8.1.10 – From as far back as I can remember, I have been praying. My family prayed around the table before meals and we prayed before bedtime. So one of the passages that confused me in Scripture was when the disciples asked Jesus, “Teach us to pray.” That seemed strange, because I figured everybody knew how to pray. I sure figured I did.

I eventually came to see that my prayers were backwards. Instead of being God-centered, they were me-centered. As I’ve mentioned before: prayer is not about getting God in-line with me, it’s about getting me in-line with God.

My head gets that, even though it’s still something I have to work through every time I pray. Shifting the focus from me to God. Part of the way we do that is to pray for other people. How do we do that, though?

Ephesians 1:15-23
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (NIV)

What do we pray for when we pray for other people? Most often, aren’t we praying for them to be healed from some sickness? Or maybe we know they’re looking for a job, or that they’re having trouble with their kids.

Sometimes, though, we want to pray for someone, but we’re not sure what to pray for. Take what we’ve done on a couple Wednesday nights here lately. We’ve gotten together and prayed for every single person in the church—from members to regular attendees to visitors. What we do is: there’s an index card for every one of our people. We divide into three or four groups and divide the stack of cards into three or four stacks. In our smaller groups, we deal out the cards, then go around the circle praying for everyone. Sometimes, someone will get a card with a name on it they don’t recognize. Or, maybe they know who the person is but don’t know a thing about them. Often, you’ll hear the person praying say something like, “Lord, you know what this person needs, so give them whatever that is.” Good prayer. Nothing wrong with it.

And we have this assurance:

Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (ESV)

So, when you’re “stuck” in prayer, don’t worry. The Holy Spirit’s ready to help. But we’re also told that the Holy Spirit teaches us all things (John 14:26) and—in the verses we started off with, the Holy Spirit is teaching us through Paul how to pray for those we love.

Let’s look, though, at what Paul prays for the people:

• Ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
• I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
• I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Let’s look at these three things in more detail. I think all of us can strengthen our prayer lives—which will draw us closer to God and benefit not only us but the people we pray for.

First, thanks!

As you pray for someone, thank God for them! Paul is thankful that the people he is praying for know Jesus. Maybe the person you’re praying for doesn’t know our Lord. That’s something Paul’s going to teach us how to pray about in a little bit, but start by thanking God for that person.

Philippians 4:6
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. (MSG)

You care enough about this person to be praying for them? Thank God they were born. Thank God they are still living. Think of their good qualities and thank God for those.

Is the person you’re praying for a Christian? Thank God for that! Thank God that you’ve gotten to know this person. There’s a lot to be thankful for!

Second, the Spirit!

Sometimes, we want the Holy Spirit in our lives so miraculous things can be done. Healings or speaking in tongues or whatever. Look at what Paul asks that the HS does for these people he loves:

Give them wisdom and revelation so that they may know God the Father better.

That’s how we should pray for our friends. Whether your friend knows Jesus intimately as her Lord and Savior, or has never believed in Christ; whether he is as healthy as a horse or lying in a hospital bed; pray for your friend to receive wisdom and revelation from God so that they will know him better.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t be praying for their job situation or their health or whatever. Paul tells us not to be anxious (worry) about anything, but to bring everything to God in prayer. The greatest thing we can pray for—their real greatest need—is to know God better!

John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (ESV)

Third, Inheritance!

Paul’s letter went out to people all over—and is still being read by millions. Some are rich and some are poor. For all, whatever worldly wealth they have is fleeting. Paul wants his readers to see that there is an inheritance waiting for all believers that is incomparable (and eternal)!
Matthew 6:20
But make a store for yourselves in heaven, where it will not be turned to dust and where thieves do not come in to take it away. (BBE)

As we watch the politicians debate how much to tax the dead, Paul wants us to be assured that we have an eternal inheritance that cannot be taken away, no matter how powerful the government.

And it’s powerful. In fact, some translators have argued that Paul just made up the word here that we have as “incomparably great”. Like when you’re describing something to a friend and you’re at a lost for words and say, “That was the most fantabuliscious pizza I ever ate!” Paul is saying that the power that the believer receives is beyond description.

What do I DO with this?

Pray joyfully for your friends! Pray scripturally for your friends! Pray powerfully for them!