Often, people will say “Pray for me”. Perhaps there is something going on and the person is facing challenges. Perhaps the person just wants to grow their relationship with God. Whatever the reason, “Pray for me” is a call for help and intercession. It is an opportunity to minister in the spiritual realm to the heart of a person. It is important that how we pray edifies and builds the person.
Paul interceded often for the people he ministered to. He taught people how to pray for others. “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ” (Ephesians 3:14–19, NIV84)
When we pray for others, we must come before God in humility. We kneel, we submit ourselves to God. The level of our authority with God depends on the level of our submission to God. We cannot pray for others with success when our own lives are in rebellion to God. Humility is step one in prayer.
When we pray, we are coming to our Father in heaven. He loves us. He cares for us, He provides for us. He is our Father. We call Him Father and we are coming into a love relationship with Him. Our ability to pray successfully for others also depends on the level of intimacy we have with our Father. Spend time developing your relationship with God and growing in intimacy with God. You will then have greater success in praying for others.
We pray for others that their needs are met from God’s supply. “I pray that out of his glorious riches … ” (Ephesians 3:16, NIV84) Our intercession for others comes out of our understanding of what is available. Our successful intercession requires faith to believe that God has the answer. We cannot pray for the healing of others if we are uncertain that God wants to heal. We cannot pray for the provision of others if we do not believe that God wants us to prosper. We cannot pray for the deliverance of others if we do not believe that God gives us the authority to conquer over darkness. Take time in your own relationship with God to learn what the glorious riches of God are. Receive them into your own life and your will become well equipped to intercede for others.
We pray for others for God’s strength in their lives. “I pray … he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ” (Ephesians 3:16, NIV84) The word strength speaks of a growth and an increase in strength. We pray for others that that would grow. The word power is the Greek word “dunamis”. It is the power of God to accomplish miracles. We pray for others that they can receive God’s miracle working power. We pray that God would work through His Spirit into the inner man of the person we are praying for. We are asking God to transform the heart of the person we are interceding for. We are asking God for a heart change that enables them to receive the power of God.
We pray for faith in their lives. “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Ephesians 3:17, NIV84) We pray that the promise of God, the Word, Jesus who is the Living Word would become established by faith in the person’s life. We pray that faith would arise in the person to believe the Word of God and the promise of God. God’s Word is always true. We pray for the other person to grow the faith to receive the Word of God.
We pray for Love to grow in the person’s life. “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ” (Ephesians 3:17, NIV84) We pray that the promise and reality of the Love of God for that person would become real to the person.
We pray for an apprehending of knowledge. “may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ” (Ephesians 3:18, NIV84) We pray that the person would know that the Love of God applies to their need and the power of the Love of God will meet their need.
We pray for a manifestation of the knowledge of the Love of God. “and to know this love that surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19, NIV84) We pray that the knowledge would become established in reality. The Greek word “know” speaks of an intimate experience with, and personal encounter with. We pray that the understanding that God wants to meet the need becomes an intimate encounter for the person with God who meets the need.
And finally, we pray for the person’s growth. “… that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ” (Ephesians 3:19, NIV84) Out of every trial, test and need there is potential for us to grow and develop into the full measure of God in us. We pray that the person becomes more transformed by their encounter with God into the character and the fullness of God.
Yes, I will pray for you. I will pray for the Love of God to rule, reign and be established in your life.
