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Every Christian prays for those she loves and cares about. Yet it’s easy to fall into a pattern of praying for the temporal things in the lives of those we cherish. It doesn’t take much thought to ask God to bless people financially or to resolve their health concerns.
We can soon find ourselves praying in a routine sort of way for family and friends looking for places to live, selecting colleges, or seeking jobs.
Then there are our habitual prayers for the daily little things in life—parking places, bargains, our children to nap well, safety for one more day.
God’s faithful servant Paul shows us a more significant way to pray for those we know and love. It’s far from what could be called a prayer for health, wealth, and happiness.
Paul prays for his beloved friends—a prayer for spiritual knowledge and discernment, sincerity and integrity, acceptance of what is godly and holy, and lives filled with righteousness. And by the way, these are not just topics to cover in your prayers for others. These are mature issues to lift up for yourself too.
Here are six things we can pray, dear friend and sister in Christ, for others and ourselves:
When we love people, we can’t help but pray for them because we carry them in our hearts. Start by praying these above six ways to pray and then build upon them from there.
Every prayer you lift up for your friends and for others who are placed on your heart reaches God’s ears and heart. Ask Him to use His power, might, strength, and wisdom to help the people you care about.
RESPOND
God, lead my focus away from temporal items. Give me a vision for those things that are eternal and of spiritual importance. And when I pray for others, help me be sincere and faithful. Amen.
RENEWING RESOURCES 
Prayers to Calm Your Heart: Finding the Path to More Peace and Less Stress by Elizabeth George—This beautifully designed gift book is part practical, part inspirational, and altogether essential to keep worry and runaway fear in check. It's a welcome gift to give at any time on any occasion.
REFLECT
Email or text several friends this week to ask how you can pray for their needs.
Why not write a few words of hope and comfort to a loved one who needs encouragement? Or call someone who needs God’s peace and pray with him or her. And share spiritual insights from God’s Word.
REMEMBER
Ask God to help you and the people in your life develop “spiritual eyes” for seeing and understanding your riches and blessings in Jesus Christ.
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Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
The Old Testament book of Nehemiah recounts, in thrilling detail, a monumental time in Israel’s history led by an unlikely exile. I encourage you to read it for yourself to discern in full the qualities of a great leader — patience, confidence, and trust in God alone.
Time is redeemed when you make the most of your life by fulfilling God’s purposes. As you line up your life and seize every opportunity for useful service, your life takes on an efficient quality.
The Christian life and spiritual growth are not sprints. They are long-distance races that require lifelong perseverance. You grow in spiritual maturity as you run the race moment by moment, day after day, and year after year.