Paul had never even met most of the Colossians in person, yet he wrote that he hadn’t stopped praying for them, asking specifically for wisdom, understanding, strength, and a life that actually reflected who they were becoming. It’s a remarkably full prayer for people he mostly knew secondhand.
These thirty verses are for someone you love directly, prayed with that same range, not narrowed to just one need. For their physical safety specifically, a prayer for the safety of a loved one goes deeper into that particular request.
Pray these by their name, across their whole life, not just the one thing currently worrying you about them.
Prayer for a Loved One
1. Colossians 1:9-10 (KJV)
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
Prayer: Fill them with knowledge of Your will, so they may live a life worthy of You, bearing fruit.
Let their whole life reflect a clarity I can’t give them myself.
2. Colossians 1:11-12 (KJV)
“Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”
Prayer: Strengthen them with all power for great endurance and patience, and joyful thanksgiving.
Let joy accompany their endurance, not just grim persistence.
3. Philippians 1:3-6 (KJV)
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
Prayer: I thank You every time I remember them, confident You who began a good work will carry it on.
Let this confidence hold, even through their harder seasons.
4. Philippians 1:9-11 (KJV)
“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”
Prayer: Let their love abound more and more in knowledge and insight, so they can discern what’s best.
Let discernment guide their decisions, not just good intentions.
5. Ephesians 1:17-19 (KJV)
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,”
Prayer: Give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so they may know You better.
Let their heart’s eyes be enlightened, not just their mind.
6. Ephesians 3:16-19 (KJV)
“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
Prayer: Strengthen them with power through Your Spirit, and let Christ dwell in their heart, rooted in love.
Let this rootedness hold them steady through anything.
7. 3 John 1:2 (KJV)
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
Prayer: I pray that they may prosper and be in good health, just as their soul is getting along well.
Let health and spiritual life grow together for them.
8. Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Prayer: Bless them and keep them, make Your face shine on them, and give them peace.
Let this old blessing cover every part of their life.
9. Psalms 121:7-8 (KJV)
“The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”
Prayer: Keep them from all harm, watch over their life, their coming and going.
Let watching cover them wherever they go today.
10. Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Prayer: You know the plans You have for them, plans to prosper them and give them hope.
Let this promise be true for them, even on their hardest days.
11. Psalms 91:1-2 (KJV)
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”
Prayer: Let them dwell in Your shelter, their refuge and fortress, the God they trust.
Let this shelter feel real to them, not just to me praying it.
12. Romans 15:13 (KJV)
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Prayer: Fill them with joy and peace as they trust You, so they overflow with hope.
Let hope be the overflow, not the exception, in their life.
13. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (KJV)
“Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.”
Prayer: You, the Lord of peace, give them peace at all times and in every way.
Let this peace reach every part of their life, not just the calm parts.
14. Psalms 20:4 (KJV)
“Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.”
Prayer: Grant them the desire of their heart, and make their plans succeed.
Let their desires and Your plan for them line up.
15. Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Prayer: Don’t let them be dismayed, You are their God, You will strengthen and help them.
Let help reach them before they feel completely overwhelmed.
16. Psalms 37:4-5 (KJV)
“Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
Prayer: Let them delight themselves in You, and commit their way to You, trusting You to act.
Let trust replace their own striving, wherever they’re striving too hard.
17. Philippians 4:19 (KJV)
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Prayer: You will supply all their needs, according to Your riches in glory.
Let provision reach exactly what they actually need.
18. Psalms 138:8 (KJV)
“The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”
Prayer: You will fulfill Your purpose for them. Don’t abandon the work of Your hands in their life.
Let purpose carry them through whatever season they’re in.
19. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV)
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Prayer: Sanctify them fully, keep their whole spirit, soul, and body blameless.
Let wholeness reach every part of them, not just what’s visible.
20. Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Prayer: Let them trust in You with all their heart, and let You make their path straight.
Let their decisions be guided, not just guessed at.
21. Psalms 32:8 (KJV)
“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
Prayer: Instruct them and teach them the way they should go, counsel them and watch over them.
Let Your counsel reach them clearly, wherever they need direction.
22. James 1:5 (KJV)
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Prayer: Let them lack no wisdom, giving it to them generously when they ask.
Let wisdom be available to them right when they need it most.
23. Psalms 27:1 (KJV)
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Prayer: You are their light and salvation, whom shall they fear.
Let fear lose its grip on them today.
24. Psalms 46:1 (KJV)
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Prayer: Be their refuge and strength, a very present help wherever they are.
Let help feel present to them, not distant.
25. Romans 8:38-39 (KJV)
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Prayer: Let nothing separate them from Your love, wherever they are today.
Let this certainty hold steady for them.
26. Psalms 139:23-24 (KJV)
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Prayer: Search their heart and know their anxious thoughts, and lead them in Your way.
Let You meet them right inside whatever they’re anxious about.
27. 2 Corinthians 13:14 (KJV)
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”
Prayer: Let the grace of Christ, love of God, and fellowship of the Spirit be with them.
Let all three of these be tangible in their life.
28. Psalms 84:11 (KJV)
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
Prayer: You withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly.
Let them trust that promise, even while they’re still waiting.
29. 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Prayer: Let them cast their anxiety on You, trusting You genuinely care.
Let casting it be real relief for them, not just words.
30. Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Prayer: Let them bring their concerns to You, and let peace guard their heart and mind.
Let peace reach exactly whatever they’re carrying right now.
Conclusion
Paul’s prayer for the Colossians wasn’t narrow. He prayed for their whole life, wisdom, endurance, joy, purpose, all in one breath. That’s a good pattern to follow praying for someone you love too, rather than narrowing it down to just their most obvious need right now.
Pray this over them by name today, and let them know afterward that you did.
For a shorter version to send them directly, a short prayer for someone special is worth sharing alongside this one.