How to Pray in Public for Someone Else

Incorporating prayer into a one-on-one or group sessions can be tricky if you don’t want to memorize traditional prayers or read from a text (and especially if you don’t like to pray out loud, but need to for the type of work you do!). Here is an outline you can follow to help create spontaneous, but impactful prayers:

1. Ask if your client or the group has a specific prayer or request for help.

2. Start with a quick silent prayer and say something like, “____(enter deity or helper of choice), help me be present and capture the essence of what needs to be said.” I like to add, “Help me get out of my own way and let Spirit move through me.”

3. Consider starting with

a.“Dear____ (enter deity or helper of choice)”

or

b.“Great Spirit, you who go by so many names yet are above and beyond all names” (my personal favorite)

4. Comment on who is in the room:

a. “We are gathered here today to witness how Spirit moves through the life of ____ (client name)…”

or

b. “Today we come together as family and friends to share…”.

5. Move on to what you are praying for:

a. Help ____ (client’s name or Us) to have ____, ____ and ____ (example: clarity, purpose, and self-acceptance.)

or

b.Please direct _____ (client’s name) toward healing as he struggles with _____.

6.End with a statement of gratitude:

a. Thank you for helping _____ (client name or use the word “Us”).

or

b. We are grateful for your blessings.

7. Close with a final statement of Amen or Blessed Be