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Praying for Change: The Power of Intercessory Prayer in Reaching the Unsaved
Let’s get at the heart of something that too often gets labeled as “passive” in Christian circles: prayer. We talk about evangelism, we strategize outreach, we design events, but the fiercest and most fruitful battleground in reaching the lost starts on our knees. And I’m not talking about a quick, half-hearted “Lord, help my neighbor get saved.” I mean real, persistent, faith-filled intercessory prayer for those who still need the hope of Christ.
Intercessory prayer just means standing in the gap, going before God on behalf of someone else. 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.” (ESV) Paul doesn’t just recommend it, he urges it. Because before the first seed is planted, before the first word is spoken, God is already moving through the prayers of His people.
If you think praying for the lost is just spiritual busywork, think again. Scripture is packed with examples of God responding to the prayers of His people. Moses pleaded for rebellious Israel, and God relented from judgment (Exodus 32:11-14). Paul’s heart broke for his countrymen, and he declared, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved” (Romans 10:1, ESV). Jesus Himself demonstrates this in John 17, praying for those who would one day follow Him long before they’d even heard His name.
So, why do we so often neglect intercessory prayer when it comes to evangelism? If we’re honest, maybe it’s because it’s hard, we want action, we want results, and prayer requires waiting and trusting in God’s timing instead of our hustle. But if you want to see real movement in the hearts of lost people, start praying for them by name, every day, and refuse to give up.
Here’s what happens when you really intercede for the unsaved:
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God softens your own heart. You’ll see your friend or family member not as a project, but as God sees them, someone made in His image, someone He deeply loves.
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God moves in their circumstances. You might not see it at first, but He arranges conversations, brings conviction, and nudges them toward truth in ways you’ll never fully understand this side of heaven.
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God prepares the supernatural work only He can do. No amount of clever argument or flashy program can open a spiritually blind heart; that’s God’s territory (2 Corinthians 4:6). But He honors the prayers of His people.
Let’s get practical. Don’t pray generic prayers. Write the names of five unsaved people and pray specifically for them every day. Put this list on your bathroom mirror so that you see it and are reminded to pray for those people every time you look in the mirror. Ask God to open doors for spiritual conversations. Pray for their hearts to be softened, their minds to be open, and their circumstances to push them toward real neediness for God. Ask for boldness for yourself, not just to talk, but to really love, listen, and obey when God nudges you.
At The Crossings, we’re not just a church that prays over dinner or before a meeting. We believe God changes people (and whole communities) through prayerful intercession. What could happen if every one of us got serious about praying for our friends, neighbors, and family members who are far from God? Don’t stop at a single prayer, press in. Be like the persistent widow Jesus celebrated in Luke 18, who refused to quit.
Revival rarely starts in pulpits or programs; it starts with desperate people storming heaven on behalf of the lost. Let’s fill Brunswick, and beyond, with the sound of a people who truly believe prayer moves mountains. That’s where change starts, and only God knows where it will end.
Pastor Justin |
