Prayers for Unsaved Loved Ones

Use these prayers for unsaved loved ones to pray for their salvation, that they would accept Jesus Christ into their hearts as their Savior.

If you’re a believer, one of the greatest desires and concerns you may be experiencing is to see your unbelieving loved ones come to faith in Christ. You may have tried to share the gospel with them, and have gotten uninterested responses, or full-out rejections.

Maybe there has been some interest but not any movement towards commitment, or a readiness to give up a certain lifestyle. Perhaps you’re waiting for an opportunity to share the gospel with them, whenever you find yourself, know that the desire to see your loved ones come to Christ is a good desire, and it is one that you can bring to God in prayer.

We know from 2 Peter 3:9 that God’s desire is that no one would perish, but that everyone would be saved, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

As Christians, God has given us the mission to tell others about the saving work of Jesus on the cross. There is no greater love that we can show others, especially our loved ones, than sharing the gospel with them and praying for their salvation.

Prayers for Unsaved Loved Ones

1. Prayer for Their Eyes To Open To The Gospel

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:8-10

Father,

Thank You for granting me eyes to see Christ. I know that if it weren’t for Your grace, I wouldn’t be standing before You today. That’s the same for every other believer, it is not through our own desires or works that we are saved. You are the one who reaches out to us, and gives our hearts the ability to respond to the gospel. You are the one who allows the scales to fall from our eyes, and gives us the ability to comprehend the gospel.

Today I just want to pray for my loved ones whose eyes are still shut from beholding Your goodness, and whose hearts are unresponsive to Your truth. I ask that You would remove the veil from their eyes and show them Christ, like they’ve never seen Him before. May their eyes behold Your beauty, and wish to never lose sight of it again. Help them to see their desperate need for You, and to know that You offer salvation is a free gift of grace. May they take hold of that gift with both hands, and cherish it forever.

Help them to know that it is not a result of their works that salvation is possible, but that it is by grace through faith that they are saved. May their eyes be opened to the eternal life that You have for them, and how they can live their lives here for Your purposes, walking in the good works that You have prepared in advance for them to do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

2. Prayer That They Might Know God’s Peace

“Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” – Psalm 119:165

Lord,

Thank You for sending Jesus into the world, and bringing peace in the midst of the chaos. Sometimes it is so easy to get comfortable in this world, and to feel discouraged by what is going on around us.

Sin has run rampant since the fall, and sometimes it feels like it can’t possibly get worse, and then it does. But it is not only sin that concerns us in this world, it’s our everyday life experience. The responsibilities that we have, the burdens that we carry, the hardships or disappointments.

I can’t imagine how I could do life without You guiding me, providing for me, and being with me. It makes me think of my loved ones who don’t know You, and who are trying to do life apart from You.

I don’t know what they hold onto for hope in the hard times, or where they find strength to go through the day. All I know is that the world’s peace is not comparable to Yours. The world’s methods fall short, but Christ is all in all.

My prayer is that my unsaved loved ones will come to know Christ and the peace that He brings. Peace that surpasses all understanding. Peace that holds them together when they feel like they’re falling apart. Peace that carries them through each day, but also that lasts for eternity.

May their hearts grow to love Your law, and may they find great peace and comfort through Your promises. I pray that Your faithfulness will surround them, and that they will lay everything down at Your feet.

May they not only be at peace with You but may their relationship with You overflow into every other relationship in their lives. Grant them peace over any stressful situations, and may they seek You for comfort and strength.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

3. Prayer That God Would Soften Their Hearts

“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.” – Ezekiel 11:19-20

Dear God,

I just want to take a moment to thank You for Your love towards us. It is no small statement to say that while we were still sinners You demonstrated Your love for us through Christ’s death on the cross. He didn’t wait for us to love Him before He took up the cross, He died in our place while we still despised Him.

But You didn’t leave us that way. You knew that our hearts were hardened and that they were unresponsive to Your word, and a slave to sin.

But through Your love and grace You have made a way for our hearts to turn from sin and turn to You. Today I want to pray over every loved one of mine who doesn’t have a personal relationship with You.

My prayer is that You would reach into their hearts, and remove their hearts of stone and give them a heart of flesh. May the hold that sin has on them be broken, and may they know the freedom that is in Christ. Please give them an undivided heart, and put a new spirit in them.

May Your Holy Spirit live in them, and lead them on the path of righteousness. May they be Your expel, and follow Your decrees. Keep them from pursuing You in a legalistic way, rather, let their works be done out of the overflow of their love for You, and their service to You for Your grace towards them.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

4. Prayer That They Would Turn From Sin & Toward God

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” – Acts 3:19

Father,

I know that words can never be enough to thank You for the work of Christ that was done on the cross for our sins. Though He was sinless, He died for sinners. Though He was innocent, He hung between the guilty.

He took the place that was reserved for us, so that we might have peace with You, and break free from the curse of sin. Thank You so much for the gift of grace that extends to us.

The path of the world seems alluring and easy to walk. But its end is destruction. That is not a path that You desire for us, and it pains me to see my loved ones walking on that path, and further away from You.

I know that as long as it is today, there is an opportunity for them to be saved. You alone are able to reach into the heart of man and bring understanding into it. I ask that You would reach into the hearts of my loved ones, and allow them to see the gospel clearly.

May they come to know, and comprehend the great offense of their sin against You, and see how serious sin is. But not only that, may they behold the weight of Your glorious grace, and run to You at full speed.

May they repent, and leave behind their pursuit of sin and worldliness, and seek first the kingdom of God and all its righteousness. As they turn from sin, may they turn to face You, and see how beautiful You are.

May they taste and see that You are good, and may their thirst for Your presence and Your word be ever-growing. May they be refreshed in Your presence, and filled with Your Spirit.

In Jesus’ name, amen.