Prayer is the humble, contrite, God-centered response of a redeemed servant to God’s revealed word. It is offering praise and thanksgiving for who He is and what He has done, trusting that He fully knows His people. We are to direct our prayers towards specific things. The Bible instructs us for whom we are to pray, for what we are to pray.
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men.” (1Tim 2:1 NAS)
Prayers are to be made on behalf of all people, the government, ministers, ourselves, our neighbor, and our enemies.
Scripture teaches who we are to pray for.
Scripture shows that prayer for fellow believers rightly includes concern for their overall well-being, encompassing both spiritual health and the ordinary conditions of life as they walk faithfully before God.
“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2 NAS)
Prayer is also directed toward God Himself as the source of strength and protection, asking that He would preserve, shepherd, and sustain His people as His own covenant inheritance.
“The LORD is their strength, And He is a saving defense to His anointed. Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance; Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.” (Psa 28:8-9 NAS)
This pattern of intercession is ultimately grounded in Christ’s own example, as He prays not only for those immediately given to Him, but for the entire community of believers established through their testimony.
We should pray for rulers and authorities.
Praying for rulers and authorities is grounded in the recognition that God orders society through those who govern, and that the peace and godliness of public life are directly affected by their rule.
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” (1Tim 2:1-3 NAS)
Scripture also shows that even rulers who act unrighteously may still seek the prayers of God’s servants, especially in times of fear, crisis, or impending judgment.
“Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, ‘Please pray to the LORD our God on our behalf.’” (Jer 37:3 NAS)
Although such requests may arise from self-interest rather than repentance, they nonetheless underscore how the fate of a nation is bound up with the actions and spiritual condition of its leaders.
For this reason, prayer for rulers is ultimately directed toward the welfare of the people themselves, since the good or harm that flows from governance affects the entire community.
“And seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.” (Jer 29:7 NAS)
This concern for authority extends beyond civil rulers to those who exercise spiritual oversight within the church, whose conduct and decisions likewise shape the life of God’s people.
“Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.” (Heb 13:18 NAS)
Therefore, when we pray for those in authority, we are asking God to govern them righteously, to restrain evil, and to order their decisions in ways that promote justice, peace, and honorable conduct.
We are to pray for ourselves and our brethren.
Scripture teaches that it is proper to pray for our own spiritual preservation, asking God to guard us from temptation and to deliver us from evil as we walk in obedience before Him.
“Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matt 6:13 NAS)
We are also instructed to pray for the overall well-being of others, including their earthly needs, bodily health, and spiritual prosperity, recognizing that care for the whole person reflects genuine Christian love.
“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.” (Eph 6:18-19 NAS)
Prayer is further directed toward the strengthening of our fellowship with one another, that faith shared in common may grow effective, fruitful, and grounded in the knowledge of Christ.
“I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I hear of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints; and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.” (Phm 1:4-6 NAS)
In this way, Scripture shows that prayer is not confined to personal needs alone, but extends to others and to the shared life of the church, encompassing both individual and communal concerns.
We are to pray for the sick.
Scripture teaches that when believers are afflicted, prayer is not to be isolated or private only, but shared within the body of Christ, where mutual confession and intercession accompany the pursuit of healing and restoration.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (James 5:16 NAS)
In particular, God appoints the elders of the church to bear responsibility for pastoral care in times of sickness, calling them to come alongside the afflicted through prayer offered in faith and dependence upon the Lord.
“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.” (James 5:14-15 NAS)
Taken together, these instructions make clear that prayer for the sick is not optional or incidental, but a defined duty of the church, carried out through mutual intercession and ordained spiritual leadership.
We are to pray for our enemies.
Jesus overturns natural human instinct by extending the duty of prayer beyond friends and neighbors, commanding His followers to respond to hostility not with retaliation, but with love expressed through intercession.
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28 NAS)
This call to pray for enemies does not suspend justice or minimize wrongdoing, but places judgment in God’s hands, directing believers to seek mercy and repentance in a manner that reflects the character of their heavenly Father.
“But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matt 5:44-45 NAS)
In this way, Jesus makes clear that prayer is not limited to those who treat us well, but must also be offered on behalf of those who oppose, harm, or persecute us.
What Are We to Pray for?
Prayer is governed by God’s revealed will, not by human preference or presumed outcomes. It is directed toward specific ends defined by God.
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1Co 10:31 NAS)
We are to pray for the preaching of the gospel.
We are to pray that the gospel would be advanced, asking that God would cause His word to spread.
“Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.” (2Th 3:1-2 NAS)
We should also pray that God’s people would be given boldness, clarity, and faithfulness in declaring the mystery of Christ.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; in order that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.” (Col 4:2-4 NAS)
Therefore, prayer must extend beyond boldness in speech to include a humble dependence upon God for true knowledge, without which the gospel cannot be rightly proclaimed.
We need to ask God for knowledge.
We are to pray that God would give His people knowledge that governs love, discernment, and righteous living.
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Phil 1:9-11 NAS)
This knowledge includes being filled with an understanding of God’s will, shaped by spiritual wisdom rather than human reasoning.
“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” (Col 1:9 NAS)
Such understanding requires divine illumination, by which God enables believers to grasp the hope, inheritance, and power that belong to them in Christ.
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might.” (Eph 1:18-19 NAS)
Knowledge granted by God is necessary for faithful and worthy service, because right service flows from right understanding of God’s will and power.
We must pray for worthiness to serve God.
Scripture teaches that prayer for worthiness begins with moral integrity, asking that God would preserve His people from wrongdoing so that their conduct accords with what is right before Him.
“Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we should appear unapproved.” (2Cor 13:7 NAS)
Beyond avoiding evil, believers are instructed to pray that God would actively shape their lives to be worthy of their calling, bringing about faithful obedience and spiritual fruit that results in the glorification of Christ.
“To this end also we pray for you always that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power; in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Th 1:11-12 NAS)
This pursuit of worthiness also requires vigilance against temptation, recognizing that prayer is a necessary means by which God preserves His people in faithfulness and obedience.
“And said to them, ‘Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.’” (Luke 22:46 NAS)
Because the faithfulness of individual believers directly affects the health of the whole body, prayer must also extend beyond personal worthiness to the welfare and peace of the Church as a whole.
We should pray for the welfare and peace of the Church.
Prayer seeks the strengthening, purity, and peace of God’s people, both locally and universally.
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you.’” (Psa 122:6 NAS)
Prayer rightly seeks peace, stability, and faithfulness, recognizing that the welfare of God’s people depends upon His sustaining grace.
We should pray for our own good and the good of others.
Scripture also clarifies that prayer for the good of the church and for others must be offered with humility, not self-righteous comparison, lest prayer itself becomes corrupted.
“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer. The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-14 NAS)
Therefore, we should pray for the good of others and not in self-righteous condemnation of others.
Prayer is only for what is lawful.
Prayer is limited by God’s moral will.
“And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” (1John 5:14-15 NAS)
Any request that contradicts God’s commandments or character is excluded from faithful prayer. Praying for what is contrary to His Law will not be answered as requested.
Scripture teaches that prayer is a governed response to God’s revealed will, not an unrestricted expression of human desire. God Himself determines both for whom we are to pray and for what we are to pray, directing prayer toward the good of His people, the advance of the gospel, righteous leadership, holiness, healing, repentance, and the peace of the church.
At the same time, prayer is bounded by God’s moral will. Requests that contradict His character or commands that fall outside faithful prayer are not going to be heard by God. Proper prayer, therefore, is humble, obedient, God-centered, and ordered toward His glory, aligning the believer’s heart with God’s purposes rather than attempting to reshape them.