Wednesday

Beloved Unbelievers -- How to Pray for Them

Think of a person you care about who doesn’t know Christ as their Savior.

If you’re like me, every time you think of this person, your heart aches. You know if they don’t accept Christ, they will die and spend eternity in hell. This frightens me—that someone I love could spend eternity separated from God (and from me). May it never be.

But the reality is that one day we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account. The entrance exam to heaven has one question: 

In whom are you trusting?

There’s only one right answer: “I’m trusting in Jesus Christ as my Savior.”

For years I couldn’t give that answer. The best I could do was hope my good works outweighed my bad works on judgment day. Some of my acquaintances, friends, and loved ones can’t give this answer because they haven’t yet come to faith in Jesus Christ. They’re still trusting in their works to get them into heaven. They don’t understand the truth of Ephesians 2:8-9:

“For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man shall boast.”

Because I love them, I witness to them, serve them, and do my best to demonstrate God’s love to them. But the most important thing I can do is to pray for them. 

I ask God to open their hearts to believe. Scripture tells us that no one comes to God unless the Father draws him (John 6:65), so it makes sense to ask God to draw our loved ones to himself and open their hearts to believe.

The book of Acts tells of a woman named Lydia. She was a religious woman who was trying to worship God as best she knew how. But she hadn’t trusted Jesus as her Savior. Paul shared the Gospel with her, like we should with our unbelieving loved ones. And then something miraculous happened. Acts 16:14 describes it this way:

“The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.” 

Apart from God opening a person’s heart to believe, the message of the Gospel falls on deaf ears. The spiritually dead cannot receive the life-giving truths of Scripture unless God opens their hearts. This is what we should pray for.

The take away from Acts 16 is simple: Pray for the people you love who don’t know Christ as their Savior. And when you pray, ask God to open their hearts. Pray and don’t stop.

“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Rom. 10:10).

If you leave your loved one's first name in the comment box below, I'd be honored to pray for them.



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82 comments:

  1. This is a reminder of how important it is to never stop praying for lost souls.

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  2. My son, James
    Lord, open his eyes to Your beauty and his heart to receive Your grace. Only through the precious blood of Jesus can he be saved,restored, redeemed. Amen.

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    Replies
    1. Amen, Cindy. May it be so, Lord. Restore what the locust have eaten and put a new song in his mouth, even praise to you.

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  3. Anonymous8:05 AM

    My 3 children Kristy, Melinda and Gregory need prayers and so does my fiancee Jeremy.I talk to them often but they turn away. All prayers would be appreciated.

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    1. Father, open Kristy, Melinda, Gregory, and Jeremy's heart to believe. Remove the blinders from their eyes and bring them to faith in Christ. In the strong name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.

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    2. Amen, but please do not marry an unbeliever. Jesus says not to be unequally yoked.๐Ÿ™ Please. I Knoow๐Ÿ˜“

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  4. Anonymous10:01 PM

    Salvation for my husband Alex, three daughters husbands &. 5 grandchildren . To believe with their hearts & receive the grace of God through faith in Christ Jesus as their saviour from sin.

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  5. Anonymous3:47 AM

    My daughters name is Hannah, And My son Is Boomer

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  6. Anonymous3:52 AM

    My husbands name is Surendra... please pray for him as he is an unbeliever

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  7. Anonymous11:11 AM

    My husband Shane, my boys Reese and Ronin ❤️๐Ÿ™

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  8. Anonymous7:06 PM

    My husband, Kent. He was raised in church but he never learned to surrender to, and trust God fully. I have other family members also....I believe the Lord knows, I'm making my faith ever more public with this request. Thank you and God bless ❤✝️❤

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  9. Anonymous12:56 AM

    My daughter Gracie! I believe she knows Christ, but she has gone astray and we believe she is in a same sex relationship. So, YES LORD, I cry out for You to open her heart back to You. May You speak truth to her and open her heart, her mind and her ears to hear You!

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  10. Anonymous9:11 PM

    My daughters are Amanda, Angie and Alicia and son Aaron

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  11. Anonymous9:08 PM

    Austin and Austin’s family

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  12. Anonymous8:13 PM

    My daughter Jamie - she has engaged in a same sex relationship. She’s so lost.

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  13. Anonymous9:21 PM

    Codie

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  14. Anonymous5:14 PM

    My Son(Will) & Daughter(Dria) and everyone they associate with. Thank you and JESUS’ Blessings upon you and your family….AMEN

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  15. Anonymous2:22 PM

    Jerry

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  16. Anonymous3:43 PM

    Nick, Sr & Jr

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  17. Anonymous7:57 PM

    My name is Penny I am a believer in our lord jesus christ but I want to grow closer to our lord and grow closer to him ... I want to be so filled with him... I want to be on fire for him please pray for me

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  18. Anonymous5:12 PM

    Heather D

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  19. Anonymous6:53 AM

    Frankie

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  20. Anonymous6:56 AM

    Mattie

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  21. Anonymous6:57 AM

    Bruno

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  22. Anonymous8:19 AM

    My Brother Daniel, his wife Debra, their grown children, Jill, Caryn, and Bobby. We grew up in a Christian household, but when my brother met his wife her walked away from Christ.

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  23. Meghan5:16 PM

    My husband Chris and our children Michael, Corey, Gracie, and Eli

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  24. Anonymous10:07 PM

    My husband David, my son's Shane and Zac, my grandchildren, Baylee, Landen, Brady, August, Step grandsons, Zachary and Ethan. My great granddaughter Wrenlee.

