Rick Warren's Daily DevotionalSample

Praying for Others

Jesus reflected the heart of God when he prayed his purposes for the disciples. You, too, should pray that the people in your life will focus on the five purposes of God.

We can pray that those we care about will LIVE FOR CHRIST joyfully: "I pray these things while I'm still in the world so that they will have the same joy that I have." (John 17:13 GW)

We can pray they will GROW STRONG spiritually: "I'm not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one." (John 17:15 NLT)

We can pray that others will SERVE CHRIST effectively: "Make them ready for Your service through your truth; Your teaching is truth." (John 17:17 NCV)

We can pray they will EXPERIENCE FELLOWSHIP personally: "My prayer is that they will be of one heart and mind, just as You and I are one, Father and the world will believe You sent Me." (John 17:21 LB)

We can pray they will BRING OTHERS TO CHRIST regularly: "I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in Me because of their message." (John 17:20 TEV)

When you do this, you will help the people in your life move toward the heart of God and into the purposes God planned for their lives.