Watchtower Study, Let Us Not Forget to Pray for Others, Week of December 29, 2025 to January 4, 2026, Comments and Responses.

Watchtower Study, Let Us Not Forget to Pray for Others, December 29, 2025 - January 4, 2026, Comments and Responses.

“Pray for one another [...]. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful” (JAMES 5:16).

1. How do we know that our prayers are important to Jehovah?

We know that our prayers are important to Jehovah because he has reserved for himself the task of listening to them. Although he has delegated many responsibilities to the angels and to his Son, Jehovah is “the one who hears prayers,” and he desires to hear them personally. This shows that prayer is an extraordinary gift and that Jehovah greatly values ​​our approach to him through it.

2. What good example did the apostle Paul leave us?

The apostle Paul set a fine example for us by praying not only for his own concerns but also for others. Even though he had many personal problems, he made time to mention entire congregations and individual brothers and sisters in his prayers, demonstrating his concern and love for them. This teaches us to be consistent and considerate when praying for others.

3. Why might we sometimes forget to pray for others?

Sometimes we can forget to pray for others because life in this system is so hectic and we can become so focused on our own problems and needs that we end up praying only for ourselves.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

4, 5. In what sense do the prayers we make for others have “a powerful effect”? (James 5:16).

The prayers we offer for others have “a powerful effect” because Jehovah takes them into account and can act in behalf of the person for whom we pray, provided it is in harmony with his will. Although we do not force him to act, he considers our concerns and, in some cases, responds by doing what we ask. This motivates us to turn to Jehovah in prayer when we are troubled and to trust that he will act in the best way.

6. What effect does praying for others have on our feelings? (1 Peter 3:8).

Praying for others has a positive effect on our feelings, helping us cultivate tender compassion. By thinking about the needs and sufferings of others, we become more aware of their struggles, love them more, and feel closer to them. Furthermore, praying for others awakens in us the desire to help them in practical ways, thus strengthening our bonds of love and empathy.

7. Why does praying for others help us see our problems from the right perspective? (Philippians 2:3, 4; see also the pictures.)

Praying for others helps us see our problems from the right perspective because it reminds us that we are not the only ones facing difficulties. By thinking about and praying for the trials our brothers and sisters around the world are going through, we stop focusing only on ourselves and understand that everyone suffers in this system. This helps us maintain a humble and balanced attitude toward our own problems.

ILLUSTRATION

Images of brothers and sisters praying for one another despite their own struggles: 1. A young girl sits on her bed praying; above, circled, is a family in a boat fleeing their home during a flood. 2. The family in the previous image is praying; above, circled, is a brother in prison. 3. The brother in the previous image is praying in his cell; above, circled, is an older sister in the hospital. 4. The older sister in the previous image is praying; above, circled, is the young girl from the first image sitting in class while the other children celebrate a birthday.

Praying for others helps us see our problems from the right perspective. (See paragraph 7.)

WHO NEEDS OUR PRAYERS?

8. Who can we pray for?

We can pray for many groups; for example, for those with health problems, for young people who face bullying and pressure at school, and for older siblings. We can also pray for those who suffer opposition from their families or governments, for those who have had to leave their homes because of political instability, and for those who are suffering from natural disasters. Even if we don't know them personally, praying for them demonstrates our love and obedience to Jesus' command to love one another.

9. Why should we pray for brothers who have responsibilities within Jehovah’s organization and for their wives?

We should pray for the brothers and sisters who have responsibilities within Jehovah’s organization because they carry a heavy workload and, at the same time, face personal concerns. Many become worn out serving others while dealing with difficult situations in their own lives.

Although we may not always know all their concerns, praying for them shows appreciation, love, and support, and acknowledges their efforts. Furthermore, praying for their wives is important because they loyally support them, enabling them to continue serving their brothers and sisters with dedication.

10, 11. Does Jehovah like prayers that include many brothers?

Yes, Jehovah likes prayers that include many brothers and sisters. Since we do not know the specific needs of each of his servants, it is good to make general requests that include large groups, such as those who are imprisoned or those who have lost a loved one. These prayers show that we have love for the entire brotherhood and reflect our sincere concern for all of them.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO WHEN WE PRAY FOR SPECIFIC BROTHERS AND SISTERS?

12. Why does being observant help us to make more specific sentences?

Being observant helps us to pray more specifically because it allows us to identify the concrete needs and struggles of each brother and sister. By noticing what others are going through, we develop greater empathy, and this motivates us to mention them in our prayers in a more detailed and personal way, rather than limiting ourselves to general requests.

13. Can we pray for brothers and sisters we don't know?

Yes, we can pray for brothers and sisters we don't know personally. We can even mention them by name, as in the case of brothers and sisters imprisoned in various countries, whose names we can find on jw.org. Doing so helps us remember them better and include them more personally in our prayers, thus showing our interest in and love for them.

14, 15. What will help us to make more specific sentences?

It will help us to pray more specifically if we put ourselves in our brothers' shoes and think about their daily lives. By reading about their experiences and imagining how they feel and what specific needs they may have, we come up with clear details to pray for.

In addition, making specific requests, mentioning our brothers and sisters by name, and reflecting on their environment allows us to include specific aspects in our prayers and demonstrate abundant love for them.

LET'S BE BALANCED

16. What should we keep in mind when we pray? (Matthew 6:8).

When we pray, we must remember that Jehovah already knows all situations and needs, even before we mention them to him. Therefore, we do not pray to inform him or tell him how to act, but to express our love and concern for others. Praying for others shows that we care about them and that we imitate Jehovah's love, which makes him very happy.

17, 18. Explain with an example why we know that our prayers do not go unnoticed by Jehovah.

We know that our prayers do not go unnoticed by Jehovah because they reflect the love we feel for our brothers, and he greatly values ​​that love.

For example, like the case of the father who, although he is already taking good care of his sick son, feels happy when he sees that his daughter insistently asks him to help, Jehovah is also happy when we pray for others.

Even if we don't always see immediate results, Jehovah takes note of our sincere interest and love, and that shows that our prayers are indeed important to him.

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

In what sense do our prayers have “a powerful effect”?

Our prayers have “a powerful effect” in several ways.

First, Jehovah takes them into account and, in harmony with his will, can act in behalf of others. Although we cannot force Jehovah to act through our prayers, he considers our concerns and sometimes decides to do what we ask.

Second, praying for others changes our own feelings, as it helps us to cultivate “tender compassion,” to be more aware of the struggles of others and to feel closer to them, even motivating us to give practical help.

And third, it helps us see our problems from the right perspective, reminding us that we are not the only ones who suffer and preventing us from focusing only on ourselves.

Why should we pray for groups of brothers and sisters?

We should pray for groups of brothers and sisters because many face similar difficulties, and we don't always know their individual needs. By praying for them—whether for those suffering from health problems, opposition, disasters, or those with responsibilities within the organization—we demonstrate love, support, and obedience to Jesus' command to love one another.

What can we do when we pray for specific brothers and sisters?

When we pray for specific brothers and sisters, we can do several things. First, we can be observant, paying attention to their circumstances and needs to develop empathy. Second, we can mention them by name, even if we don't know them personally, which makes our prayers more personal. And third, we can make specific requests, thinking about their daily situation and the details that might help them. In this way, we demonstrate that our love for them is abundant and that we are genuinely interested in their well-being.