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  25. Anonymous10:09 AM

    Stephanie, Fletcher, Brice, Bailey, Natalie, Colby, Nicole, Amelia, Waylon, Avery, Coleby
    Thank you for adding your prayers to mine.

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  26. Anonymous11:27 PM

    Jeremy

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  27. Anonymous3:51 PM

    My son, Michael; father, Gary and for my young grandsons, Colt and Levi to always follow the Lord

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  28. Anonymous1:21 PM

    My sons Clayton and Nathan

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  29. Anonymous10:11 PM

    My daughter Angelica

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  30. Anonymous10:42 AM

    My daughter Katarina and her husband Danny

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  31. Anonymous9:42 PM

    Morgan, Zach, Courtney, Jake, Maddie, and Tyler

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  32. Anonymous6:16 PM

    My sister Luanne

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  33. Anonymous12:34 PM

    My son Samuel. I had 3 daughters, found the Lord; prayed for a son after the reading the story of Hannah. He's 28 yrs old & not a follower of Christ. Just need for you to touch & agree with me on the calling on his life. Thank you kindly & God bless.

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  34. Anonymous12:14 AM

    My husband Rudzani. He was raised by prayer warriors but he has nit surrendered to Jesus Christ.

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  35. Anonymous12:04 AM

    Justin

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  36. Anonymous11:59 AM

    My Son Dylan, thank you for your prayers

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  37. Anonymous12:33 AM

    Ryan and his family

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  38. Anonymous7:09 AM

    My husband Henry my 3 children vickie, larry & kimberly my 4 grandchildren michael, grant, Mckenzie & logan my son inlaw tommy and my brother carl please lord open their hearts to except you as their lord and savior in Jesus name I pray

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  39. Anonymous11:11 AM

    Wivine and Denis
    Anair and Niko
    Amber ,Noah and Haill
    Andrew

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  40. Anonymous8:39 AM

    Matt Nathan abby Timothy rebekah Matthew George Sue Jennifer Jason Caroline Leila ivory Jace Joey Stan Dustin Tyler Monica debbie

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  41. Anonymous6:31 PM

    Collin and Sage

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  42. Anonymous11:08 PM

    Please pray for salvation for my Dear unbelieving friends Alexis & Fiona

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  43. Anonymous4:22 PM

    John, Emily, Casey, Mallory

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  44. Anonymous10:22 AM

    Caitlin

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  45. Anonymous7:21 PM

    Pray for My sister Wendy to open her heart to the Lord

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  46. Anonymous6:16 PM

    My daughter Lindsay

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  47. Anonymous10:41 PM

    My mom Carolyn, my brother Logan and sister Nicole. I grew up Catholic I left and just became a non denominational christian. They hold a grudge for missing out on certain Catholic things like baby baptisms etc. My dad was baptized at the age of 83

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  48. My son Brandon. He has served the Lord before, but has gone astray. Please pray for him.

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  49. Anonymous8:22 AM

    My son, Josh.

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  50. Anonymous3:27 PM

    My sisters Aimee, Kathy, Jan, Carol; my brother Tom

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  51. Anonymous8:14 AM

    Josh and Doug

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  52. Anonymous9:22 AM

    my brother, Travic

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  53. Anonymous10:52 AM

    My husband, John. Thank you!

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  54. Please pray for God to open the hearts of my son Darren and my daughter Shawna. Also granddaughter Devyn Grace and grandson Hunter. Thank you.

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  55. Anonymous11:11 AM

    Lisa, Scott, Marge, Morgan, Sebastian, Kaden, Mitchell, Jason, Kathy. All children and grandchildren. One friend.

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  56. Anonymous8:35 AM

    Husband Ken & Son Rece
    Thank you! God Bless You.

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  57. Anonymous11:20 AM

    My brother Adriaan, my husband David
    ..my son RULOF and Schalk omease Lord open their hearts mo ds and ears..

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  58. Anonymous9:43 AM

    David and Domingo

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  59. Anonymous6:30 AM

    Brianna Simon

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  60. My husband Grant. We need a miracle!

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  61. Anonymous10:32 PM

    My sons Matthew and Ryan and husband David. God bless all

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  62. Anonymous8:51 PM

    My sisters Jordan and Tiffaney, my Dad and step mom Dale and Debbie, my friends and their children Jonathan, Dimitra, Manny, and Andi, and my other friend and her children Jessica, Faith, Liam, and Sully.

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  63. Anonymous6:36 PM

    My daughter Mia. Thank you!

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  64. Anonymous9:55 AM

    My girls, Caitlin and Carson.

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  65. Anonymous2:38 PM

    Sons, David and Daniel.

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  66. Anonymous8:10 PM

    Skylar, Daniel, Kevin

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  67. Anonymous3:21 AM

    My Gran my friend Pat my 3 children Andrea Jenny and William and my new adopted daughter jadine please ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™

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  68. Anonymous3:15 PM

    Please Tracy for my husband Tracy .. he is saved and has recd the baptism if the Holy Spirit .. after 32 years of marriage .. he is still not loving me, his wife as he should . I believe he has unresolved hurts as a child and he lashed out at me with his tongue .

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  69. Please pray for Lydia, Stefanie, Lauren and Elizabeth please.

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  70. Anonymous10:37 AM

    Daeja & Andre,

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  71. Anonymous7:03 PM

    My husband Nessim

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  72. Anonymous5:11 PM

    Andrew

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  73. Anonymous12:07 PM

    Please pray for my husband Stuart, my children Annie and Kalin and my granddaughter Millie-Sue

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