How to Pray for an Unsaved Loved One

How to Pray for an Unsaved Loved One

People often get discouraged when praying for the salvation of loved ones and begin to wonder if their prayers ever really help. Well, guess what? Yes! Your prayers can be a powerful force in the lives of your unsaved relatives and friends if you know how to pray for them according to the wisdom and Word of God.

The problem is that most Christians don’t know how to pray with skill. They just throw prayers in every direction and hope something comes of it. That’s especially true when it comes to praying for the lost. It’s not uncommon to see believers praying for friends or loved ones to get saved for 20, 30 or even 40 years without results.

What exactly are these people praying? It usually boils down to something like this: “Oh, God, please save my brother. He needs to be saved.” (Don’t you think God knows he needs saving?) Then they might go a step further and start rehearsing their brother’s sins: “Lord, he got drunk again last night and we had to bail him out of jail again. If You don’t save him, he’s going to drive us all crazy!”

That may sound funny—the example is a little extreme to make a point—but many of us have prayed prayers that sounded something like that.

What we haven’t understood is this: There’s nothing wrong with your unsaved loved one (or any other unsaved person) except the devil. No human being who truly understood the salvation Jesus has offered to us would reject that salvation of his own free will. No one!

Why, then, are so many people still unsaved? II Corinthians 4:4 tells us it is because “the god of this world [the devil] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

Once you realize it’s the devil (not your loved one) who’s the real problem, your first prayer step becomes clear. You must get the devil out of your loved one’s way.

As Jesus said, “How can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man?” (Matthew 12:29). You can’t! So bind him.

Say, “You spirit operating in the life of my loved one, blinding _________ to the gospel to keep __________out of the kingdom of God, I bind you now. I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. I carry His authority and righteousness, and in His Name I command you to desist in your maneuvers. I spoil your house according to the Word of God and I enter into it to deliver my loved one from your hands.”

Now, you may not be able to cast that devil entirely out of the situation, because your loved one may invite him back in faster than you can cast him out. But you can bind that spirit and keep it bound. It may keep you busy for a while, but you can do it.

You’ll find your next prayer step in Matthew 9:37-38. There, Jesus was looking out at the multitudes who needed ministry and He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

It’s the Word of God that brings faith for salvation: “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). So you need to see to it that the Word gets into your loved one’s heart.

“How?” you say, “My loved one won’t listen to me!”

Probably not, but God knows who your loved one will listen to, and He’ll send that person halfway around the world to talk to your loved one if necessary.

So pray to the Lord of the harvest: “Father, I’m asking You to send laborers across __________’s path, laborers who are equipped with the Word of God about salvation, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, healing and deliverance. Send laborers who can communicate effectively with ____________so Your Word can reach his/her heart.”

Once you’ve prayed for your loved one like that, from then on, put your faith in action by treating your loved one like he’s/she’s saved. Don’t treat your loved one like he’s/she’s not good. On the contrary, every time you see your loved one, say, “Praise God! Isn’t it good to know Jesus?” Then just stand back and watch how things change. You’ll be amazed.

It’s happened many times. And it can happen that way for you and your loved one. So don’t give up. Get smart! Start praying according to the Word and praying by faith…and you will see the salvation of the Lord!

Here is a sample prayer for your unsaved loved ones. As you speak God’s Word, remember that it will not return to Him void. It will prosper in the thing whereto it is sent (Isaiah 55:11):

“Father, I come before You in prayer and in faith, believing. Your Word says You desire all men to be saved and come into the knowledge of the truth, so I bring ________ before You this day.

“I break the power of Satan from his assignments and activities in ________’s life in the Name of Jesus. Now, while Satan is bound, I ask that You send forth the perfect laborers to share the good news of the gospel in such a way that will listen and understand it. As the truth is ministered, I believe ________will open his/her eyes to the gospel, come out of the snare of the devil and make Jesus Lord.

“Father, I ask that You fill __________with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. As I intercede in his/her behalf, I believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is activated, and from this moment on, I shall praise and thank You for ____________’s salvation. I am confident that You are alert and active, watching over Your Word to perform it. It will not return to You void. It will accomplish that which You please and prosper in the thing whereto it was sent.

“Therefore, my confession of faith is: ‘God has begun a good work in ______’s life and He will perform it and bring it to full completion until the day of Jesus Christ, in Jesus’ Name.’”

Scripture References from The Amplified Bible: II Peter 3:9; Matthew 18:18, 9:37-38; II Timothy 2:26; Jeremiah 1:12; Isaiah 55:11; Philippians 1:6.

Transformation

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.

II Chronicles 7:14, 15

I am posting a couple of links about the "Transformation" of areas from total darkness and depravity to a complete revival of God and His presence and the transformation of the lives, villages, countries they live in. Are you hungry for a move of God where you live?

