How can I pray for someone who doesn't believe in Jesus?

Praying for someone who doesn't believe in Jesus is a profoundly compassionate and spiritually enriching act. It reflects the heart of Christ, who came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). As a non-denominational Christian pastor, I believe that prayer is a powerful tool that can bridge the gap between belief and unbelief. It’s an act of love, intercession, and faith in God’s transformative power.

When praying for someone who doesn't believe in Jesus, it is essential to approach God with a heart full of love, humility, and hope. Here are some guiding principles and thoughts to consider:

Pray with Compassion and Love

First and foremost, let your prayers be motivated by genuine love and compassion for the person. Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). When you pray, ask God to fill your heart with His love for the person you are praying for. This love will drive your prayers and ensure that they are sincere and heartfelt.

Seek God’s Will

It is crucial to align your prayers with God’s will. In 1 Timothy 2:3-4, Paul writes, "This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." God desires the salvation of all people, including those who do not currently believe in Jesus. Pray that God’s will be done in their life and that He would draw them to Himself.

Pray for Open Hearts and Minds

Ask God to soften their heart and open their mind to receive His truth. In Ezekiel 36:26, God promises, "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." Pray that God would remove any barriers that prevent them from seeing the truth of the Gospel and that He would give them a receptive heart.

Pray for Opportunities

Pray for opportunities for yourself and others to share the love of Christ with them. Colossians 4:3 says, "At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ." Ask God to create situations where the Gospel can be shared naturally and effectively. Pray for wisdom and courage to speak the truth in love when those opportunities arise.

Pray for Protection from Spiritual Warfare

Recognize that unbelief is often influenced by spiritual forces that oppose God. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." Pray for protection from these spiritual forces and that God would break any strongholds that keep them in unbelief.

Pray for Personal Transformation

Pray that God would work in their life in ways that reveal His presence and power. Sometimes, personal experiences of God's goodness, faithfulness, and love can open a person's heart to the Gospel. Pray that God would bless them, guide them, and provide for their needs in ways that make His presence undeniable.

Use Scripture in Your Prayers

Incorporating Scripture into your prayers can be powerful. God's Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12), and praying Scripture aligns your prayers with God’s promises and truth. Here are a few Scriptures you might use:

• John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
• Acts 16:31: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
• Romans 10:9: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Pray with Persistence

Jesus taught about the importance of persistent prayer in the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8). Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. Keep praying faithfully and trust that God is at work even when you cannot see it.

Trust in God’s Timing

God’s timing is perfect, and He often works in ways that we cannot understand. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, "He has made everything beautiful in its time." Trust that God knows the best time and way to reach the person you are praying for. Be patient and continue to pray, knowing that God is sovereign and His plans are for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

Pray for Yourself

Praying for someone’s salvation can be emotionally and spiritually taxing. It’s important to also pray for yourself. Ask God to strengthen your faith, give you wisdom, and fill you with His peace. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you in how to pray and interact with the person you are praying for.

A Sample Prayer

Here is a sample prayer that incorporates these principles:

"Dear Heavenly Father, I come before You with a heart full of love and compassion for [Name]. I thank You for creating them and for the unique person they are. Lord, I know that You desire all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, and I pray that You would draw [Name] to Yourself.

Father, I ask that You soften their heart and open their mind to receive Your truth. Remove any barriers that prevent them from seeing the beauty and truth of the Gospel. Give them a heart of flesh and take away any heart of stone.

Lord, I pray for opportunities to share Your love with [Name]. Open doors for conversations about faith and give me the wisdom and courage to speak the truth in love. I also pray that You would send other believers into their life to be a witness to Your love and grace.

I recognize that there are spiritual forces at work that oppose Your truth, and I pray for protection for [Name]. Break any strongholds of unbelief and reveal Your power and presence in their life.

Father, I ask that You work in [Name]'s life in ways that reveal Your goodness and faithfulness. Bless them, guide them, and provide for their needs in ways that make Your presence undeniable.

I pray Your Word over [Name] and declare Your promises: 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life' (John 3:16). 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household' (Acts 16:31).

Lord, I commit to praying persistently for [Name], trusting in Your perfect timing and sovereign plan. Strengthen my faith, give me wisdom, and fill me with Your peace. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit in how to pray and interact with [Name].

Thank You, Father, for hearing my prayer. I trust that You are at work even when I cannot see it. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen."

Praying for someone who doesn't believe in Jesus is a beautiful expression of faith and love. It requires patience, persistence, and trust in God’s sovereign plan. Remember that God’s love for them is even greater than yours, and He is always at work to draw people to Himself. Keep praying, keep loving, and trust that God will move in His perfect timing.