A Prayer for Loved Ones Who Are Far from God

As believers we know where true hope is found. We’re incredibly grateful for the love and forgiveness of Christ. We’ve been set free; redeemed for His purposes.

And yet, as most all of us know so very well, not everyone shares our desire to walk close and stay connected to God. Which often leaves us with an ache deep inside. The truth is: many are lost. Still wandering, searching, or drifting farther away from God.

God reminds us again and again that prayer is powerful. Praying God’s Word over those we love is speaking His truth over their lives as it builds our own faith.

A Prayer for Friends and Loved Ones Who Are Far from God:

Dear God,

We’re thankful that you know our hearts, you hear our prayers, and you care about all that concerns us. Thank you that you understand these burdens we carry and how we want, more than anything, to see our loved ones come to you. Help us to remember that you love them more than we ever could. And that you desire to extend your great love and forgiveness to the deepest part of their soul. We are forever grateful for your healing power, for your gift of mercy, and your message of hope.

Thank you Lord that nothing is too difficult for you. Thank you that your power is unlimited, and you came to set the captives free. Thank you that you wait, arms open, for the prodigal to return, that you look for his arrival to lavishly celebrate that he’s come home.

We praise you for you are Redeemer and Rescuer, Savior and Lord. We know and believe that there’s no pit so deep that your love can’t reach us still. We understand that your mercies are new every morning, and your faithfulness is great.

Dear God, we ask that you would stop every plan of the enemy over those we love as we bring them before you right now. We pray that you demolish his schemes and that your plans for good, for a future and hope, would prevail. Please open up blind eyes that they might see your truth. We believe in you to rescue those walking in darkness, and to heal the deep wounds of all who have been hurt. We pray for the miraculous intervention of your Spirit to draw them to yourself, to work strongly on behalf of our loved ones who are lost and wandering.

For you came with good news, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for captives and release for the prisoners. Though we deserved penalty for our wrong, you stood in our place and took the blows on our behalf.  You chose to die so that we can live forever, and we could be free.

Lord, forgive our unbelief. Please forgive the times we’ve doubted that you could ever change a distant heart. Forgive our hard-heartedness, our weariness, or forgetfulness to pray continually. And thank you God, that you never give up on us. Remind us again of how you’ve changed our own hearts; how your miracle of life and hope has sprung up deep within our souls.

We love you Lord; we need you today and every day. We thank you that you hear our prayers and believe that you are at work even now. Powerfully. Faithfully. And miraculously. Doing what only You can do.

Thank you again for the most wonderful gift of our Savior, God with us. Thank you for your great goodness and love.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

15 Verses of Hope to Remind Us, God Is at Work to Seek and Save Those Who Are Lost:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…” (Isaiah 61:1)

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

“…With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

“Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

“He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.” (Psalm 40:2)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…” (John 6:44)

“I will feed my flock and I will lead them to rest,” declares the Lord God. “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick…” (Ezekiel 34:15-16)

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4)

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.” (Matthew 18:13-14)

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Remember this When You’re Ready to Give Up Praying:

God’s hope for us this season is this: He is Able. Keep on praying my friends, for all those you love whose hearts seem far away. Don’t ever give up.

There may be friends and family we love who have pushed away any need of Him, they’ve chosen another path.  And maybe others we hold dear, have bought into the lie; that other things in this world can satisfy. Broken relationships, hurt, or harsh words may lead many to stay distant. And at times, there seems to be such a deep rift, it feels almost impossible that they’d ever be drawn towards the love of Christ.

Yet no matter what the reason, or how far gone our friend or loved one seems to have traveled, it doesn’t change this assuring fact. God’s love reaches. It’s never too short to save, and He’s never too weary of extending more grace. His power is limitless. His forgiveness is endless.

The very reason Christ came was to seek and to save that which was lost. He came to reach. It’s what He does best. And the arm of the Lord is mighty and strong.

Yet sometimes, we may start to lose our hope. We don’t see how anything will ever change. The answer doesn’t seem to come quickly. Maybe we get tired of praying and waiting. Or we fear for the future and eternal security of those we love most in this world. We understand the reality that no one is guaranteed tomorrow. That deep burden can so tug at our souls, press on our minds, it’s hard to keep moving forward in faith.

But we don’t have to pray from an attitude of fear and worry. We can pray strong prayers in the authority of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Be assured again today that He is at work, often behind the scenes where we can’t see. He’s ordering steps. Directing pathways. He’s protecting and shielding. He’s covering and caring. He desires for all to come to Him and will stop at nothing to draw our loved ones to Himself. He sees your heart and hears your prayers. May He work powerfully on behalf of all these we love.

Peace.

This article is part of our Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.

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