If we seek God with a whole heart, humble ourselves, intercede, confess our sins and turn away from them, then He will hear us from Heaven. Only then can He forgive us our sin and heal our land.

These are two portions of a longer documentary about areas across the globe that have recorded these transformations..

If you are interested in viewing, the first clip, you may go HERE

The second clip is located HERE,

WE  NEED  GOD

I Have Hidden Your Word In My Heart

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 What will God's Word do for us? It will be a light on the paths that we need to keep our feet upon. It will show us the sweetness of the character of Jesus, and if we've seen Him, we've also seen our Father. It will cause our hearts to draw near to Father God. It will show us what sin will cost us - death - spirit, soul and body. It will give us the DESIRE to PLEASE God. It will show us the pleasure and reward of obeying God. It will show us what a sweet companion and friend that Jesus wants to be to us, and how delighted and loving that God is towards us. It will deliver us from evil. It will bring healing to us, our bodies and souls. It will bring peace to our souls and minds. It will teach us about honor. It will teach us about royalty that we are in Christ Jesus. It will show us what noble character is and the strength to BE that. It will be a companion to us that will bring conviction of sin when we have need of it, and lead us to repentance to stay in right standing with God. It will bring us wisdom and understanding. It is the plumb line that we all need. It is, when planted into our hearts and minds, what will give us understanding of Father  God and show us who we are to Him, a most treasured son or daughter. It will be God's voice that speaks to us. It will bring comfort when we are weary. It will bring us hope. It will wipe away our tears. It will strengthen us. It will be the weapon, THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, we need to do battle against satan and his minions.  God's enemy and ours. It will be bring us salvation, not just our ticket out of hell, but salvation - GREAT provision - deliverance from the curse, leading us into God's Blessing.  It will satisfy our soul. It will keep us safe. It will show us what God sees. It will show us a more excellent way than the one that we see in front of us. It will bring us peace that will pass even our own understanding. It will bring us JOY unspeakable and FULL of God's Glory. It will speak to us when we NEED HELP. It will, when we renew our minds to it, show us what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God. It will  cause us to want to walk in the Love that Jesus did while He was here on this earth. It will give us so much to look forward to, Heaven, and do everything we can to get there with as many as we can to bring with us. It will put a finger on  problems that has tripped us up, with the solutions we need. It will keep our minds in perfect peace all while we keep our eyes stayed on Him, all through His written Word. It will transform us into the likeness of Jesus. It brings us the desires of our hearts, while we put IT FIRST in our lives. It will show us things to come. It will cause us to want to be like Jesus. It will show us how simple it is to walk in Love. It will teach us about finances. It will show us how to bring up our children. It will show us the power of not only the written but the spoken Word of God. It will open our hearts to secrets of the ages that is not found anyplace else. It will show the gifts that Father has provided for us. It will teach us how to be a loving and honorable spouse. It will show us the wonder of praise and having a thankful heart. It will truly defeat all of our enemies. It will never fail us as we put our trust and hope in it. Proverbs 4:20-27 20. My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; 22. For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. 23. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. 24. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. 25. Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. 26. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. 27. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. Father, HELP us to HIDE Your Word in our hearts, so we might not sin against You.  We desire to live up to the expectations you have of us as a noble son and daughter.  In Jesus' Name.

It Is Prayer Time In America

If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray,

and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I 

hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.

II Chronicles 7:14, 15

By Annie Haills McIntyre

About 100 years ago, Daniel Webster, one of Americas greatest statesmen, uttered this solemn warning: "If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering; but if we and our posterity neglect it's instruction and authority, no man can tell how suddenly a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity."

Are we of this hour not "fools and slow of heart" to see and read the signs of a dying civilization?  The drumbeat of eternity is heard in the stream-lined shriek of the present anti-aircraft siren.  Armageddon seems not so very far away to the spiritually alert.  

IT IS PRAYER TIME IN AMERICA!

On being asked what was the chief cause of the depression, Congressman Clyde Kelly replied, "Spiritual bankruptcy.  We have been worshipping the golden calf. The results are seen all around us."  Senator Clapper said: "There are too many dust covered Bibles, prayerless homes, deserted churches without even a semblance of a prayer meeting.  There is a wide spiritual ignorance and desecration of the Lord's Day.  These formed part of the religious background of the past decade."

As a mother and homemaker who realizes that the strength of a nation lies in fiber of it's home-life, I say to you that the greatest need in the world today is a return to the old fashioned meetings for prayer - which differ much from many of the prayer meetings of the sleeping church.  It is Prayer Time in America!

If we turn to God again and pray, we will have deliverance. It will not be sufficient to become a little religious, to go to church and say a few formal prayers.  It is time to "Seek God while He may be found" and to keep on seeking Him until He be found.  It is time to confess our sins and pray for an old fashioned revival of religion.  Sin is old fashioned, and to meet and overcome its force, it will take nothing short of an old fashioned power sent down from Heaven.  The true church is not dead - it may seem almost so - but there is still some salt on hand, and It IS Prayer Time in America!

