Not sure how to use these prayer guides? Read a short introduction and some tips about starting to pray here. You can also download a PDF version of this guide here.

Today I want to pray for my friends. I’m going to start by calling them to mind, one by one. Let me tell you about each of them…

I know some of their needs, whether because they’ve told me or because I noticed on my own. I want to pray for the things they’d ask you for if they were here.

Am I good at knowing what my friends need? I want to learn to see them like you do, Lord, which means listening, welcoming, encouraging, challenging, serving… How can I be a better friend to them?

Here’s a tough question: are my relationships with my friends genuine friendships? Do we lift each other up and make each other better? If not, why not?

I learn what real friendship is by looking at you, Jesus. You took such good care of your friends during your life on earth, and you’re taking care of me now. What else can I learn from you? Do I understand the Gospels, the story of your life, when I read them? Is my relationship with you genuine friendship?

I’m going to finish by thanking you for a specific good quality or memory of each of my friends. You already know these things — like you know everything I’m telling you — but this is a way for me to learn to look at them with the same loving eyes as you, and to repeat my prayers for their intentions.