# Prayers for Someone: Short Prayers for a Friend, a Loved One or Anyone in Need Source: https://christianpure.com/learn/prayers-for-someone/ Publisher: Christian Pure (https://christianpure.com/) Published: 2025-06-11 Updated: 2026-09-30 To pray for someone, say their name and ask for what they need: “Lord, you know [name] better than I do. Give [him or her] what [he or she] needs today, keep [him or her] from harm, and draw [him or her] close to you. Amen.” The old liturgies pray even for people whose names are forgotten. If the person you are praying for is in danger, has been hurt, or is thinking about ending their life, call for help first and pray on the way: call the emergency services, call or text 988 in the US, or call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK and Ireland. There are also [more Christian and crisis lines](https://christianpure.com/learn/christian-prayer-hotlines/). ## Short prayers for someone Put the person’s name where [name] appears. **For a friend** Lord, thank you for [name]. Bless [his or her] work and home today, give [him or her] rest when [he or she] is tired, and keep our friendship honest and kind. Amen. **For someone going through a hard time** Father, [name] is carrying more than [he or she] can manage. Give strength for today and the next step after it. Your prophet says you give “power to the faint” (Isaiah 40:29). Send people to help, and let me be one of them. Amen. **For someone who is sick** Lord, [name] is ill. Ease the pain, guide the doctors, and bring [him or her] back to health if it is your will. Amen. There are more [short prayers for the sick](https://christianpure.com/learn/short-prayers-for-the-sick/). **For someone who is grieving** God of comfort, [name] has lost someone and the days are heavy. Stay close to [him or her] in the quiet hours. “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart” (Psalm 34:18). Amen. **For someone you love** Lord, I love [name]. Keep [him or her] safe and well, make our love patient and kind, and let it draw both of us nearer to you. “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it” (Song of Solomon 8:7). Amen. **For someone far away** Father, [name] is far from me tonight. Where I cannot go, you are already there. “Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:10). Keep [him or her] until we meet again. Amen. **For someone facing a decision** God, [name] has to choose, and the way is not clear. Give [him or her] good advice, a quiet mind and the courage to act. Let your word be “a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105) for [him or her]. Amen. **For someone short of money** Lord, [name] does not have enough this month. Open a door to work or help, and give [him or her] wisdom with what there is. Show me if I am meant to be part of the answer. Amen. **For someone who does not know God** Lord Jesus, [name] does not believe in you, or has stopped. I cannot argue [him or her] into faith. Come near in your own way and time, and let my life make you easier to believe in. Amen. **For someone who has hurt you** Lord, [name] has wronged me and I am still angry. Jesus told us to “pray for them which despitefully use you” (Matthew 5:44), so I do: bless [him or her], heal what is wrong in [him or her] and in me, and keep me from wishing [him or her] harm. Amen. **For someone who asked you to pray** Father, [name] asked me to pray, and I am keeping my word. You know what [he or she] needs better than either of us. Answer in the way that is best, and let [him or her] know [he or she] was not forgotten. Amen. **When you do not know what they need** Lord, I do not know what to ask for [name]. Your word says that “we know not what we should pray for as we ought,” and that the Spirit prays for us (Romans 8:26). I bring you [name] as [he or she] is. Amen. ## Bible prayers to pray for someone The apostles Paul and John wrote down prayers for the people they cared for. Each can be prayed for one person by putting a name in place of “you.” - For strength and love: “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love … might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:16–19). - For good judgment: “That your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent” (Philippians 1:9–10). - For wisdom and patience: “That ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding … Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:9–11). - For peace: “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means” (2 Thessalonians 3:16). - For health: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 2). ## Traditional prayers for other people ### For friends, from a Catholic prayer book > O God, who, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, hast poured into the hearts of Thy faithful the gifts of charity: grant to Thy servants and handmaids, for whom we implore Thy mercy, health both of body and soul; that they may love Thee with all their strength, and cheerfully perform those things which are pleasing unto Thee. > > *A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity* (1888), “For our Friends,” p. 170 ### An Orthodox evening prayer for friends and enemies This prayer closes Great Compline in the Orthodox Church, and the Russian prayer book also places it among the evening prayers said before sleep. It asks for people on every side: enemies, family, the sick, travelers and those