Prayer for Our Lost Friends

In the powerful encounter on the Damascus road, Jesus called Paul (then Saul) to a mission that would transform countless lives. Notice that Jesus didn't just save Paul. He also sent Paul with a specific purpose.

This pattern of being rescued and then sent is central to our identity as followers of Christ. We have been saved from a story of oppression narrated by the enemy and into a far greater story of transformation narrated by Jesus!

We haven't been saved just to enjoy our salvation. Like Paul, we've been sent to participate in God's mission of rescuing others!

This great mission has to be rooted in prayer. As we begin to pray for our friends who don’t yet know Jesus, we align ourselves with God's heart for rescue and restoration.

Paul’s encounter with Jesus transformed not only his life but the lives of countless others. In his retelling of the event before King Agrippa, Paul shares the words Jesus spoke to him: “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:17-18, NIV).

This mission is not exclusive to Paul. It’s a glimpse into the heart of God - a heart that longs for the lost to come home to their heavenly Father. This means that:

• Whenever we pray for our lost friends to be saved, we participate in the rescue mission of Jesus.
• Every time we ask for their spiritual eyes to be opened, we help the light of Christ to shine in the darkness.
• Each day we pray for them to give their wholehearted allegiance to Jesus as Lord, we’re aligning ourselves with heaven’s agenda.

This kind of prayer requires both persistence and hope. It can feel discouraging when people don’t respond immediately. But Scripture is clear: God is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV).

So as you think about your lost friends, let’s pray for their:

• Spiritual eyes to be opened - That spiritual blindness would be removed, allowing them to see the reality of God's love and the truth of the gospel.
• Repentance - May our friends experience the liberating reality of wholehearted repentance and knowing that all their sins are fully forgiven through faith in Christ!
• Turning from darkness to light - This is a fundamental transformation in your friends’ lives, as they move from orientation around self, sin, and worldly values, and instead become centered on glorifying God and extending His Kingdom.
• Belonging to the church - As they choose to become incorporated into the body of Christ, joining and contributing fully to a local church family.

Your Next Steps

1. Who are three lost people in your day-to-day life who you would love to see come to Jesus? Write down their names.
2. For each person, what aspects of this prayer framework (spiritual sight, repentance, turning to the light, belonging to the church) do they most need? Be specific!
3. Perseverance-filled prayers get promise-filled answers, so pray for your three people every day until you see answers, or the Spirit releases you from that burden.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for rescuing me from darkness and bringing me into Your light. I pray for [name your three people] that You would open their eyes to see You as You truly are. Turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God. Help them to receive Your forgiveness and find their place in Your family. Use me as Your witness, just as You used Paul. Amen.

More Resources for You!

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