How to Pray for Others Biblically
Do you ever struggle to know what to pray for others? Philippians 1:9–11 gives a powerful model for praying with depth, purpose, and eternal focus.
Prayers That Go Beyond “Lord, Bless Them”
Paul does not offer vague prayers, and I’m so thankful. I love this passage. I love it so much, I pray these words repeatedly for those I love. And I pray it for myself. Paul teaches us how to pray for others with these verses.
He does not say merely, “I’m praying for you.” He tells them exactly what he is asking God to do. This challenges me, and maybe you. How often are our prayers shallow? “Lord, bless her.” “Lord, help them.” Granted, sometimes that is all we know to pray. Yet, even when we do not know details, Scripture invites us deeper.
Paul prays for abounding love that grows “in knowledge and depth of insight.” You see what he is doing here? He is telling the Philippians, “I am praying for you to fall deeper in love with Jesus, and the way this will happen is for you to grow deeper in your knowledge of Jesus and understanding of just what He has done and is doing for you.“
Paul knows love without knowledge becomes indulgent, and knowledge without love becomes harsh. The gospel sews knowledge and love together.
Discernment in a Confused World
Why does this matter? “So that you may be able to discern what is best.” Think about this, really think about it. Have you ever prayed for the Lord to deepen your love for Him or thought, “I wish I loved Jesus more — or like she does.” Or perhaps your heart longs to love people better, to genuinely care about them. Paul tells us how to be the answer to our own prayers. For our love to “abound more and more”, he calls us to learn more about Jesus, how He loves us and others. Doing so will equip us to be discerning in the way we interact with others, how we make decisions, and choose to walk in obedience — in response to grace.
The Christian life is not merely avoiding obvious sin. It is discerning what is excellent and most honors Christ. In another letter, Paul calls readers to “put off sin and put on righteousness.”
In a culture of moral confusion, discernment is a gift. Discernment grows from love anchored in truth. Can you see how Paul’s prayer makes sense and gives us a map for untangling cultural confusion, let alone how to walk by faith every day?
Paul’s prayer continues: that they may be “pure and blameless until the day of Christ.” This points again to final accountability. Live today in light of eternity — the day of Christ.
And then he names the source of spiritual fruit: “the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.” Wow, just wow. Fruit comes through union with Christ, not self-effort or religious striving.
Living for the Glory of God
Finally, the goal: “to the glory and praise of God.”
God’s glory — not our reputation, our comfort, and not even our spiritual success.
This prayer can help us reshape how we evaluate our lives. When I pray this prayer for myself, it behooves me to ask, “Am I growing in discerning love? Am I pursuing purity with eternity in view? Is my fruit rooted in Christ or in performance?”
Walking by faith in hard places requires this kind of depth. When trials press in, shallow faith collapses, but love grounded in biblical truth endures.
Perhaps the most practical application today is this: pray this prayer over your children, your husband, your church, your hurting friends, and yourself. No matter the circumstances in each person’s life, this prayer covers everyone. When we pray these words, we are praying for God’s glory.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Use Philippians 1:9–11 as a template for intercession this week:
And this is my prayer for _________, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11
• Ask God to increase both love and discernment in you.
• Evaluate your goals: are they aimed at God’s glory?
Deep prayers cultivate deep faith.
PRAYER
Father, enlarge my love and root it in truth. Grant me discernment to choose what is best. Produce fruit in my life that comes through Christ alone. Keep eternity before my eyes. And let everything in me result in Your glory and praise. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Are there other women in your life who could benefit from a daily dose of encouragement? Forward this email so they can click on this link to Subscribe to Daily Treasure to be better equipped to walk by faith on the pathway God has marked out for them.
Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.
Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.
