Ephesians 6:18–19 (NIV), “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.”

Pray618 is a strategy designed to build a network of prayer and mutual encouragement amongst those actively on mission with Jesus.

The number 618 is derived from Ephesians 6:18, which challenges us to, “…pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Will you accept the Ephesians 6:18 challenge to be alert and“pray…for all the Lord’s people?” 

If so, the number 618 provides a simple framework for accepting the challenge: 

6 Friends, 1 Day, 8 Weeks.

Prayerfully select the names of 6 friends on mission with Jesus—individuals who have a heart to be salt and light, share the Good News, and disciple others.

Pray for each of these friends—1 friend/day for a week—using day 7 of the week for catch-up (if needed).

Continue to pray for these same friends—once a week for 8 weeks—expecting breakthroughs, answered prayer, and mutual encouragement.

There’s no need to sign up, just begin! But, if you want to let others know what you're up to (and nudge them to do the same) you can use the hashtag #pray618 in social media.

May praying for others—and receiving pray from others—become a life-long, and life-giving habit.

Whether in-person or online, nearby or faraway, make a point to connect and personally pray for and with your friends. 

Granted, it might be easier (and perhaps less awkward) to simply pray for your friends, and not let them know about it. But, let’s remember the example of Paul, who often let others know he was praying for them—and even wrote those prayers out for them to see. Here’s a couple examples.

Philemon 4–6 (NIV), “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.”

Ephesians 1:16–17 (NIV), “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”

Keep in mind that the goal of Pray618 is not simply to pray for our friends, but to pray with — and to be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith (Romans 1:11-12).

Be flexible in when, where, and how you pray.  

It can happen in-person or online; take a few seconds to several minutes; and can be live, recorded, or written.  

Basically, The when, where, and how isn’t as important as the what and why — which is to pray and encourage. Here’s a few ideas to get you started:

• send a text message
• send an audio or video recording of of you praying
• make an audio or video call (Zoom, FaceTime, Instagram, etc).
• meet for coffee 
• go on a walk or hike
• send a card in the mail

Just after Paul told the Ephesians to, “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people" (Ephesians 6:18)…

…Paul went on to say, “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19).

In other words, Paul was just as willing and desirous to receive prayer as he was to pray for others.

Remember, Pray618 is a project designed to build a network of prayer and mutual encouragement amongst those actively on mission with Jesus. That includes you! 

Pray618 is not “once and done.” It’s an ongoing practice of praying for (and receiving prayer from) others. 

Once you get to the end 8 weeks, give yourself a week off (if needed), and then start the process again:

• Select 6 friends on mission with Jesus. 
• Pray for these 6 friends—1/day—for 1 week
• Keep it up for 8 weeks.

The first time you make contact, the conversation might go like this: 

Hey (friend’s name), I’ve got it on my calendar to pray for you throughout the day, today (actually, one day a week for the next couple months)! Is there anything I can be talking with God about on your behalf today?

Oh wow, thanks! Yeah, here’s something you can pray with me about…

Great, do you have time to pray right now?

If they have a few moments, go ahead and pray, then honor their time by finishing the conversation…

Thanks for letting me pray with you today! I'll be in touch again in about a week. pray618.com

The following weeks, you could start with this:

Hey (friend’s name), I’ll be praying for you again, today. How is it going with (last week’s prayer needs)? Is there anything else I can can pray for? pray618.com

Not sure what to pray for in regards to others and their needs? Use a few examples in scripture as your inspiration.

Ephesians 1:15–19 (NIV) 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe…

Ephesians 3:14–21 (NIV) 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 6:18–20 (NIV) 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Colossians 1:9–14 (NIV) 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

2 Corinthians 1:10–11 (NIV) 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Luke 22:32 (NIV) But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

• Use #pray618 in social media
• direct people to pray618.com
• when people offer to pray for you, receive it! But, also encourage them to accept the pray618 challenge.