Jesus asks us to pray for others in His name to help fellow believers in their healing journey. But why should we pray for them when God already knows what’s best for His people? Are there benefits to praying for others? How do you ask God to give you a generous spirit? Everything you need to know about the rewards of giving is in this post. 

Why Do We Pray for Others?

We pray for others because it is a common religious practice that goes beyond Christianity and its sects. We are taught that praying for others helps us achieve more in life, ministry, and God. 

Aside from being a “common practice,” praying for others is also required in our desire to be like Jesus. Anything Jesus does, He does out of love. And anything Jesus does, we should follow. 

“I pray for the disciples. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours…” – John 17:9

In the same way, we practice collective prayer because it is a more powerful way of glorifying God and seeking His intercession.

“All the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God…  After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.” – Acts 4:31

The Rewards of Praying for Others

Let’s take a look at the most rewarding reasons to pray for other people. 

Praying for Others Allows You to Exercise Your Gift

Prayer is a gift from God that we can also give each other. It isn’t true that there is nothing we can give people in times of difficulty. Thinking about these people and communicating their concerns to God is free and does not require much effort. 

Our ability to pray is the reason God performs miracles. Let us not waste this extraordinary power. Instead, start thinking that there is so much to pray about. Jesus Himself taught the people how to pray.

“When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom comes. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” – Luke 11:2

Remember your neighbors, family, friends, and acquaintances who may be going through something. You don’t even have to know the specific details of your prayer. All you have to do is talk to God about them.

Praying for Others Helps People

Ditch the idea that prayer is an indirect way to help people. We should intercede in praying for other people because it does work. God quickly achieves His plans for everyone when we ask for His grace. 

It also draws us closer to the person we are praying for. Humans are naturally driven to pray for themselves. Our first thought is for God to remove our troubles and enhance our lives. So when you pray for your friend, teacher, or child first, you learn to love them better. 

Make sure you are praying in Jesus’ name. Trust in His plans and desires. If you are praying in others’ names, you are only praying according to what you or other people want. 

We Participate in God’s Work and Glorify Him

Although God is all-knowing and all-powerful, we can help Him achieve His works whenever we pray for others. You participate in God’s work by helping His people find strength in prayer and be closer to Him. 

It glorifies God because we acknowledge how powerful, caring, and loving He is. Praying for others gives us more reasons to praise God because He never fails to do what is best for us. 

How to Pray for a Generous Spirit

God’s grace makes us generous. The more we ask Him to make us generous, the more we become capable of praying for others and helping. Pray that He enables you to give without counting the cost and labor without seeking reward.

Pray that the Spirit guides you in blessing your family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. Ask for a heart that profoundly understands other people’s hearts instead of restricting them.