God has revealed Himself unto us in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ.  To get back to God, we must cast ourselves by faith, as helpless sinners, at the feet of Jesus Christ, accept Him as our personal Savior and sin-bearer, and allow His atoning Blood shed on the Calvary's cross to cleanse us from all sin.

When we do this, God has promised to make us new creatures with new desires; "Old things are passed away; behold all things are become new."  II Corinthians 5:17  For "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  John 3:16.  "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."  Romans 5:1.   

IT IS PRAYER TIME IN AMERICA!

We do not need more religion.  We need more truly regenerated men, women, and children who have had a vital touch from God and who have been lifted above the beggarly elements of this world into a realm of spiritual life and power, enabling them to live for the Glory of God and to pray on and on until He answers.

The Bible says, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man [or a nation] soweth  that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."  Galatians 6:7-8. 

"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."  Psalm 9:17

Our beloved country that was founded and settled by a praying, God-fearing people, has become a crime-ridden, pleasure-loving, God-forgetting nation.  Hence, we are staggering under the great burden of a great moral and spiritual depression.

America is sick - heart-sick because she is sin-sick.  Her bloodstream needs a transfusion of new life - a flow of power from on high.

God used men and women of prayer to call America into being.  America can be healed if she who has departed from her God returns to Him and prays.  It is Prayer Time in America!

May God's righteous ministers all over our land call their congregations to prayer.  Call them to come often to the "House of Prayer" for prayer.  "For judgment must begin at the House of God."  "If we would judge ourselves we should not be judged."  

When men and women become sore distressed over the plague of their own hearts, and confess their sins, and turn again - then will the Church of the Living God be able to pray effectively for an old fashioned revival of religion.  It is Prayer Time in America! 

God's covenant is in II Chronicles 7:14-15, "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; 

THEN

will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."  (I ask you, does the moral and spiritual land of America need healing?)  God, in the verses above, is talking to Christians.  There are four things for them to do - do NOW and do wholeheartedly:

               1.  Humble themselves, 

               2.  and pray, 

               3.  and seek God's face,

               4.  and turn from their wicked ways.

               When Christians take these four steps, God says what He will do:

               1.  He will listen (hear what we are praying).

               2.  He will forgive our sins.

               3.  He will heal our land.

               

Is it not high time that we "who have named His Name, depart from iniquity"   and pray?

It is not "to arms" but "to knees," for It is Prayer Time in America!   

"Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not"  Jeremiah 33:3.

Osterhus Pub. House

7 Habits of a Strong Believer

------#1 - Feed your spirit every day.

Matthew 4:4 - But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' "

Matthew 6:11 - Give us this day our daily bread.

Arrange your schedule around the Word of God.

Don't pencil God into your schedule.

------#2 - Build up your faith by listening to the Word of God every day.

Romans 10:17 - So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

Proverbs 4:20-22 -  My son give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.  Do not let the depart from your eyes, keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh.

If you don't have faith, it's nobody's fault but your own.

------#3 - They strengthen and encourage themselves by speaking the Word of God daily over their lives.

Matthew 8:8 - Speak the Word only.

Proverbs 18:21- Death and life are in the power of the tongue.

------#4 - Dominate and control your thought life, filling your mind with God's Word; Renewing your mind.

Philippians 4:8 - Finally brethren whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things.

II Corinthians 10:5 - Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Romans 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Joshua 1:8 - This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success.

Psalm 1:1,2 - Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, or stands in the path os sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. 

Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed in You because he trusts in you.

Give God your thought life.  Take the Word of God and it will bring peace.  Meditation is how we fix our mind on God day and night.   Meditation will enlarge your capacity for faith.

------#5 - Anchor and establish your heart in God by giving continual praise and thanksgiving.

Psalm 34:1 - I will bless the Lord at all times;  His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 8:2 - Out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants you have ordained strength, because of your enemies, that you may silence the enemy and the avenger. 

Matthew 21:16 - And said to Him, "Do you hear what these are saying?"  And Jesus said to them, "Yes, have you ever read, out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have perfected praise."

Praise produces spiritual strength

------#6 - If they edify themselves and charge their battery by praying much in tongues.

Jude 1:20 - But you, my Beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.

I Corinthians 14:4 - He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.  

As we pray in tongues, we are recharging ourselves by the Holy Spirit,  and are praying beyond our own minds, by  praying what God says.

------#7 - They becomes strengthened by getting rid of excess baggage.

Hebrews 12:1 - Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a could of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

It is possible to accomplish more spiritually by shaving off unnecessary things.  You don't need more power, you need to get rid of what drains and hinders.