How to Pray for Those Who Don’t Know Jesus
Apart from sharing the Gospel, the next best act of love we can offer someone who doesn’t know Jesus is to pray for their salvation. When we intercede for those who don't know Jesus, we partner with God in His redemptive work. The Bible tells us that God "wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).
This guide provides Scripture-based prayer points to help you intercede effectively and faithfully for the lost.
Ask God to give us a burden for lost people
Romans 9:1-3: "I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit—I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race."
Romans 10:1: "Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved."
Claim laborers for the harvest
Matthew 9:38: "Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Seek God for opportunities for our congregation to witness and invite people to the Lord or to Lifegroup.
Colossians 4:2-4: "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.”
Receive in praise the promise of fruit
John 15:16: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."
Repent of fear in witnessing and petition God for church-wide boldness in witnessing
Ephesians 6:17-20: "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."
Acts 4:31-32: "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. All the believers were one in heart and mind."
Beseech God to give us power to win the lost
Acts 1:8: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Colossians 1:28: "He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.”
Believe God for conviction of sin
Acts 2:37-38: "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
Bind in Jesus' name the force of doubt veiling their minds
2 Corinthians 3:14-16: "But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away."
2 Corinthians 4:3-4: "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 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.
Pray for their hearts to be opened to believe
Acts 16:14: "One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.
Thank the Holy Spirit for wooing them to the Father
John 6:44: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
John 16:7-11: "But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.”
Praise Him for miracles to happen to bring people to Christ
Acts 3 (The healing of the lame beggar)
John 14:12-13: "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
Intercede for a support base of literature, tapes, Bibles and money to win the lost
Deuteronomy 8:18: "But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today."
Acts 28:10: "They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed."
Remind God in humility of His desire to reward our faith with souls
Hebrews 11:6: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
Request a city-wide vision for the harvest in our city
John 4:35: "Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
Expect people to be touched by the Holy Spirit as we worship God
Acts 16:25: "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them."
Invite God to change your life as a sign to the lost
2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
Entreat Jesus for church-wide agreement in soul winning
Matthew 18:18-19: "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven."
Desire of God a creativity to be given to our church to win the lost
Psalm 37:4: "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Trust God for a shepherding spirit to disciple and care for the new converts
Psalm 37:3: "Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture."
Ezekiel 34 (God as the Good Shepherd who cares for His flock)