Last week’s article covered the first three of seven prayers for the lost: Pray for open eyes (Acts 26:18), pray for our heart’s desire to be everyone’s salvation (Rom. 10:1), and pray for what is good and acceptable (1 Tim. 2:1-3). Today, we continue with the next three prayers from 7 Scriptural Prayers for the Lost by David Butts. He challenges us to pray more for those who are far from Jesus. You will be familiar with the passages, but are you practicing this call to prayer?
• The God Who is Always on Time — “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 NASB1995). We are an impatient people, used to getting what we want instantly. We are even impatient in prayer, wanting results more than we want to wait upon God’s timing. Let’s choose to believe He is at work in the lives of those for whom we pray and that He will bring their salvation about at the perfect time.
Pray — Father God, You are always right on time, even when I am anxious for answers or results. Help me to faithfully pray for friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers, and others who have not yet declared that You are Savior and Lord of their lives. You love every person and want them all to be a part of Your forever kingdom. May I faithfully pray for all of those You put in my path to be drawn to You!
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?
So many are wandering in darkness every single day, and so many others are completely without hope. Show me how to bring others with me to step into the harvest field together. May we be faithful to pray earnestly for the lost who are unreachable by human contact, but who can be reached through the power of Your Spirit as we pray! We ask that You will raise up more workers, and more people who will tell their God stories to the lost across the street and around the world!
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 Savior Who Seeks the Lost — “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Perhaps no one comes to Christ apart from the prayers of at least one other person. We won’t be able to verify this until Heaven; however, more people will have the opportunity to come to Christ if we pray than if we don’t.
Pray — Lord, because You came to earth, I have been saved for the purpose of living a life that is Christlike and to pray for the salvation of all who are lost. You found me when I was lost and living apart from the fullness of life You promise to those who love You. Thank You for allowing someone to pray for my salvation, for putting people in my life to speak of You, and for convicting my heart through Your Holy Spirit of the sin in my life. Thank You for the greatest act of sacrificial love — dying on a cross for my salvation and the salvation of all those who have yet to call You Lord and Savior. May I have the privilege of praying thousands into Your kingdom!
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?
• Prayer for Blinded Minds — “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4 NIV). Because Satan has blinded the minds of those who have yet to know Christ, their minds need to be opened to see the true light of His gospel. As we pray, God moves to change hearts and minds. He makes a way in the most difficult of circumstances for those who are lost to be saved.
Pray — Lord God Almighty, we pray for the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ Jesus, who is Your very image, to be made known to those who are lost. Draw them to Yourself as we seek Your face and ask that in Your mercy, You will move to remove whatever is blocking their minds to receive the gospel. Let them see the futility of going their own way and the blessing of embracing the life-giving Savior. Show me how to help people draw closer to You.
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?”
My prayer is that this will stir us to pray more for a spiritual awakening in our land and for revival in the hearts of the redeemed. God is a missionary God and has called His people to live on mission. When you research great movements of God, they all began with a prayer movement. Let it be so, Lord Jesus!
