There are more than 650 references to prayer in the Bible. Consider all the powerful prayers you can explore and reference in Scripture — Hannah’s prayer in 1 Sam. 2:1-10, Solomon’s in 1 Kings 3:1-10, Nehemiah’s in Neh. 1:4-11, David’s in Psalm 3, 39, and 51, Paul’s in Eph. 1:16-19 and 3:14-21, Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17, and of course, there are many more. Prayer has been rightly referred to as “the birthplace of everything that truly advances the kingdom of God.” Paul asked for prayer for boldness in Eph. 6:19 and that God would open doors in Col. 4:3.
These articles on church health have been coming out now for over 15 years, and I do not ever remember just running another article, but this will be the exception, not the rule, as I primarily use 7 Scriptural Prayers for the Lost by David Butts. He challenges us to pray more for our contacts and communities that are far from Jesus. You will be familiar with the passages, but are you practicing this call to prayer? Allow me to mention number seven first: “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, plead the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest’” (Matt. 9:37-38 NASB).
Here we go with the first three: “Do you ever find yourself asking God to ‘just save all the lost people’? If you have ever wanted to have some specific, biblical ways to pray for those who are still lost in darkness, here are seven simple ways to posture yourself before the Father and ask Him to move:
• Praying for Open Eyes — “…I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:17-18 KJV). Jesus commissioned and sent the Apostle Paul out on mission, just as Jesus has also commanded us to do!
Pray — Father, show me how to pray in such a way that people’s eyes are opened so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the grip of Satan to the freedom of God. Your Word commands us to go into the world so that the lost may receive the forgiveness of their sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in You! Use me to reach my family, my neighbors, my city, and beyond so that You alone will receive the glory! And when eyes are opened, may they see and experience new life forever.
Listen — Take some time to wait expectantly before the Father. What is God revealing to your heart? Is there a response, a change, an act of repentance or forgiveness that needs to be paid attention to? Is God showing you a next step towards being the answer to the prayer you just prayed?
• Salvation for the Lost Should Be Our Heart’s Desire — “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation” (Rom. 10:1 NASB1995). Paul was in anguish over the lost in Israel. Do we share his grief for the lost next door, in our families, at our workplaces, in our nation, and across the earth?
Pray — Lord God Almighty, touch my heart so that it longs for the salvation of every person in every nation on earth. May Your Spirit deepen my anguish over those lost in darkness. I cry out to You to give Jesus His inheritance — the ends of the earth!
Listen — Take some time to wait expectantly before the Father. What is God revealing to your heart? Is there a response, a change, an act of repentance or forgiveness that needs to be paid attention to? Is God showing you a next step towards being the answer to the prayer you just prayed?
• The Good and Acceptable Prayer — “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:1-4 NASB1995). God doesn’t want our lives to be hurried, out of control, and frantic. He wants us to lead tranquil and quiet lives in godliness and dignity. This is possible when we pray for others, especially our leaders and those in authority, to come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Pray — Father, because You desire all to be saved and to know the truth, that is on my heart also. May I be faithful to pray for all the men, women and children you place upon my heart and give me a burden to seek You on their behalf. Help me to always pray for those in authority so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
Listen — Take some time to wait expectantly before the Father. What is God revealing to your heart? Is there a response, a change, an act of repentance or forgiveness that needs to be paid attention to? Is God showing you a next step towards being the answer to the prayer you just prayed?”
In the next article, we will cover the next three of the 7 Scriptural Prayers for the Lost. My prayer is that you will begin to implement the first three immediately. Pray for God to open the eyes of the lost to the gospel. Pray that God would burden your heart for the lost around you the same way Paul was so burdened. Pray for those who are far from God to find Him. Then be a part of the answer to that prayer!
