Praying for Our Unsaved Loved Ones
Happy New Year, friends!
It is time to kick off our new Happy Monday series on praying for our loved ones. After I announced this series last week, many of you emailed me with family prayer requests. I stood at my kitchen sink with tears in my eyes as I read your messages. As we pray together over the next few weeks, I'm trusting God to work miraculously in our families. He can do it!
Today’s topic focuses on praying for our unsaved loved ones. We will address loved ones who have walked away from their faith next week.
You are not alone if you begged God to make sure your loved one had “fire insurance.” (If you grew up in the 80s like me, this was slang some Christians used for salvation.) Of course, we want our loved ones to experience the power and presence of God. We also worry they won't spend eternity with us.
Let's be honest about the frustration. Have you prayed for them and still gotten mad at them because they refuse to say yes to Jesus? You can see the emptiness in their lives as they chase money or possessions. You keep reaching out with invitations to church or Bible verses and they brush them aside. Watching them run from God can leave us sad, discouraged, or anxious.
You're not in this alone! I am so glad you are on this journey with me today. Come with me into the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. We will spend the next couple of weeks here. Jesus teaches this story to highlight how much lost people matter to God.
The story begins like this: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.” -Luke 15:11 NLT
Imagine watching this scene. A son announces, “Give me my money so I can get out of here and live how I want.” Jesus’ audience would have been offended by the younger son’s request. What an ungrateful son. We can feel the ache in the father’s heart. He sacrificed for his son and knew his son would waste that sacrifice on foolishness and greed.
What does the father do? He lets the son have his way and gives him the inheritance. Jesus continues: “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings…” -Luke 15:13 NLT
Even though this is a story from Jesus’ teaching, we can picture a loving father watching his son pack and willingly put distance between himself and the family who loves him. As I picture the father’s face, two words come to mind: heartache and rejection. Still, we need to pay close attention to how the father responds.
Based on what we see in the scripture, notice what the father does not do:
• He does not pressure his son to stay.
• He does not panic when the son walks out the door.
• He does not chase after the son.
• He does not panic when the son walks out the door.
• He does not chase after the son.
How do you live and pray like the father when your loved ones run far from God? Here are a three thoughts for you to hold onto today:
First, the weight of your unsaved loved ones’ salvation is not on your shoulders.
Let that sink in for a moment. Drop your shoulders and exhale if you need to. Dear friend, I know you worry about their eternity, but your worry does not equal responsibility.
The father allowed the son to choose his own way. God is allowing your unsaved loved one to choose their own way, too. You can't control someone's choice to run from God.
What are some clues you're carrying the weight of their salvation? Nagging (not asking) them to go to church or constant check-ins about their spiritual life are clues you're doing too much. Also, if they're telling you to “back off,” or they shut down in conversations, this is clue for you to shift your words for them into prayer.
Remember, you came to faith on your knees, not on someone else's back. Give them the chance for the same type of authentic come-to-Jesus experience.
Second, God is not holding your loved ones' salvation hostage until you pray the perfect prayer a prayer certain number of times.
Again, the weight of your unsaved loved ones' salvation is not on you.
Should you pray for their salvation? Yes. James 5:16 reminds us that the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
This does not guarantee God will answer on your timeline or in the way you expect, but your prayers do have a supernatural effect. Do not stop praying! At the same time, put your faith in God's love for them and His timing. Don't put your faith in how much you're praying. That's making prayer about you, not God.
(If praying has felt frustrating or you are unsure what to say, January is a wonderful time to begin my Matthew: Pray Like This Bible study. It is designed to help you pray with confidence and clarity. You can find it here.)
Finally, God loves them and desires their salvation more than you do.
Here is a powerful reminder from Scripture:
“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” -2 Peter 3:9 NLT
This verse does not guarantee that everyone will accept Jesus. Sadly, some won't. But, you can rest assured that God loves your unsaved loved one and will give them every opportunity to be saved. Trust Him!
TWO RESOURCES FOR YOU!
Friend, thank you for joining me today.
1. I have included an extended prayer below if you need words today. Feel free to share this devotion with friends who are praying for unsaved loved ones.
2. I've included a link to a “Come to Jesus” Prayer card that you can print to help you be intentional about praying for others.
BONUS: PRAYER FOR YOU & YOUR UNSAVED LOVED ONES
FREE RESOURCE: Come to Jesus Prayer Card
Praying for others' salvation is an important part of living out our faith! Here's a card to help you be more intentional about praying for people to come to know Jesus. This “Come to Jesus” prayer card was adapted from a resource from my church. I have a card like this taped to my bathroom mirror so I'll see the names of people to pray for other. Click the link below to save this card (there are prayer prompts included!).
