Prayer lists
Small group prayer request ideas, and how to pray for them all week
· Updated · 3 min read
Small group prayer request ideas, how to share requests in your group without running out of time, and how to keep praying for them all week.
Small group prayer request ideas help a group pray for each other in a way that’s honest and doesn’t take over the whole evening. Below are request ideas, a simple way to share them, and how to keep praying for each other all week.
What are good small group prayer requests?
Good small group prayer requests are short and specific: a health need, a decision at work or school, a family member who doesn’t know Jesus, a struggle with sin, or thanks for something God has done. One clear need per person, shared in a minute or two, leaves time to actually pray for each other before the group ends.
Small group prayer request ideas
Small group prayer requests can come from any part of life. A few to start with:
- A health need, for yourself or someone close to you
- A decision you’re facing at work or school
- A family member who doesn’t know Jesus
- Growth in prayer, Bible reading, or a struggle with sin
- Neighbors or coworkers you want to share your faith with
- Thanks for something God has done this week
How to share prayer requests in a small group
Sharing prayer requests in a small group goes best with a simple rhythm everyone knows:
- Give each person a minute. One or two requests each keeps the time fair.
- Write them down. One person can take notes and send the list afterward.
- Pray right away. Leave the last 15 minutes to pray for what was shared.
- Keep confidences. What’s shared in the group stays in the group.
For a full plan, with prayers to open and close, see how to lead a prayer group.
The early church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42, ESV). Praying together is part of being a church.
How do you pray for the requests together?
Praying for requests together works best when everyone knows who will pray for what. Two simple ways:
- Pray for the person on your left. Each person prays a sentence or two for the requests of the person next to them.
- Short prayers, many voices. Anyone prays a short prayer for one request, and others follow, until each request has been prayed for.
A group prayer time doesn’t need long prayers. A sentence for each person, with their name and their need, is enough.
Pray for the group, not only the requests
A small group can pray Scripture over the whole group, not only over individual needs. Colossians 1:9-12 asks that believers would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, and be strengthened for endurance and patience with joy.
Keep praying all week
A request shared on Tuesday night is easy to forget by Thursday. Keep the group’s requests in one place, pray for a few each day, and send a short text to someone you prayed for. See how to keep track of prayer requests.
For keeping the requests people share with you, see prayer request app.
Keep your group’s requests in The Pray App
A small group can keep its requests together in The Pray App. The leader goes to Manage, taps Start a group under Groups, and names it. Then paste the list from your group text, one request per line, and tap Split into requests. Each line becomes its own request with the name of the person who asked, in their own words. Tap Post, then send the invite code to the group.
Paste the list from your group text. Each line becomes a request.
Members join with Join with a code and can tap Ask for prayer to add their own requests through the week. Each time someone prays, up to 3 of the group’s requests come up with their own prayers, taking turns so each request gets its day. The board shows how many people prayed for each one, which tells the person who asked that their group is praying.
The group’s board: every open request, who asked, and how many prayed.
When God answers a request, the person who asked marks it answered. The group sees it was answered, and it leaves everyone’s prayer time. See pray with your small group, or read more about the group prayer app.
The Pray App is free on the App Store. See how to tag people and text them.
Questions people ask
How do you share prayer requests in a small group?
Give each person a minute to share one or two requests, write them down, and leave time to pray for them together before you end.
What are good small group prayer requests?
Requests about health, work, family, and faith, and requests for the church and the world. Encourage people to share one specific need rather than a long story.
How do I remember my small group's prayer requests during the week?
Write them down during the meeting, keep them in one place, and pray through a few each day. In The Pray App, a group holds everyone's requests, and a few come up each time you pray.
Can my small group share prayer requests in an app?
Yes. In The Pray App, the leader starts a group, pastes the list from the group text and sends an invite code. Members post requests in their own words, and only the group sees them.
Related guides
- How to keep track of prayer requests without forgettingHow to keep track of prayer requests from friends, church, and family, so you remember to pray, follow up, and see how God answers over time.
- Prayer cards, how to use them to pray for peopleHow to use prayer cards to pray for people, what to write on each card, how often to pray through them, and what to do when a prayer is answered.
- Prayer list examples for family, friends, church, and morePrayer list examples you can copy for family, friends, church, work, health, and the world, plus a weekly list and how to pray through it.
- Prayer list for church, what to pray for your congregationA prayer list for church you can use on your own or in a prayer meeting, covering pastors, members, missions, and the city, with Scripture for each.