Love makes us vulnerable—and prayer makes us brave.
That’s something I’ve come to believe after 20+ years of scribbling prayers into worn-out journals and whispering them into the night air. Whether it’s your spouse, your kid, your best friend, or even someone who’s drifted away, loving someone deeply means you want good for them. And when you feel powerless to fix what’s hurting them? That’s where prayer becomes your lifeline.
Just last month, I sat on the back porch with a blanket around my shoulders and a mug of lemon ginger tea (still not sold on it, by the way), praying for my sister. She’s walking through a rough season—divorce, job stress, the whole messy bundle. And all I could think was: God, I don’t know what to do, but please… just hold her. That wasn’t a polished prayer. No big words. Just heartache and hope, wrapped together. And that’s enough.
So if you’re sitting here wondering how to pray for someone you love, let’s talk. Pull up a chair. This isn’t a lecture—it’s a heart-to-heart.
How Do I Pray for the Person I Love?
First things first—there’s no perfect formula. Prayer isn’t a performance; it’s a conversation. You’re not trying to impress God with your vocabulary. You’re simply bringing your love and concern into His hands.
When I pray for someone I love, I start with this:
- God, I thank You for them.
- You know what they’re going through even better than I do.
- Help me love them well, and give them what they need—peace, healing, direction, whatever it is today.
Sometimes I get specific. Like, “Lord, please help Jason’s anxiety not spiral after that big work meeting” or “Let Ella sleep through the night and wake up feeling safe.” Other times, I just sit in the quiet and say their name out loud. That’s it. “God, I lift up Sarah.” And somehow, in that sacred pause, I trust that He hears everything I don’t have words for.
How Do You Pray for Someone Special?
Ah, the “special” people in our lives. Could be a romantic partner, a lifelong friend, maybe even someone you’re secretly (or not-so-secretly) falling for. These are the folks who make our hearts beat differently.
Let’s be real—loving deeply often comes with worry. You think about their safety on the road, their health, their moods, their decisions. Sometimes you wish you could wrap them in bubble wrap and keep all the bad stuff away.
But prayer is our way of saying: God, I trust You to care for them better than I ever could.
Here are a few ways I pray for someone special:
- Pray for protection. Whether it’s physical, emotional, or spiritual, asking for a covering over them is powerful.
- Pray for joy. Not just happiness—but that deep-down, “I’m okay even when life’s messy” kind of joy.
- Pray for purpose. That they’d walk in confidence, knowing who they are and why they’re here.
And hey, don’t forget to pray for your own heart too. Sometimes when we’re praying for someone we love, especially if there’s tension or distance, our own stuff surfaces. That’s okay. Prayer has a way of softening us.
What Is a Powerful Prayer to Pray for Someone?
If you’re like me, sometimes your mind goes blank mid-prayer. You love this person so much, and suddenly words just feel… small. When that happens, here’s a go-to prayer I often use:
“God, You see them. You know what they’re carrying. Please give them strength where they’re weak, peace where they’re anxious, hope where they’re discouraged, and love where they feel alone. Be near. Be real. Be enough. Amen.”
Short, simple, and straight from the heart.
And if you’re feeling creative—or desperate—you can write them a prayer letter. I’ve done this with my kids: handwritten notes that say things like, “I prayed today that you’d know how deeply you’re loved. Not just by me, but by God. You’re never alone.” My youngest taped it to her mirror. She’s 14 now and still hasn’t taken it down.
Why This Matters Now More Than Ever
Look around, friend. It’s a strange season. The headlines are full of unrest—global tensions, AI ethics debates, another spike in mental health struggles among teens and adults alike. Even the people who “look okay” are carrying invisible loads.
Which means our prayers are not just helpful—they’re vital.
Your loved ones need more than advice, texts, or well-meaning emojis. They need someone who’s willing to go to battle for them in prayer. And if that someone is you? What a gift.
My Real-Life Reminder
A few years ago, my husband hit a patch of deep depression. It came out of nowhere and shook our home. I didn’t know what to say most days. So I prayed. I prayed while folding laundry, while brushing my teeth, while driving past his office.
And slowly, God worked. Not in fireworks or fairy dust—but in small, steady ways. Better sleep. A smile I hadn’t seen in weeks. Conversations that didn’t feel like walking on eggshells.
To this day, he doesn’t know half the prayers I whispered for him. But I know. And God knows. And that’s enough.
Final Thoughts: Let’s Be Prayer People
You don’t need to be a theologian or a “prayer warrior” to make a difference. You just need to care. To love deeply. To pray honestly. To show up in the quiet moments and say, “God, here’s someone I love. Please take care of them.”
So here’s your challenge this week:
Pick one person you love. Just one. And commit to praying for them every day for the next seven days. Morning, night, whenever it fits. No pressure. No performance. Just love in action.
And if you’ve got a favorite prayer, or a story of how praying for someone changed you, share it in the comments. Let’s learn from each other. Let’s pray like we mean it.