biblical prayer for the unsaved

Below is the result of my study of the biblical references

for praying for the unsaved - our unsaved loved ones.

While this is something I had done many times before

it was an extremely useful and encourageing exersize for me

to double check my prayers once again against the Word of God.

I will note here that as I did this study what became

very apparent is that there is NO FORMULA or PROVEN METHOD

when it comes to praying for the unsaved.

I believe this is because God knows who we are childern of men

with "willing spirits" but weak flesh and we would rather follow

ritual, tradition, and formula than to persistantly and consistantly allow our

hearts (spirits) to be filled with the heart of God and be moved by His compassion.

As we seek God for our loved ones we must fill our Hearts with His Word and with His Heart

prayer and bible study is an essential part of that process.

Okay all that being said the results of my study are below.

Obviously there is more that the scriptures have to say than what I have below.

I encourage everyone to do their own study.

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IT IS GOD'S WILL for

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness,

but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9).

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I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving

be made for everyone— ...This is good, and pleases God our Savior,

who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 NIV

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God wants US to pray...

. . . men always ought to pray and not lose heart —Luke 18:1

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"the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man (or woman) availeth much" (James 5:16)

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We are to "stand in the gap" for them.

Ezekiel 22:29-31 (King James Version)

The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery,

and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge,

and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them

with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads,

saith the Lord GOD

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Psalm 106:23 (KJV)

Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen

stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.

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Jeremiah 15:1 (KJV)

Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me,

yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.

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Pray for soften hearts:

Acts 2:14-42 (Emphasis on vs. 37 - cut/pierced to the heart

- the message reached a soft heart and pierced it

which brought about Godly sorrow leading to repentance)

"And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord: they shall be my people,

and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart."

(Jeremiah 24:7).

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you:

I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give an heart of flesh."

(Ezekiel 36:26)

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Pray for openness and understanding.

Acts 16:14 says the Lord opened the heart of Lydia to heed the things spoken by Paul.

Paul was speaking the gospel. And if the Lord can open Lydia's heart,

He can open your friend/neighbor/loved one's heart.

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Pray for "eyes to see" - for God to remove the veil

"open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are being sanctified by faith in JesusChrist."

(Acts 26:18)

CORINTHIANS 4:3-4 NKJ

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,

whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe,

lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

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Pray for Godly Sorrow that leads to true repentance

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (New American Standard Bible)

I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful,

but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance;

for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.

For the sorrow that is according to the will of God

produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation,

but the sorrow of the world produces death.

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BUT do NOT pray for judgement for it is

GOD'S KINDNESS that leads us to repentace

(Acts 2:14-42, Rom 5 {emphasis on vs 8})

So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things,

do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt

for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience,

not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

Romans 2:3-4 NIV

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the following references are from this website

http://www.intimacywithgod.com/page37.html

but true and biblically accurate

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PRAY THAT THEY WILL SEE JESUS FOR WHO HE REALLY IS.

(MATTHEW 11:25-27 , 2 COR. 4:3-4 , JOHN 14:6 , ACTS 4:12)

PRAY FOR THEIR CONVICTION BY THE HOLY SPIRIT (JOHN 16:8)

(OF SIN & JUDGEMENT & TO SEE THEIR NEED FOR JESUS)

PRAY FOR THEM TO GET A SEEKING HEART. (ROMANS 3:10-11)

PRAY FOR GOD TO DRAW THEM TO HIMSELF. (JOHN 12:32)

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The Word of God to get to the unsaved

- send people into their life who will lead them to Christ and will serve as a positive influence

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"Therefore said He unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few:

pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."

(Luke 10:2).

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So you need to see to it that the Word gets into your loved one’s heart.

“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

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Don't forget to pray for yourself as well,

that the Lord will help you to be a uplifting example.

Ask God to give you "the mind of Christ"

(1 Corinthians 2:16 & Philippians 2:5)

so that your actions will represent the Savior and your influence will be a holy one.

Remember that Peter instructed Christian wives to witness to their unbelieving husbands through their righteous lifestyle and behavior

(1 Peter 3:1-4).

{from someone elses study - very well said and supported -samt-}

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Don't ever be discouraged!

God is able

For this reason I kneel before the Father, rom whom his whole family in heaven

and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may

strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that

Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you,

being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints,

to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to

know this love that surpasses knowledge—

that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,

according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church

and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

(Ephesians 3:10-21 (NIV) {Empasis on vs. 20})

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God often uses difficult and trying circumstances

in order to refine our characters and prepare us for His heavenly kingdom

(Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4).

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Don't ever stop praying

"but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests

be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,

will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

(Philippians 4:6-7)

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We need to be thankful regardless of whether or not we see immediate answers to our petitions:

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

(Luke 18:1)

Also ... (GALATIANS 6:9)