How to pray with friends the first time
The first time is the hardest. After that, it gets easier every week. Here's an easy way to start.
- 1
Ask simply
"Would you want to pray together for a few minutes?" is all you need. Make it easy to say no.
- 2
Share one thing each
Each of you names one thing you'd like prayer for this week. Keep it to a minute or two each, so there's time to actually pray.
- 3
Take turns praying for each other
You pray for what your friend shared, and they pray for what you shared. A sentence or two is plenty.
- 4
Close together
One of you says amen, or you pray the Lord's Prayer together (Matthew 6:9–13). Then go back to your coffee.
If you're not sure what to say, here's a script you can borrow word for word:
I'd love to pray for you. What's one thing on your mind this week?
I'll go first, then you can pray for mine if you're comfortable. If not, that's totally fine.
A first prayer for a friend
God, thank You for my friend. Thank You for the time we get together and the trust between us.
You know what they're carrying this week. Please meet them in it, give them what they need, and let them feel how much You care. Amen.
Praying with friends in person
You can pray over coffee, on a walk, in the car or at the end of an evening together.
You don't need a quiet room or closed eyes. Many friends pray at the kitchen table with their mugs still in hand, or on a walk with their eyes open. Praying where you already are takes away a lot of the pressure.
A good time is near the end, once you've caught up and you know what's going on with each other. Keep it short. Five minutes of honest prayer is better than twenty minutes of trying to sound right.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Praying with friends over text
For a lot of friendships, this is where prayer really happens, in the middle of ordinary days.
You can share requests by text and pray for each other on your own. Or you can actually write your prayer out and send it. A written prayer is something your friend can read again when the day gets hard.
Praying for you this morning. Lord, give Sam a calm heart and clear words in the meeting today. Amen.
How can I pray for you today? Here's mine: a hard conversation with my sister tonight.
Just prayed for your mom. Any update?
God, thank You for my friend. Give her rest this weekend and joy in the small things. Amen.
Praying together on a call or over distance
Friends who've moved away can still pray together. Distance doesn't limit God.
A short phone or video call works well. Catch up for a few minutes, share one thing each, and pray for each other before you hang up. Voice notes are good too, especially across time zones: record a short prayer and send it, and your friend can listen when they wake up.
For a friend far away
Lord, we're far apart, but we're both close to You. Thank You for this friendship and all the years of it. Watch over my friend where they are today. Give them good people nearby and a sense of home. Amen.
Praying for each other vs. praying together
They're different, and both are good.
Praying for each other happens on your own. You share what's going on, then pray during your week. It's easy to keep up with, works over any distance, and fits busy schedules.
Praying together happens at the same time, out loud or in writing. It's more personal, and hearing a friend pray for you by name is something people remember for years. It can also feel more vulnerable, which is why it helps to start small.
Most lasting prayer friendships do both: praying together when you meet, and praying for each other in between.
How to start a weekly prayer partnership
A prayer partner is a friend you pray with and for on a regular rhythm. It's one of the simplest ways to grow in faith.
- 1
Pick one person
Someone you trust, who's easy to be honest with, and who'll keep things private.
- 2
Agree on a rhythm
Once a week is a good start. Pick a day, and decide whether you'll meet, call or text.
- 3
Share one or two things each
Keep it focused. Short updates keep the partnership going for months instead of weeks.
- 4
Follow up
Start each week by asking how last week's request went. It shows you prayed, and it's how you'll see answers. Our guide to asking how you can pray for someone has questions that help.
- 5
Try it for a season
Agree to try it for six or eight weeks, then check in. A clear end point makes it easier to say yes.
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
How to keep praying with friends from getting awkward
A little awkwardness is normal at first. These habits help it fade quickly.
- Keep prayers short. Long prayers make others feel they need to pray long ones too.
- Use normal words. "Help her sleep this week" is a real prayer.
- Don't turn prayers into advice. "Lord, help him realize he should call his dad" is advice wearing a prayer costume.
- Let silence be okay. A few quiet seconds aren't a problem to fix.
- Laugh when it's funny. If someone's words get tangled, God doesn't mind, and neither should you.
- Keep what's shared private. Trust is what makes it possible to keep praying together.
If someone shares something heavy
Slow down. Thank them for trusting you, pray for that one thing, and check in with them in the next day or two.
Different personalities and comfort levels
Friends pray differently, and that's fine. The aim is to pray together, not to pray the same way.
Some people love praying out loud. Others would rather write, pray silently or read a prayer someone else wrote. Some grew up in churches with lots of spontaneous prayer, and some have never prayed aloud with anyone. Let each person choose.
- Offer options: "You can pray out loud, silently or just say amen at the end."
- Let the less confident person go second, so they can hear how simple it can be.
- Try written prayers. Reading a prayer together takes the pressure off finding words.
- Don't compare. A quiet friend's one-sentence prayer counts just as much as a long one.
Praying in a bigger group? Our guide on how to lead group prayer has formats that help everyone join in.
Short prayers to pray with friends
Pray one together, or take turns with a line each.
- Lord, thank You for this friendship. Keep us close to You and to each other. Amen.
- God, You know what we're each carrying this week. Carry it with us. Amen.
- Jesus, help us be honest with each other and kind in what we say. Amen.
- Father, give my friend what they need today, even before they ask. Amen.
- Holy Spirit, teach us to pray, and help us keep showing up for each other. Amen.
For the start of a prayer partnership
Father, thank You for bringing us together as friends. As we start praying for each other, give us honest hearts and faithful habits.
Help us listen well, keep each other's words safe, and celebrate every answer You give. Make this friendship a place where we both grow closer to You. Amen.
When both of you are tired
Lord, we're both worn out this week. We don't have many words tonight, but we have each other and we have You. Give us rest, and help us trust You with everything we can't fix. Amen.
To give thanks together
God, thank You for the prayers You've answered for us, the ones we remember and the ones we've already forgotten. Thank You for being faithful when we weren't. Keep us grateful. Amen.
Coming soon to iPhone
Pray with your friends between visits
PrayerBoard is a private circle for you and a few close friends. Share what's on your heart, pray for each other with a tap or a short note, and see who prayed.
Free, with no ads. We'll only email you about the launch.
Questions people ask
How do you start praying with friends?
Ask one friend if they'd like to pray together, share one thing each, and take turns praying a sentence or two. Keep the first time to about five minutes.
What do you say when praying with a friend?
Talk to God plainly, the way you'd talk to someone you trust. Thank Him for your friend, name what they shared, and ask for what they need. Then say amen.
What is a prayer partner?
A prayer partner is a friend you pray with and for on a regular rhythm, often weekly. You share what's going on, pray for each other, and follow up on how things went.
What if I'm not comfortable praying out loud?
That's very common. You can pray silently while your friend prays, read a written prayer, or pray by text until praying aloud feels more natural.