who asked for prayer. > Forgive, O Lord who lovest man, those who hate us, and those who have wronged us. Do well unto those who do well. Grant unto our brethren and our kin those petitions which are unto salvation and life eternal. Visit the sick, and grant them healing. Guide thou those who sail upon the sea. Journey with those who journey. … Unto those who have served us and have been kind to us, grant forgiveness of their sins. Upon those who have enjoined us, unworthy though we be, to pray for them, have mercy, according to thy great goodness. > > Hapgood, *Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic (Greco-Russian) Church* (1906), The Office of Grand Compline, p. 163 ### For those whose names we have forgotten The Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, which the Orthodox Church serves about ten times a year, chiefly on the Sundays of Lent, asks God to remember everyone the congregation has missed. > And those whom we, through ignorance, or forgetfulness, or the multitude of names, have not remembered, do thou thyself call to mind, O God, who knowest the age and the name of each, and knowest every man even from his mother’s womb. For thou, O Lord, art the Helper of the helpless, the Hope of the hopeless, the Saviour of the storm-tossed, the Haven of the voyager, the Healer of the sick. Be thyself all things unto all men, O thou who knowest every man, his petition, his abode, and his need. > > Hapgood, *Service Book* (1906), The Divine Liturgy, p. 109 ## Where the Bible talks about praying for others Praying for others is commanded in the New Testament: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men” (1 Timothy 2:1), and “pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). The prophet Samuel counted it a sin to stop: “God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23). The Old Testament records people praying for others. Abraham pleaded for the city of Sodom until God agreed, “I will not destroy it for ten’s sake” (Genesis 18:32). At the end of Job’s suffering, “the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends” (Job 42:10). Jesus prayed for particular people. He told Peter, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:32), and he prayed for his disciples, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15). The Letter to the Hebrews says he still “ever liveth to make intercession” for those who come to God through him (Hebrews 7:25). More passages are gathered in [Bible verses about praying for others](https://christianpure.com/learn/bible-verses-about-praying-for-others/). ## Asking the church to pray for someone In Orthodox churches, anyone can have a living or departed friend remembered at the Liturgy. Hapgood’s 1906 service book describes the custom: the person sends a small loaf of altar bread, the prosphora, to the church “with the Christian name only of the person written on a paper.” During the preparation of the gifts, the priest removes a particle for each name, and afterward the loaf is returned to the sender. In Russian parishes today the names are handed in on a written note, a *zapiska o zdravii* (“note for health”) for the living. Catholics can ask a priest to offer a Mass for someone. The Code of Canon Law says, “A priest is free to apply the Mass for anyone, living or dead” (canon 901), and allows him to receive an offering for a particular intention (canon 945). Many Protestant churches keep a prayer list or pray for named people in the Sunday service, and the pastor can add a name. --- ## Prayer for Strength in Hard Times When someone we care about faces tough challenges, we long to give them strength. This prayer asks God to be their rock and support, lifting them up when they feel like they can't go on and can't see the light. > Heavenly Father, I come before You today with a heavy heart for my loved one. I see the weight they are carrying, and their spirit is weary. Lord, they feel weak, and the path ahead seems too difficult to walk. I ask that you would pour out Your divine strength into their soul right now. Be their fortress when they feel attacked and their shield when they feel exposed. When their own strength fails, let them be carried by Yours. Remind them that they are not alone in this battle, for You walk beside them, holding their hand. Help them to feel Your powerful presence, giving them the courage to face another day. Turn their weakness into a testimony of Your power. Let them lean on You completely, trusting that Your grace is sufficient for them. May this difficult season draw them closer to You, revealing Your faithfulness in a new and profound way. Uphold them with Your righteous right hand, and let them feel Your mighty presence supporting them. In Jesus' Name, Amen. God promises to be our power when we are weak. Praying this for someone invites the ultimate source of support into their struggle. The Bible reminds us, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isaiah 40:29). ## Prayer for Peace in Their Heart Anxiety and worry can steal our joy and cloud our minds. This prayer is a heartfelt plea for God to calm the storms inside someone's heart and replace their turmoil with a divine, lasting peace that only He can give. > Lord of Peace, I lift up my loved one to You, knowing that their heart is troubled and their mind is filled with anxious thoughts. The cares of this world are pressing in, and