“9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ[b]—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. (Phil 1:9-11)

Have you ever prayed for mere seconds, and felt like you’ve run out of things to pray?  What if instead of “Lord, please bless ______” (insert name of spouse, friend, family member, co-worker, whoever), you could pray this:

“Father I pray that ____’s love will overflow more and more, and that they will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.   Help them to understand what really matters, so that they may live pure and blameless lives until the day of your return.   May they always be filled with the fruit of your salvation–the righteous character produced in their lives by you–for this will bring much glory and praise to you”

I think that whoever your prayed for may be doing better already by the time you finish that prayer.

We can (and should) pray this way for people.   Use the prayers of the bible.  This isn’t the only way to pray, but it’s certainly a way to pray.   Substitute the name of someone you care about (or your own name) into Phil 1:9-11 and pray that prayer.   See what God does.