How to Reply to a Prayer Request

When someone is asking for a prayer request, you should appreciate how much courage, humility, and boldness it took for that person to come and ask for help in the form of prayer. It is important to let them feel that they are not alone in whatever they are going through and always direct them to God’s hope, peace, and powerful ways. If someone messaged you privately for a prayer request, simply let the person feel that you are with them, supporting and backing them up in prayer.

More importantly, we don’t deal with people’s prayer requests through our efforts and knowledge. As Christians, we must always rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance. He helps us in these situations and gives us heavenly wisdom through God’s Word. He may deal differently with each person who comes and approaches you for prayer. It is important to yield and always abide in the Lord’s presence, His Word, and in the Holy Spirit.

Here are some ways that you can reply to a prayer request:

1.First, thank them for trusting you to pray with them, and tell them that they have your back. 

It can be comforting when someone acknowledges that God led them to you, out of all the people they could approach. Such is a privilege, and you can make them feel that your connection wasn’t an accident, but divinely appointed by God. You can reply in this manner:

Hi (name of the person). Thank you so much for opening up to me and trusting me with this matter in your life. It must have been hard on you to come and approach me, but know that this is not an accident. God divinely connected us. I receive your requests and am with you in this matter. I will pray with you. Just let me know if there’s anything else I can help you with. I am here anytime you want to share your heart. Sincerely, (your name)

2. As the Holy Spirit leads you, you can declare a Scripture to provide encouragement, hope, and faith to the person asking for a prayer request.

For instance, the person asking for a prayer request may be losing hope to conceive a child and thinks that time is running out. You can reply to her in this manner:

Hi (name of the person). Thank you so much for bringing this up with me and trusting me with this matter in your life. Trust that God knows the desire of your heart to conceive a child. He hears your prayers. The Lord said in Isaiah 60:22 that when the time is right, He will make things happen. You can always trust in His perfect timing. Waiting can be painful, but as you surrender this desire to the Lord and trust in all His ways, He will give you a child in His perfect time. Know that I am praying with you in this matter. Let’s not give up hope and continue trusting in the Lord, for He is faithful.

3. Suppose you are running a website and part of an intercessory group in the ministry. In that case, you can tell the person that you and your team of intercessors are committing to praying with them about their prayer request, especially when it comes to salvation, deliverance, healing, and restoration of relationships and marriages. 

It feels empowering to know when many people are praying with you and bombarding heaven with prayers. God does not intend for us to live like lone islands, especially as a body of Christ. When brothers and sisters unite and help each other through prayers, our spirit is ignited by the love of God, which is a powerful thing. You can reply in this manner:  

Hi (name of the person). Thank you so much for bringing this up with me and trusting me with this matter in your life. I have a group of intercessors who are committed to praying in alignment with you for the (salvation, healing, restoration, deliverance) of your family. Know that God’s will is for your family to be saved/healed/restored/delivered, and that He will make it happen. Let us persistently and diligently pray for them, and never give up, in Christ Jesus’ name. 

4. Follow up. Always include in your reply that if God has answered the prayer, they can inform you so that you can give praise and glory to God. Testimony is a way of giving back the glory to God. You can say it in this manner:

Please let us know if God has started moving or has already answered your prayer so that we can celebrate His goodness and give back all the praises due to Him. Testifying is your way of giving back the glory to God. We are looking forward to hearing from you again, and celebrating the good news of the Lord. Sincerely (your name, or your ministry name)

These are some of the simplest ways you can reply to a prayer request. Whether it was sent to you personally, as a friend, or from someone you don’t know on a website, simply allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in every reply. This is what makes us Christians different from the ways of the world. We no longer do things according to our own strength and knowledge, but according to the Spirit’s leading, for we are God’s children, and we rely on Him at all times.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

May the Lord bless you and your ministry of intercessions. Know that God’s hand of favor and anointing is always upon you as you selflessly pray in alignment with others for His will to come into their lives. May God be glorified through you and your ministry, in Jesus’ name.