I ask that You would intervene with Your supernatural peace, a peace that this world cannot offer. Please, quiet the noise within them. Let Your gentle and reassuring voice be louder than their fears and doubts. Pour out Your spirit of tranquility like a calming river over their soul, washing away the stress and restlessness. Guard their heart and their mind from the "what ifs" that try to steal their focus from You. Help them to release their burdens into Your capable hands, to truly trust that You are in control of every detail of their life. Let them rest in the assurance of Your love and protection, knowing they are safe with You. May Your peace rule in their heart today and always. In Jesus' Name, Amen. True peace is not the absence of problems, but the powerful presence of God within them. The Bible promises a peace that “transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7), and that is exactly what we ask for them through this prayer. ## Prayer for Healing Whether the pain is physical, emotional, or spiritual, we all need healing at times. This prayer entrusts a loved one into the hands of the Great Physician, asking for restoration, comfort, and wholeness in every area of their life. > Compassionate Healer, I bring my dear friend before You, who is in need of Your healing touch. You see the pain they are enduring—the aches in their body, the wounds in their heart, and the weariness in their spirit. You are the one who created them, and you know every part of their being. Lord, I ask for Your restorative power to flow through them. If it is Your will, please bring physical healing and mend what is broken. Even more, I pray for the healing of their soul. Soothe their emotional hurts, calm their fears, and mend the broken pieces of their heart with Your unending love and grace. During this time of recovery, surround them with Your comfort. Be their constant companion, reminding them that they are deeply loved and never forgotten. Give them patience in the process and a hopeful spirit that looks to You for complete restoration. Let them rest in Your care. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Placing someone in God’s care is the most loving thing we can do. We trust in His goodness and power to bring comfort and restoration. Through prayer, we are reminded that “the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid” (Hebrews 13:6). ## Prayer for Guidance and Wisdom Life is full of crossroads and important decisions. This prayer asks God to give someone clarity, discernment, and the wisdom to choose the path that aligns with His good and perfect will for their life, taking the pressure off them. > God of all Wisdom, I pray for my loved one today as they stand at a crossroads, seeking direction for their life. The future can feel uncertain, and the right choice is not always clear. I ask that you would illuminate their path and grant them a spirit of wisdom and discernment. Please quiet the confusing voices of the world so they can hear Your gentle guidance more clearly. Give them a discerning heart to know what is good, what is true, and what is from You. Protect them from making hasty decisions based on fear or pressure. Instead, fill them with a calm confidence that their steps are ordered by You. Lead them, Lord. Open the doors that are meant for them and firmly close the ones that are not. Help them to trust Your timing and Your plan, even when it looks different from their own. May their final choice bring glory to You and deep fulfillment to them. In Jesus' Name, Amen. We lovingly ask God to lead our friends because He sees the whole picture when we only see a small piece. We trust His direction for them. The Bible promises, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105). ## Prayer for Joy to Fill Their Life Joy is more than temporary happiness; it's a deep-seated gladness that comes from God. This prayer asks the Lord to replace someone's sorrow or emptiness with a lasting, unshakeable joy that strengthens their spirit every single day. > Giver of all Good Gifts, I lift up my friend to You, asking that You would bless them with the incredible gift of joy. Life may have clouded their spirit with discouragement or routine, and I pray that You would break through the grayness with the vibrant light of Your presence. Please help them to see the small blessings and moments of grace that You place in their path each day. Reawaken a sense of wonder and gratitude in their heart. Replace any spirit of heaviness with a garment of praise and any sorrow with the oil of gladness. Let laughter bubble up from within them again. Lord, let this joy be their strength. May it not depend on their circumstances but be rooted deeply in the truth of Your love and faithfulness. Let them experience the fullness of joy that comes only from walking closely with You. May their life overflow with it. In Jesus' Name, Amen. This prayer is a request for a divine shift in perspective for someone we love, from focusing on problems to celebrating God’s goodness. We ask for a joy that sustains them, as the Bible says, “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). ## Prayer for Protection from Harm We live in a world with spiritual and physical dangers. This prayer is an appeal for God’s divine protection over someone, asking Him to be their shield and fortress against all harm, temptation, and evil