Prayer · How-to guides
How to Pray for Someone
To pray for someone is one of the most loving things you can do, carrying them to God when you cannot carry their burden yourself. Here is how to do it with faith and tenderness.
Name them before God
Bring the person to God by name. You do not need to explain their situation to Him; you only need to lift them into His care.
“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”Galatians 6:2, King James Version
Ask for what they truly need
Pray for the deep things, peace, healing, comfort, a soft heart, as well as the practical ones. Let love shape the request.
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”3 John 1:2, King James Version
Pray Scripture over them
Turning a verse into a prayer gives your words God's own strength. Speak a blessing or a promise back to Him on their behalf.
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee.”Numbers 6:24-25, King James Version
Keep at it, and do not lose heart
Some prayers are answered over years, not minutes. Faithful, persistent prayer is not nagging God; it is trusting Him and refusing to give up.
“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”Luke 18:1, King James Version
Leave the outcome with God
You carry the person; He carries the result. Release them into hands wiser and kinder than your own.
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”1 Peter 5:7, King James Version
The One who makes this possible: Jesus
When you pray for someone, you are joining what Jesus is already doing. The Bible says He ever lives to make intercession, praying for the very people He loves. Your prayers for a friend rise alongside His, and He is not reluctant to be asked. You can trust the one you love to the One who gave His life for them.
You do not have to pray alone. You can ask the family to pray with you, or step into a quiet place to pray right now.
Common questions
What should I pray when someone is sick or suffering?
Pray honestly for healing and comfort, ask God to be near them, and speak His promises over them. You can pray a verse like Jeremiah 17:14 or Psalm 34:18. Trust the outcome to God, who loves them even more than you do.
Does it help to pray for someone who does not believe?
Yes. The Bible urges prayer for all people, and God desires that everyone come to know Him. Praying for someone far from God echoes His own heart, and no one is beyond His reach.
How often should I pray for a person?
As often as love moves you to. Scripture encourages steady, persistent prayer that does not give up. Some keep a short list and pray through it daily; even a quick, heartfelt prayer counts.