How can we pray for our neighbors?
Maybe you know your neighbors and have an actual friendship with them. Or maybe, like many of us today, you know them only by a wave in passing.
Either way, praying for your neighbors is a powerful way to impact their lives without them even knowing it!
And, more importantly, praying for your neighbors is an act of obedience to God!
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How to Pray for Your Neighbors
So how do we pray for our neighbors?
Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:36-37 (ESV)
If you know them personally, you may know of specific areas of their life that absolutely need prayer.
Maybe someone in their family is struggling with illness. Or maybe they are in need of a new job.
These are all great ways to pray for them.
If you don’t know them personally, you can still pray and ask God to protect them and bless them in different ways.
We can also pray for them in the following ways.
Pray for Your Neighbor to Come to Know the Lord
The most important need any of us have is the need for redemption.
If we gain success, health, wealth, relationships, and fame this side of heaven, but we don’t take care of our need for salvation, what does it benefit us?
Everything on earth is temporal; everything spiritual is eternal.
Father in Heaven, to You belong all glory, honor, and praise. You sent Your Son, Jesus, to save the whole world. And we know that all will not accept the work He did on the cross on our behalf.
But for the people that live near me and around me, I pray that Your Holy Spirit will be able to work in their lives and make a place to abide in them.
Soften their hearts to hear the truth of Your divine love and if possible, let me be the instrument You use in redeeming them back to Yourself. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pray for Your Neighbor to Be Healthy or Healed
Many of us suffer from illnesses. Some we bring on ourselves by living a wild and wooly lifestyle. But sometimes, it’s just what happens to us. Our neighbors have problems just like we do.
A child gets sick, a parent needs to be taken care of, a spouse dies suddenly, or sudden illness in the family. Let’s pray for health on their behalf.
Lord God, You are the great Physician. You watch over us as a loving Father watches over His children. We ask on behalf of our neighbors that You protect them from a sudden illness.
Have mercy on them and bless them with a healthy and long life. Let them find wisdom in Your Word, and give them a desire to turn away from evil. May they live their days giving You glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pray for Your Neighbor to be Protected from Harm
We all have some degree of fear of being attacked, our home being broken into, a house fire, or other disasters coming upon us. That’s why we lock our doors and buy insurance policies.
We all want to be safe, especially in our own homes. It will benefit us all when we pray for protection for our neighborhood.
Father, You offer Your protection to those who belong to You. To us who call You Lord and Savior. On behalf of our neighborhood, we pray for safety and security.
Please block any evil plans that are being devised against us. Tear down all principalities that rise up to harm us. Give us protection from the disasters that threaten our homes and our lives.
In the precious name of Jesus, we ask all things. Amen.
Pray for Your Neighbor to Have Success in Their Businesses
God loves all people. He blesses those who call Him Lord and those who hate Him. He gives rain to the farmer who praises Him and to the farmer who denies him.
The same spectacular sunset painted across the sky is enjoyed by the saved and unsaved alike.
All of our neighbors will not be Christians, yet we still have a desire to see them thriving. Here in America, a successful businessman means others will benefit from their business.
You may live in a neighborhood with many businesses in the area. But there may be people working out of the corner of their living room or running a commerce business in their basement. Pray for their success.
Gracious Father, how glorious is Your kindness to each of us. Creation exclaims Your beautiful handiwork.
You are the inventor of hard work and reaping the benefits; we see it every day in the world you created for us to enjoy.
As I pray for my neighbors, let me remember to lift up those neighbors working hard to run a business and ask that you make them successful. Let them be fair and honest in all they do.
Also, make those who work to get a paycheck each week successful. Give them the ability to support their families and meet their financial responsibilities. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pray for Your Neighbor to Find Rest in Their Daily Lives
As important as it is to work, it is also important to rest. God did. When He created the world in seven days, He used one of those days as a rest day.
A lot of people are running on their last nerve. They’re edgy, defensive, quickly offended, angry, and downright rude!
When I’m the most tired, I know I usually display these intolerant behaviors.
So let’s pray for our neighbors to find rest in their daily lives–at least find time to take a nap!
Father, You always set an example for us in every area of our lives, and work is no different.
You taught us to work hard and rest easy, but a lot of times, we refuse to listen to Your clear directions and then suffer the consequences. May the people in my neighborhood find truth in Your commandment to keep a day of the week set apart to rest.
Help them find peace of mind, physical rest, and spiritual renewal. In Jesus’ name, we ask all things. Amen.
Pray for Your Neighbor to Be Kind and Compassionate
The Golden Rule found in Luke 6:31 says, “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” I often repeated this verse to my children, who are my most near and dear neighbors of all.
We need to remember that the world is full of hurting people. If we can show kindness to one person, they may show kindness to someone else.
Compassion, like a smile, is often contagious, so spread a little kindness and see how far it goes.
And compassion is the ultimate way to show the unconditional love of God!
Heavenly Father, You are kind to the unloving, a balm to the hurting, and a friend to those who claim You as Lord and Savior. Help me be a reflection of that kindness to those in my neighborhood.
Let Your love flow through me as I love my neighbors. And may Your kindness, compassion, and love affect those who live around me. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Our neighbors are people who God put into our lives. Good or bad, friendly or unfriendly, God has allowed us to be close to them and be involved in their lives.
Some of our neighbors may benefit from knowing us as friends, but I’m betting that many people live close by that you barely know; some you may not want to know or may never have an opportunity to meet.
But when Jesus gave the Great Commission to His disciples to go out into the world to spread the good news of His saving power, the first people He told them to tell were their next-door neighbors and then the rest of the world.
So, always remember to pray for our neighbors. Imagine what a difference this could make in our world!
Cindra from Heavenly Placed became a Christian as a young mother and has seen evidence of God’s loving hand in her life for over 40 years. She has three core beliefs; there is power in prayer, God works all things for our good and His glory, and if you get to know Jesus, you’ll want to know Him more.
