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Praying for Lost Friends and Family

praying for lost friends and family

Praying for lost friends and family is a difficult task. We so badly want to see them saved. But, at the same time, we don’t always see God answer in the way and timing that we want. Praying for lost friends and family requires endurance, strength, hope, patience, and love.

The CSB Disciple’s Study Bible contains great articles on a variety of discipleship topics. Here is an excerpt from this study Bible on praying for lost friends and family.

This content is adapted from the CSB Disciple’s Study Bible.

PRAYING FOR LOST FRIENDS AND FAMILY

The purpose of the Disciple-Making Pathway is to help believers grow in their faith and become more like Christ. As we become more like him, we will be burdened for our lost friends and family and will desire to see them come to know Christ in a more intimate way.

E. M. Bounds wisely said:

“You can’t rightly talk to men about God until you first talk to God about men.”

What this means is that our efforts to share the gospel must begin with and be saturated in prayer. Before we can even consider sharing the truth of God with those who do not believe, we must be diligently praying for them. Here are some specific things for which to pray.

1. That God would open their eyes to the truth of the gospel.

“When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.” (Mt 13:19)

“In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2Co 4:4)

Satan will do everything he can to blind unbelievers to the gospel. Pray that God would open their spiritual eyes to see the truth.

2. That they would seek to know God.

“He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” (Ac 17:27)

God will reveal himself to those who seek after him. Pray that your lost friends and family would have a hunger for God.

3. That they would believe the Scriptures.

Someone who does not know Christ will not understand the truth of the Word.

“But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.” (1Co 2:14)

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.” (1Co 1:18)

Pray that they would have a hunger for the Word of God and that they would believe the truths of the Scriptures.

4. That God draws them to himself.

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (Jn 6:44)

We must always remember that, although God uses us as the instruments to share the message and help lead people to him, only he can convict and convert them. One cannot receive Christ until God first draws them. Let us therefore pray that God will draw them to himself.

5. That the Holy Spirit works in their lives.

“When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment.” (Jn 16:8)

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.” (Jn 16:13)

Pray that the Holy Spirit will convict them of sin and cause them to repent and believe.

6. That God would send someone to lead them to Christ.

Jesus told his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” (Mt 9:37-38)

Perhaps that someone is you. Pray that you or someone else could be used to show and share the gospel.

7. That they confess Christ as Savior and Lord.

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.” (Rm 10:9-10)

“But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.” (Jn 1:12-13)

8. That they would trust Christ, and confess him as Savior and Lord!

CSB DISCIPLE’S STUDY BIBLE

The CSB Disciple’s Study Bible will help you engage with and apply God’s Word to your daily life as a disciple of Jesus. Designed to equip you to follow Jesus and disciple others, it features discipleship-themed study notes, as well as tools and resources like the F260 Reading Plan, introductions with outlines and timelines, full-color maps, and discipleship articles from the team at Replicate Ministries.

Learn more about the CSB Disciple’s Study Bible and add it to your library by visiting our website.

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10 Comments

  1. CYNTHIA WHITLEY

    My Lord and savior, Jesus Christ died on the cross for us to have eternal life. Prayer works trust and believe! Jesus God for us and loves us. How much does God love us that he gave his son so that we can have life Everlasting….

    • Marsha Whitley Reeder

      I came across this blog was really intrigued and wanted to read further. Then I saw your name was reall I came across this blog was really intrigued and wanted to read further. Then I saw your name was Whitley…..Which is my maiden name. I know very little about my relatives and took this as a sign as I should read this blog further. I am not a weird person don’t want you to think that I am but Whitley is a fairly unique name and I have not met but one of the person in my life I am re which is my maiden name. I know very little about my relatives and took this as a sign as I should read this blog further. I am not a weird person don’t want you to think that I am but Whitley is a fairly unique name and I have not met one of the person in my life and Whitley Is a rather unique name and him never met but one of the person named Whitley in my life

  3. Nina McKeller

    Thank you. This is an excellent way of praying for my unsaved loved ones.

  4. Daphne H. Jensen

    This has been my prayer lately for several people in our family. Very applicable. Thank you for sharing!

  5. Craig

    Thanks and Praise to God, our Father…It has become clear to me… I, first, must be surrendered to the Holy Spirit, once I am fully aware of my limits and weaknesses, and sin, and have confessed, repented, and received forgiveness, therefore, clean before the Father, through Christ, I am at peace asking for these gifts to be received and revealed to my loved ones…

  6. Bruce

    One must ask…how did Jesus pray? He is our example on how to pray for people.

  7. Joan Walker

    Thank you for this. It will help me as I am praying for family members.

  8. Judy

    Thank you for sharing . I will learn to pray more .