“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18).

Have you ever seen someone walking down the street and been prompted to pray for them?

I have. I bet you have too.

Perhaps you discounted the feeling as just a fleeting thought.

But what if that was God telling you to lift that person up in prayer right then and there?

‘But I don’t even know that person. How am I supposed to know what to pray for?’

You’re right. You don’t know them. But there are many things that all of us need.

Pray that God helps them. 
Pray that they follow Jesus. 
Pray that they are given courage. 
Pray that they find some rest. 
Pray that they find hope. 
Pray that they know they are made on purpose and for a purpose.

William Gurnall has a prayer that is poetic, powerful and short: “castle me in the arms of your everlasting strength…”* If you’re struggling with that to say, that would be a good one! “Lord, castle that person in the arms of your everlasting strength.”

Who wouldn’t want to be prayed for like that!

Pay attention to the prompts. God might be nudging you into silent action.

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Notes:

–*Tim Chester, ed., Into His Presence: Praying with the Puritans (The Good Book Company, 2022), 82.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.