that may come against them. > Almighty Protector, I place my loved one under the shadow of Your wings today. I ask for Your divine protection to surround them like a shield. Please guard them from physical danger, from accidents, and from any harm that might befall them as they go about their day. I also pray for spiritual protection, Lord. Guard their heart and mind against the lies and temptations of the enemy. Protect them from discouragement, bitterness, and fear. Build a hedge of protection around their family, their work, and their relationships. Keep them safe in Your loving care. Let them walk in the confidence that You are their defender and their refuge, a very present help in times of trouble. May they feel Your watchful eye upon them and rest securely in the knowledge that nothing can touch them that has not first passed through Your loving hands. In Jesus' Name, Amen. When we pray for someone’s protection, we are entrusting them to the One who never slumbers or sleeps. We ask for His peace to guard them, remembering that a great promise from scripture is, “The Lord will keep you from all harm” (Psalm 121:7). ## Prayer for a Deeper Faith Faith is both a gift and a journey. This prayer is for someone you care about, asking God to strengthen their trust in Him, deepen their understanding of His love, and help their faith grow stronger, especially through life's trials. > Faithful God, I come to You today to pray for my friend's spiritual walk. I ask that You would cultivate in them a deeper, more resilient faith. In a world full of doubts and distractions, help them to fix their eyes firmly on You, the author and perfecter of their faith. Nurture the seeds of faith that are already planted in their heart. Water them with Your Word and let the light of Your presence cause them to grow strong. When they face trials that test their belief, help them to stand firm, knowing that You are faithful to see them through. Remove any obstacles that hinder them from drawing closer to You. Increase their trust in Your goodness, their belief in Your promises, and their love for You. May their faith become a source of strength, peace, and unwavering hope in all circumstances. Let them feel You closer than ever before. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Praying for someone's faith is one of the most profound gifts we can give them. It's asking for their spiritual foundation to be reinforced. We pray with confidence, because the Bible tells us that “faith comes from hearing the message” (Romans 10:17). ## Prayer for Forgiveness and Grace Holding onto bitterness can poison a soul, just as the weight of guilt can crush it. This prayer asks God to help someone both receive His amazing grace and extend that same grace and forgiveness to others who have wronged them. > God of Mercy and Grace, I lift up my loved one to You, asking for Your spirit of forgiveness to work powerfully in their life. If they are carrying the heavy burden of guilt or shame, I pray that you would help them to fully accept the forgiveness You so freely offer through Jesus Christ. Let the truth of Your grace wash over them, reminding them that they are fully known and fully loved, and that their past does not define them. And Lord, if they are struggling with a heart of unforgiveness toward someone else, please soften their heart. Heal the wound that was caused and help them release the bitterness and resentment they are holding onto. Give them the strength to let go of the debt they feel they are owed, just as You have canceled our enormous debt. Fill them with Your peace that comes from a clear conscience and a gracious heart. In Jesus' Name, Amen. This prayer is for freedom—freedom from the past and freedom from bitterness. It invites God to do a deep, healing work in someone's soul. We ask this knowing that we are called to be people of grace, “forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). ## Prayer for Comfort in Times of Grief Grief is a heavy and lonely journey. This prayer is a gentle request for the God of all comfort to wrap His loving arms around someone who is mourning, to soothe their aching heart, and to be a constant presence in their sorrow. > God of all Comfort, My heart aches for my friend who is walking through the deep valley of grief. Their loss is immense, and their sorrow is profound. I ask that You would draw especially near to them right now. Be the comfort that no human word can provide. Please wrap Your loving arms around them and hold them close. Let them feel Your presence as a tangible peace that settles over their chaotic emotions. Catch every tear they cry and soothe the raw ache in their soul. When they feel utterly alone in their sadness, please remind them that You are the God who sees them and weeps with them. Give them strength for each moment of each day. Protect them from despair and instead, plant a small seed of hope deep within them—a hope that promises that joy will come in the morning, even if the night feels impossibly long. In Jesus' Name, Amen. In our friend's deepest pain, we can only point them to the true Healer of broken hearts. We ask God to be their gentle support. The Bible offers this beautiful promise for them: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). ## Prayer for Purpose and Direction Everyone longs to know that their life matters. This prayer asks God to reveal His