Praying for the Lost

Prayer 2 Minutes

Here are some quick (not exhaustive!) thoughts on ways to pray for our lost loved ones. The prayers after each biblical point are not intended to be prayed verbatim. They are simply examples to help out.

  1. Genesis 1:27 tells us all people are created in God’s image, designed to have a relationship with Him – “God, you have designed each of my loved ones to know You personally”
  2. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. “God, my friends and family have sinned and are separated from you because of sin. None of them are able to fulfill the purpose for which You designed them – to know You and worship You.”
  3. Romans 6:23a says that the wages of sin is death – “Father, my loved ones are dying, separated from you! They deserve to go to hell forever, just like I deserve as well!”
  4. Romans 6:23b tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. “Lord, You have paid the penalty for all sinners who will trust in You. You freely offer eternal life to all through trusting in Jesus Christ (John 17:3).”
  5. John 16:8 tells us that the Holy Spirit convicts (convinces) the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement – “Holy Spirit, please perform Your work of convincing my friends and family of their sin.”
  6. In Colossians 4:3-4 Paul asked the Colossians to pray for him to have open doors to clearly share the mystery of Christ – “God, please open doors to share the Good News of Jesus with my lost friends, co-workers, and family. Open doors for brothers and sisters from our church family as well. Open doors for me personally to have spiritual conversations and to share the Good News.”
  7. In Ephesians 6:19-20 Paul asked that the Ephesians pray that he would have the words and boldness to proclaim Christ – “God, please give me and other believers the words and boldness to tell our loved ones the Good News.”
  8. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 tells us that God wants us to pray for all people, and He desires all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth – “God, it is pleasing to You when I pray for the lost, because You desire all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. I pray that my friends and family would hear the Good News of Jesus dying in the place of sinners and coming back to life again. I pray they would respond by turning to and trusting in Jesus, and that You would save them by Your grace. God, only You can reduce faith through the Word of Christ (Romans 10:17), so please rescue them!”

Prayerfully,
Bill Whittington

Notice: “Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. May not copy or download more than 500 consecutive verses of the ESV Bible or more than one half of any book of the ESV Bible.” https://www.crossway.org/permissions/

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