways other than prayer). We get to know each other, among other ways, by consistent interaction through small groups, one-on-one meetings, and substantive conversations on Sunday.

But no matter how many people we know well in the congregation, we will certainly come across brothers and sisters about whom we know virtually nothing specific concerning their circumstances. We may be tempted to skip that person because we “don’t know what to pray for.” In such a circumstance, we have a great opportunity to pray the Bible.

One great way to do that is to pray through the passage of scripture you have read in your quiet time that day. Or you could pray through the portion of the Word your pastor is going to preach for the coming Lord’s Day (or perhaps what he just preached).

If you are struggling with that, then here are a few passages of scripture that you can plug and pray:

Colossians 1:9-12:

⁹And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. ¹¹ May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Philippians 1:9-11:

⁹And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-13

¹¹To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, ¹²so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Take comfort that these prayers were prayed by the Apostle Paul on behalf of people, in many cases, he knew very well. Moreover, these words are inspired by the Holy Spirit to instruct us. In fact, you may want to include them alongside the more specific prayers you pray for those you know well.

Under Blog, Church, Reflections