Lecrae - Prayin For You Lyrics
Lyrics
Father God, I'm prayin' to you for somebody, who knows you Lord but just hasn't, hasn't been seein' you in the right view lately, Hear me out...
Father, I'm prayin' for a friend he and I are pretty close, and out of all my friends for this one I'm concerned the most. He say he readin' daily but he ain't really learnin'. He been in church but say that he ain't moved by any sermon. His face weak, he ain't prayed in a week, he wake up and just weep with his face in the sink Lord, you gotta help my man, I'm prayin' for him daily, he ain't sinned but it just seem as if he goin' crazy. He say he feelin' trapped, can't even head up the mall coz every lady's half-dressed temptin' him to lust and fall. He keep the TV off, videos just make him feel that he ain't really nothin' without money, girls and shiny wheels. The other day he told me that he felt less a man coz he ain't have a five-year plan or a piece of land and man it's crazy coz his family think so much of him, plus he got a godly wife who always showin' love for him but he's strugglin', even though he talk to me, I tell him what to do but he don't listen when he oughta' be. I'm scared for him coz there's people that look up to him, he got some younger siblings who been changed by what he's done for them but is it done for him, Lord don't let it be, if he don't wanna talk to you then Father hear from me, is it done for him, Lord don't let it be, if he don't wanna talk to you then Father hear from me...
Yeah, I'm prayin' for you, yeah, I'm prayin' for you
Yeah, I'm prayin' for you, yeah, yeah, I'm prayin' for you...
God, his condition is worsen since we were last conversed and I'm with him now and he ain't doin' well and this I'm certain. He say he tryna' trust you, doesn't wanna disgust you but he was in the mist of sinners and did not discuss you and just today his anxiety's got the best of him, he knows Christ but for hours refuse to rest in Him, he's not the best of men but Lord I know he really loves you and I can't understand why lately he's not thinkin' of you. People trust this dude, you could crush this dude, Father he needs more of you I pray you touch this dude, what can I say to him? I'm determined to pray for him Father empty and brake him I pray you'll just have your way with him, coz there's a change in him and the effects are strong, I pray you open up his heart before the next song and when he gets home, I pray he'll open up the sixty-six book love letter you wrote and soak it up coz he ain't hearin' You and he ain't feelin' me and God I know it's killin' You because it's killin' me and matter of fact there's somethin' else he's concealin' see, the person that I've been prayin' about is really me...
Yeah, I'm prayin' for you, yeah, I'm prayin' for you
Yeah, I'm prayin' for you, yeah, yeah, I'm prayin' for you...
Video
Lecrae - Prayin' For You (music video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Lecrae's "Prayin' For You" music video, released on July 30, 2007, stands as a profoundly vulnerable and powerful testament to the universal struggle of faith. At its core, the song unfolds as an intimate prayer, initially presented as an intercession for a close friend grappling with spiritual apathy, temptation, and deep personal turmoil. This narrative structure allows Lecrae to explore common challenges faced by believers who, despite knowing God, find themselves distanced and struggling to perceive His presence or guidance clearly. The song's genius lies in its raw honesty, culminating in a striking revelation that transforms the entire piece into a poignant confession and an act of self-intercession.
The narrative begins with Lecrae pouring out his heart to God for a friend, describing a man who is going through the motions of faith without genuine connection. This friend "readin' daily but he ain't really learnin'," and attending church without being "moved by any sermon," paints a vivid picture of spiritual dryness that many can relate to, echoing the warning in James 1:22-24 about being a hearer of the word and not a doer. The lyrics delve into the friend's profound despair, marked by weeping and a debilitating lack of prayer, reflecting the cries of the psalmist in moments of deep distress (Psalm 42:3). Lecrae illuminates the friend's battle with temptation, specifically lust, where everyday encounters become spiritual minefields, a struggle acknowledged in Matthew 5:28 and 1 Corinthians 10:13. Beyond overt sin, the song exposes the insidious pressures of worldly comparisons—feeling "less a man" without material possessions or a "five-year plan," a direct counter to the wisdom of Christ who reminds us that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15). Even with a loving family and a "godly wife," the friend remains trapped in his struggle, a reminder that external blessings do not negate internal battles, and true peace comes from trusting God's path, as Proverbs 3:5-6 advises. Lecrae's deep concern extends to the friend's influence on younger siblings, adding a layer of responsibility and the ripple effect of one's spiritual state, a truth reinforced by Matthew 5:16. The desperate plea, "if he don't wanna talk to you then Father hear from me," embodies the spirit of intercessory prayer, standing in the gap for another, reflecting the Holy Spirit's intercession for us when we cannot articulate our prayers (Romans 8:26).
As the song progresses, the friend's condition reportedly worsens, characterized by an inability to "rest in Him" despite knowing Christ, a painful description of anxiety's grip that defies the peace offered in Philippians 4:6-7 and Matthew 11:28-30. He struggles to speak of God "in the mist of sinners," highlighting a common challenge of Christian witness and the fear of standing apart (Matthew 10:32-33). Lecrae's prayer intensifies, moving from seeking understanding to asking for radical intervention: "Father empty and brake him I pray you'll just have your way with him." This prayer for a breaking and surrender is profound, echoing Psalm 51:10 for a clean heart and a renewed spirit. The plea for the friend to "open up the sixty-six book love letter you wrote and soak it up" is a powerful and tender articulation of the Bible's role as God's transformative Word, essential for guidance and healing, as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 teaches. The raw emotion as Lecrae expresses how his friend's spiritual distance is "killin' You because it's killin' me" underscores the deep empathy and shared pain that marks true fellowship and mirrors God's own sorrow over His children's struggles (Ephesians 4:30).
The song's profound climax arrives with the confession: "the person that I've been prayin' about is really me." This unexpected turn transforms the entire piece, shifting from an observer's concern to a deeply personal admission of vulnerability. It shatters any illusion of perfection and universalizes the struggle, revealing that even those who appear strong or spiritually grounded face profound internal battles. This moment of raw honesty aligns with James 5:16, where believers are encouraged to confess their sins to one another and pray for each other. Lecrae's courage in exposing his own brokenness makes "Prayin' For You" an incredibly impactful work. It serves as a powerful reminder that spiritual journeys are often fraught with doubt, temptation, and internal conflict, and that humility and persistent prayer—even for oneself—are essential. The song ultimately inspires authenticity in faith, encourages reliance on God's Word as a source of life, and champions the power of vulnerable, honest prayer, whether uttered for a friend or for the wrestling heart within.