Praying for friends is something I never really thought about until my buddy Mike went through his divorce. I wanted to help somehow, but what do you say to someone whose whole life just got turned upside down? “Hang in there” felt pretty useless.
My mom suggested I start praying for him, which seemed like the least I could do. But honestly, I didn’t know where to start. Do you just ask God to make everything better? Pray for him to find happiness? It felt awkward at first.
Now I keep a list of friends I’m praying for regularly. Some are going through tough times, others are celebrating good stuff, and some just need daily encouragement. Having specific verses to pray makes it feel less random and more intentional.
Whether your friends are facing major challenges or you just want to support them better, these 30 verses give you real words to pray instead of just hoping for the best.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.
Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me.
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.”
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.
Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power.
Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.
May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend you.
As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my constant source of prayer for you at all times.
You also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.
If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death.
A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Famous and Strong Quotes about pray for friends
You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.
I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
I believe that God is in me as the sun is in the day. I live with the faith that every day I can pray for my friends.
Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.
Uplifting Our Friends in Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We come before You today with grateful hearts, lifting up our friends in prayer. Thank You for the gift of friendship and for the bonds we share. We ask that You surround our friends with Your love and protection, guiding them in their daily lives.
Lord, please grant them strength during challenging times and fill their hearts with peace. May they feel Your presence in all they do and know that they are never alone. Help us to be a source of encouragement and support for one another, reflecting Your love through our actions.
We pray for their dreams and aspirations, that You may bless their endeavors and help them achieve the hopes they hold dear. May their lives be filled with joy, purpose, and the knowledge of Your unwavering grace.
In Jesus’ name, we pray,
Amen.