Christian

Are You Praying for Someone to be Saved?

Cindy Dawson

Is your heart heavy because someone you love rejects Jesus as Savior? Perhaps he(she) calls himself an atheist. Or maybe, they just refuse to search for Truth and instead stand stubbornly in the darkness, clinging to “intellectual” arguments that support their atheistic beliefs.

If you’ve been praying for someone for a long time, don’t give up now. Be encouraged and strengthened by the promises of God.

Galatians 6:9 (NIV) says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” 

For a long time, I have been praying faithfully every day that Jay would accept Jesus as Savior. Becoming weary, my prayers have been reduced to “God please help Jay. I don’t know how to pray for him. I don’t even know where he is. You know, Lord.” That is the prayer of someone who is weary in prayer.

After searching God’s Word for encouragement, I was not disappointed. This is what I learned. It is not meant to be a “formula” for prayer, but rather, an encouragement that you are praying according to God’s will and being led by the Holy Spirit. So don’t give up!

Following Paul’s example, simply pray that he will be saved. “Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.” Romans 10:1 NIV

Pray that the Lord will send Christian workers into his life. God uses people to accomplish his will. “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:5-6 NIV

Pray that God will give him spiritual understanding and that the Lord will lead him to repentance. ” … in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:25-26 NIV

Pray that God will open his heart.  “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul” Acts 16:14 NIV

Pray that God will give him spiritual sight and make His light shine in his heart, as He did yours.

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” 2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

Continue to pray with perseverance. God has called you to pray for this person. As you pray, remember to thank God for His love, mercy, kindness, and faithfulness. 

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” Colossians 4:2 NIV

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1 NIV

Pray with the knowledge that his salvation is God’s will.  

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  2 Peter 3:9 NIV

(Where did we get the idea that God should be on our timetable?) 

Therefore pray, “your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:10 NIV

 Pray with confidence, remembering that our God is a God of mercy, love and faithfulness.

“The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].” James 5:16 AMP

 Your prayer for someone’s salvation is most definitely a spiritual battle. Do not listen to the devil’s lies. Of course Satan will try to discourage you and make you give up. Instead, obey God’s Word and keep praying.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV

From this study, here is what I have learned: God hears my prayers. It’s not that He isn’t answering them or that He doesn’t hear me. (The devil will try to tell us that!)

My “assignment” to pray for Jay has not ended. The battle is not over. In fact, I am in the heat of the battle. I will keep praying.

When I am praying God’s will, I know He is working even though I haven’t seen the final result yet.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV

God’s Word encourages me and strengthens my faith! It will do the same for you.

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?

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40 thoughts on “Are You Praying for Someone to be Saved?”

  3. Pingback: Are You Praying for Someone to be Saved? — Real Christian Women – Reasoned Cases For Christ

  4. What an absolutely excellent post Cindy! Thank you for sharing this beautiful scriptural encouragement on such a dear subject to so many of us. May our Father God continue to guide, encourage and bless you in your prayers and writing. Dear Lord remember our sisters prayers for Jay, bring him closer to you, Amen. 🙏

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  5. Amen, Cindy. I have a couple of people I pray for daily, and it’s purely by faith that I thank God for what they’re going through. I don’t like it, but I tell the Lord (really telling myself) that all this will be part of their testimony someday.

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  6. This encourages me so much to not give up in praying for some I know to come to Christ. Satan loves to use our waiting in an effort to defeat us, but God wants to use the time to strengthen our faith. The verses you shared are so powerful. Thank you, Cindy!

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  7. Thank you for this concise collection of God’s Word in praying for our loved ones.
    Like you, I also pray for what God is doing in their lives, even though I don’t see it (the Hebrews 11.1 verse); God is working because He loves them so much.

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  8. Cindy, thank you SO MUCH for this great post!! Every day, I pray for salvation for my two sons, my daughter, my daughter’s live-in boyfriend, my daughter-in-law, my two grown granddaughters, my granddaughter’s husband, my special needs grandson, my grandchildren’s father, and my 9-year-old great-grandson. And then there’s my husband’s two adult children, five grown grandchildren, various spouses/partners, and six great-grandchildren. WHEW! Just naming all their names is a lot. But I keep praying, and I will do so with greater courage now, thanks to this awesome post!!!!!

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  10. Thank you sharing this encouragement Cindy. Praying for someone for a while can make one feel weary at times. But we are to persevere.
    May Jay come to know the Lord. I pray that you are strengthened in your prayers for him.

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    1. A grandmother’s prayers are a powerful thing. I am thankful that my grandmothers were strong Christian women who prayed for me when I was young. They never saw the fruit of their prayers, but there was fruit just the same. I pray that your grandson will find Jesus soon. Blessings, my friend!

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