PRAYING FOR OTHERS

According to Scripture, we are to pray for 'all' people. (1 Timothy 2:1) 

We are to pray for government leaders (1 Timothy 2:2), the unsaved (1 Timothy 2:4), ministers of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19–20), the persecuted church (Hebrews 13:3), and even our enemies (Luke 6:28). 

And of course ... we are to pray for fellow Christians. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:160

Does this mean that only the prayers of good people are answered? No ... the word 'righteous' in the Bible refers to those who have been saved by grace through faith and are cloaked in the righteousness of Christ. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand ... even His righteousness, to all and on all who believe. (Romans 5:1-2, 3:22)

Jesus told us to pray in His name. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14)

Ole Hallesby - Nothing means so much to our daily prayer life as to pray in the name of Jesus. If we fail to do this, our prayer life will either die from discouragement and despair or become simply a duty to be fulfilled. 

If you do something 'in the name' of someone else, it means to do it according to his wishes. When we pray in Jesus’ name, we are appealing to the Holy Spirit to conform our prayers to Christ’s purposes; (thus the term ... 'praying in the Spirit').

Effective prayer is based on a knowledge of His will. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14) 

When we petition the Lord on behalf of others, it should not only be about expressing the things 'we' desire for them; i.e. safety in travel, healing of an illness, or overall well-being (not that those prayers are wrong in themselves). If we instead see prayer as a powerful vehicle by which we get to know the mind of Christ, then it not only benefits those for whom the prayer is offered ... but also the one on his knees.

Learn from our Savior's prayers for others ...

When Jesus was praying for others, He prayed for their faith. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail. (Luke 22:32) 

He was concerned about temptation in their lives. When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation". (Luke 22:40) 

He prayed for their unity. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. (John 17:11) 

And He prayed for their sanctification. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17) 

Learn from Paul's prayers for others ... 

He prayed for the salvation of the lost. Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1)

He prayed that his brothers in Christ would stay on the right path. Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. (2 Corinthians 13:7) 

And he prayed that believers would be strengthened by the Spirit. For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man. (Ephesians 3:14-16) 

All of these prayers are for spiritual blessings and are according to the Father’s will. When we seek the Lord with this on our hearts, we can approach His throne with confidence. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Praying for others gets the focus off ourselves and onto the needs of those around us. As we “carry each other’s burdens,” we “will fulfill the law of Christ”. (Galatians 6:2).