How To Respond When Someone Prays For You

In (A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another. John 13:34-35), Jesus commanded us to love one another and that when we love one another, the world will know that we are His disciples. When we love one another, one way we put it into action is by praying for one another.

Heavenly Father, always remind me of the love that You have for me. May it always motivate me to love my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and always pray for them, and not just offer my own prayer requests. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

 

What Can I Say And How Can I Respond To Someone Who Prayed For Me?

There are many scenarios where someone might pray for you. In a Sunday service, before or afterward, a fellow brother or sister in Christ may approach you and ask if they can pray for you. Perhaps some of your friends in church know that you are going through an emotional struggle or are having problems at work or family. And when they saw you, they told you that they wanted to pray for you. It could also be that you are in a prayer meeting where praying for one another is a critical component. Whether it is a brother or sister in Christ whom you know or not, you wouldn’t say no to them. It is a normal thing to experience in church because we are all called to bear one another’s burdens (Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.Galatians 6:2).

However, what can you say in response to the person who prayed for you? The simple answer to that is by saying “thank you.” Someone you know in the church is concerned about you and, because of that, chose to pray for you. They showed care and compassion towards you. Also, even if it’s a person in the church that you didn’t know, they still took that step of faith to pray for you and bless you.

Of course, you don’t just say a short “thank you,” and that’s it. You can further show gratitude and appreciation to the person who prayed for you by sharing with them how their prayer was able to bless you or minister to you. For example, let’s say that you are going through an emotional struggle, and someone just prayed for you in church, and their prayer did affect what you’re going through. You can share this with them as you show gratitude to them. You can tell them that you are going through something difficult (you can skip the details) and how their prayer helped you. They will not only feel appreciated but also be encouraged to pray for others.

Even if the person who prayed for you is someone you know, like a friend, the same way of thanking applies. You can thank them alone and tell them how their prayers have ministered to you. You can also say that the fact alone that they approached you and prayed for you, knowing that you’re not okay or that a particular circumstance is happening to you, has already blessed you because it means that they care for and love you.

The basics of responding to someone who prayed for you is thanking them and telling them how their prayer or the act of praying for you has blessed and ministered to you. Another thing you can do is respond to them in prayer. While you don’t have to do this, you can, in return, ask them if there is something that you can pray for them. If they answer yes and share with you what you can pray for them, you can offer up the prayer requests that they have (Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:6-7).

Just ensure that when you pray for them, you don’t just pray because you want to return the favor. You pray for them because you love and care for them, are willing to carry their burden, and want to minister to them.

Father in heaven, I thank You for my church community, that I have fellow brothers and sisters in the faith who take time to pray for me and show that they care for me. Help me communicate my gratitude for them and tell them how I was ministered to and blessed by the prayers they said. May it also encourage them to continue praying for other people. Likewise, may I also have the same heart of always praying for others. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

In 1 Timothy 2:1, it is written that prayers and supplications must be made for all people (I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 1 Timothy 2:1.). This gives us a picture that a church community is one that always prays and remembers each other in their prayers. It all boils down to the commandment that Jesus gave us: love one another. If we are indeed born of God and have encountered His love, then we will love others.