When Was the Last Time You Prayed for Your Neighbours?

Instilling a New Habit 

This year, the Father has been teaching me about prayer—about bringing everything to Him. At first, it felt selfish. I barely prayed about my job, or for guidance, or for the daily things I needed. But He’s been forming a new habit in me: to come to Him with all of it.

And then came the second lesson: praying for others.

I’ll be honest—I never made a habit of it. In over twenty years as a believer, I rarely prayed for colleagues, loved ones, or even their salvation. Maybe when I was new to the faith, but it wasn’t something I maintained. And I’m not proud of that.

Now, God is reshaping me. I’ve started praying for people I pass on the street, for the woman on the bus who looks weary, for the homeless man wandering the city. I’ve started praying over world events too. Instead of sinking into despair at the brokenness I see in the news, I ask the Father to make a way. Paul told the church in Philippi: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Even when I see another believer boldly teaching a doctrine I don’t agree with—say, the rapture—my first instinct used to be judgment. Now, instead of thinking harsh thoughts, I pray. Not sarcastic prayers, not “I’m better than them” prayers, but genuine ones: that whether I’m right or they are, God would help them fulfill the assignment He’s given them.

And I think this needs to be said. I can’t speak for every Christian around the world, but I will say this: in the West, we often pray small. We pray for ourselves, but not for others. We rarely lift up our nations, our neighbors, or the injustices around us.
Yet Jesus said: “Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:31).

But here’s the truth: when someone seems unhinged, messy, or even cruel—do we pray for them? Too often, we don’t. Many churches don’t teach intercession as a habit, and I’ve seen firsthand how people who don’t look “put together” are treated. They’re looked down on, dismissed, or avoided—just as the Pharisees looked down on those they deemed sinners.
But what if you were the first person to ever pray for them? What if every believer they’ve met before treated them with contempt, instead of compassion?

Start with a simple prayer. Even if it’s not eloquent, say it anyway. Ask yourself: If I were in their shoes, would I want someone to pray for me? I know I would.

Here is something to think about when you hesitate to pray for your Neighbours. Not everyone grew up knowing the Father. Not everyone had a stable home. Some people are just trying to survive. And maybe your prayer is the first step toward their healing.
Scripture calls us to this kind of love: “Finally, all of you, be like‑minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble” (1 Peter 3:8). And again: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

This is what prayer does—it carries the weight someone else cannot carry alone. It is love in action.

How Prayer Has Changed Me

Since God has been building in me the habit of praying for others, it has completely shifted the way I see people. I’ve become acutely aware that, as believers, this is part of our calling here on earth. We have a direct connection to our Father. Hebrews 4:16 reminds us that we can “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

We have that direct line—so why aren’t we using it to bring change here on earth? We should be praying for everything, whether big or small.

Now, don’t let this blog intimidate you into thinking you must pray for every single thing, every single minute of your life, as if it’s a performance. That’s not the point. If you’ve never practiced praying for others (like me, for many years), start small. That’s how I began.

If you hear your neighbor’s baby crying—probably teething—say a quick prayer for relief and strength for the parents. If you notice a co-worker struggling, whisper a prayer for them to receive guidance and wise counsel. Prayer doesn’t need to be showy or long. It just needs to be real.

A Closing Invitation

If you’re wondering where to start, here are a few simple prompts to inspire your prayers this week:

• Pray for the neighbor whose habits annoy you.
• Pray for the co-worker who seems overwhelmed.
• Pray for the stranger you pass who looks weary or lonely.
• Pray for the leaders in your community and nation.
• Pray for the person you disagree with, that God would bless and guide them.
• Pray for the hurting you see in the news, instead of just scrolling past.

Start small. Start simple. But start.

Because you may be the first person to ever pray for them