Praying for others
How to pray for someone's salvation, and keep loving them while you wait
· 2 min read
How to pray for someone's salvation, what to ask God for, Bible verses to pray for the lost, and how to keep praying and loving them over time.
To pray for someone’s salvation, ask God to open their eyes to the gospel, draw them to Jesus, and send people who will share the truth with love. Paul wrote, “my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved” (Romans 10:1). Salvation is God’s work, so we bring it to Him in prayer.
How do you pray for someone to be saved?
To pray for someone to be saved, ask God to open their eyes to the gospel, to draw them to Jesus, and to send people who will share the truth with them in love. Salvation is God’s work, so pray with both confidence and patience. Paul’s prayer for his own people was “that they may be saved” (Romans 10:1, ESV). Keep loving them while you pray.
What to pray for someone who doesn’t know Jesus
- That God would open their eyes. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
- That God would draw them. Jesus said no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them (John 6:44).
- For people to share the gospel with them. Ask God to send workers into the harvest (Matthew 9:38).
- For you. Pray for chances to speak, and for gracious words (Colossians 4:5-6).
Pray with confidence and patience
God desires “all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). That gives us confidence to pray. Many believers came to faith after years of someone praying for them, so keep going and don’t lose heart (Luke 18:1).
Keep the person in front of you with a prayer card and a verse.
A short prayer for someone’s salvation
“Father, I pray for Sam. Open his eyes to see Jesus. Draw him to Yourself. Send people into his life who love You and will tell him the truth. Give me patience, love, and the right words. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Love them while you pray
Praying for someone’s salvation goes with loving them. Be a good friend, listen, and live honestly. Your prayers and your life work together.
Keep praying in The Pray App
Make a prayer card for each person you’re praying will come to faith, and set it to come up as often as you’d like, daily or weekly. Add a verse like 2 Corinthians 4:6 to the card.
The Pray App is free on the App Store. See how to create a prayer card and how to pray for others.
Questions people ask
How do I pray for someone to be saved?
Pray that God would open their eyes to the gospel, draw them to Jesus, and send people who share the truth with love. Pray for your own words and actions too.
What Bible verse can I pray for someone's salvation?
Romans 10:1 shows Paul praying for Israel to be saved. 2 Corinthians 4:6 asks God to shine His light in hearts, and 1 Timothy 2:3-4 says God desires all people to be saved.
How long should I pray for someone's salvation?
Keep praying. Some people come to faith after years of others praying for them. Jesus told us to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1).
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