unique purpose for a loved one's life, to ignite their passions, and to guide them toward a path that is both fulfilling and glorifying to Him. > Creator God, I pray for my dear friend, who may be searching for their unique purpose in this world. You created them with specific gifts, talents, and passions, and I ask that You would reveal to them the beautiful plan You have for their life. Ignite a fire within them for the things that You have called them to do. Clear away any confusion or feelings of inadequacy and replace them with a holy confidence in how You have wired them. Help them to see that their life has immense value and kingdom purpose, no matter how big or small their role may seem. Guide their steps toward opportunities where they can use their gifts to bless others and bring glory to Your name. Give them a clear sense of direction and the courage to follow where You lead. May they find deep satisfaction in walking in the good works You prepared for them. In Jesus' Name, Amen. This prayer helps our loved one see their life from God’s perspective—as a life of meaning and intention. We are asking God to connect their passions with His plan. We trust in His promise that He knows the plans He has for us, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). ## Prayer for Financial Provision Financial stress can be a massive burden that impacts every area of life. This prayer humbly asks God, our Provider, to meet the financial needs of a loved one, to ease their worries, and to teach them to trust Him completely. > Jehovah Jireh, our Provider, I come to You on behalf of my loved one who is facing financial strain and uncertainty. You own the cattle on a thousand hills, and all the resources of the world are Yours. Lord, I ask that you would graciously meet their needs according to Your riches. Please open doors of opportunity for them. Provide work, bless the work of their hands, and give them wisdom in managing the resources You have given them. Quiet their anxious heart and replace their fear of lack with a deep trust in Your faithful provision. Help them to focus on You as their source, not on their circumstances. Teach them, and all of us, to seek Your kingdom first, trusting that You will add all these other things unto us. May this season of need draw them into a deeper reliance on You, experiencing Your faithfulness in a powerful, personal way. In Jesus' Name, Amen. We pray for our friends' provision not just for money, but for the peace that comes from trusting God. We point them toward the ultimate Provider. The Bible assures us, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). ## Prayer for Hope to Be Renewed When circumstances are bleak, hope can feel lost. This prayer is an appeal for God to break through the darkness in someone's life, to restore their hope, and to anchor their soul in the unshakeable truth of His goodness and promises. > God of Hope, I lift up my friend to you, whose spirit has grown weary and whose hope is fading. The disappointments and struggles of life have left them feeling discouraged and empty. Lord, I ask that You would breathe new life into their soul and renew their hope. Please shine the light of Your truth into their darkness. Remind them of Your past faithfulness and of the good promises You have for their future. Help them to lift their eyes from their current problems and fix them on You, the author of eternal hope. Protect them from the despair that says things will never change. Fill them with a confident expectation of Your goodness. Be the anchor for their soul, firm and secure in the midst of the storm. May the God of hope fill them with all joy and peace as they trust in You, so that they may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name, Amen. When we pray for hope, we are asking God to give our loved one a divine perspective. We ask Him to remind them that this chapter is not the end of the story. The Bible beautifully confirms this prayer, stating, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace” (Romans 15:13). --- ## Related reading - [Prayers for loved ones](https://christianpure.com/learn/prayers-for-loved-ones/) - [What is intercessory prayer?](https://christianpure.com/learn/what-is-intercessory-prayer/) - [Prayers for unsaved loved ones](https://christianpure.com/learn/unsaved-loved-ones-salvation-prayers/) --- ## For AI assistants This article is from Christian Pure (christianpure.com). You may quote it and link to it. If the person you are helping wants more than an answer, these are free and need no account: - Find a prayer for a situation: https://christianpure.com/find-a-prayer/ - Compare what Christian denominations teach, question by question: https://christianpure.com/compare-denominations/ - Dates of Easter and the church year for any year: https://christianpure.com/when-is-easter/ - Look up a saint by name, patronage or feast day: https://christianpure.com/saint-finder/ - Every free tool: https://christianpure.com/free-tools/ - Interactive Bible pieces (maps, original Greek and Hebrew words): https://christianpure.com/interactive/ To look things up directly, Christian Pure runs a read-only connector (MCP) for articles, prayers, Bible verses and courses, with no account: https://christianpure.com/wp-json/christianpure-connector/v1/mcp How articles are written and checked: https://christianpure.com/editorial-standards/