Praying for Your Lifegroup
Interceding Effectively for and with Your Group and Members
Why This Tool Matters
Prayer is perhaps the most powerful tool you have as a Lifegroup leader. Your consistent intercession for group members leads to spiritual breakthrough, builds authentic community, and opens hearts to God's work. This tool equips you with biblical prayers and practical strategies to cover your group in prayer.
Biblical Foundation
Ephesians 6:18 - "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people."
Paul commands us to pray "for all the Lord's people" - your Lifegroup members are specifically included in this calling.
Colossians 4:12 - "Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured."
Epaphras "wrestled" in prayer for his people. Effective intercession requires intensity and persistence.
1 Thessalonians 3:10 - "Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith."
Paul prayed "night and day" for people's spiritual growth. Your prayers can supply what's lacking in your members' faith.
The New Testament Apostolic Prayers
These powerful prayers from Scripture can be personalized for your Lifegroup members:
Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom (Ephesians 1:17-19)
"Father, I pray that You would give [member's name] a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You. I pray that the eyes of their heart may be enlightened, so that they may know what is the hope of Your calling, what are the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of Your power toward us who believe."
Prayer for Inner Strength (Ephesians 3:14-19)
"Father, I pray that out of Your glorious riches You may strengthen [member's name] with power through Your Spirit in their inner being, so that Christ may dwell in their heart through faith. And I pray that they, being rooted and established in love, may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that they may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Prayer for Spiritual Understanding (Colossians 1:9-14)
"Father, I have not stopped praying for [member's name] and asking You to fill them with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. I pray this in order that they may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please You in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might so that they may have great endurance and patience."
Prayer for Love and Holiness (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13)
"Lord, make [member's name]'s love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for them. May You strengthen their heart so that they will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father."
Prayer for Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7)
"Father, it is Your will that [member's name] should be sanctified: that they should avoid sexual immorality; that they should learn to control their own body in a way that is holy and honorable. You did not call them to be impure, but to live a holy life."
Prayer for Worthy Living (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)
"With this in mind, I constantly pray for [member's name], that You may count them worthy of Your calling, and that by Your power You may fulfill every good purpose of theirs and every act prompted by their faith. I pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in them, and they in Him."
Prayer Strategies for Your Group
Daily Personal Intercession:
Prayer List: Create a prayer list of things to pray for your Lifegroup and its members.
Be consistent: Work to be consistent in intercession
Weekly Group Prayer Focus:
Before Lifegroup: As leaders spend time praying over your group before it starts
End each meeting praying for the week ahead
Monthly Extended Prayer Ideas
Half-night of prayer focused on group needs and outreach
Prayer walking through members' neighborhoods
Fasting and prayer for breakthrough situations
Prayer retreat for the leadership team
Leading Your Group in Prayer
Create a Good Environment For Practice
Start with simple, conversational prayers
Let people know silent prayer is okay
Model vulnerability by sharing your own needs
Keep prayers focused and reasonably brief
Use Practical Tools:
Request cards for people to write specific needs
Answer journal to track God's faithfulness
Prayer list with members' ongoing requests
Small groups of 2-3 for more intimate sharing
Teach Different Prayer Types:
Praise - thanking God for who He is
Petition - bringing our needs to God
Intercession - praying for others
Confession - acknowledging sin and receiving forgiveness
Listening - being quiet to hear from God
Your Next Steps
Choose one apostolic prayer to pray consistently for your group this month.
Create a prayer list with each member's name and specific requests.
Schedule weekly prayer times for your group members in your personal devotions.
Plan a group prayer focus for your next meeting.
Ask God for a specific burden for one member who needs breakthrough.
Application Questions
Which member of your group needs the most prayer right now? Why?
Which apostolic prayer resonates most with your heart for your group?
How can you help your group members become more comfortable with prayer?
What specific answer to prayer can you celebrate with your group?
The Bottom Line
Your prayers for your lifegroup members are not just nice additions to your leadership - they're essential weapons in spiritual warfare. When you consistently intercede using God's own words from Scripture, you partner with Him to see transformation in lives. The time you invest in prayer will multiply through every breakthrough, every answer, and every life that's changed through your group.