In 2019, I did something I had never done before. I created prayer lists.
Not just for myself, but for people, causes, and organizations. I wrote down names and needs, and I committed to praying for them regularly. That practice continued for over three years. Looking back, I can say it was one of the most transformative habits in my spiritual life.
During the heat of COVID, those lists became a lifeline. The Holy Spirit would place burdens on my heart, sometimes for individuals I barely knew, sometimes for entire communities. I remember once listing the names of almost 90 classmates and praying for them one by one. Some of them I had never even spoken to before. Yet in prayer, I carried them to the throne of grace.
Why Praying for Others Matters
Praying for others is not just about them—it transforms us.
- Praying for others builds us. Each prayer stretches our faith and expands our hearts.
- Praying for others helps us pray longer. Before I knew it, I had spent an hour interceding, not because I was forcing myself, but because the list kept me going.
- Praying for others shifts our focus. It teaches us to stop being so insular. We see beyond our personal struggles and join in God’s work in the lives of others.
- Praying for others makes us selfless. Many of the people I prayed for never knew. And that was beautiful, it was between me and God.
The Biblical Call to Intercede
The Bible is full of examples of intercessory prayer:
- Moses stood in the gap for Israel when they sinned (Exodus 32:11–14).
- Job prayed for his friends, and God restored him (Job 42:10).
- Paul constantly mentioned believers in his prayers, even those he had never met (Romans 1:9; Ephesians 1:16).
- And of course, Jesus Himself intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father (Romans 8:34).
Praying for others aligns us with God’s heart, it is part of Christ’s own ministry.
How to Start Praying for Others
If you’ve never built this practice, here are some simple ways to begin:
- Create a List
Start with names close to your heart: family, friends, church members. Over time, you can include colleagues, classmates, or even organizations and nations.
- Start Where You Are
Don’t overwhelm yourself. If you have 10 minutes, pray for 3 people. If you have more time, expand the list.
- Ask for Grace
Prayer lists are not about performance. Ask God for the grace to pray faithfully for however long He leads you
- Let the Spirit Guide
Sometimes a name will stand out. Sometimes a need will stir your heart. Pay attention, the Spirit often nudges us in specific directions.
A Season to Remember
Though it’s been a few years since I used formal prayer lists, I still remember that season with gratitude. It strengthened my prayer life, softened my heart, and taught me to carry others in love before God.
Will I return to it? If the Lord wills, yes. But I know this: the grace He gave me then still shapes my prayers today.
Closing Encouragement
When you pray for others, you’re not just lifting their needs, you’re becoming more like Christ, the ultimate Intercessor.
Start small. Stay faithful. And watch how God uses your prayers to change both hearts and lives, including your own.
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