Praying for a Resistant Loved One

Probably you have a loved one you pray fervently for.  Someone who has walked away from the Lord, or who has never even met Him.  Someone who is making destructive choices for his/her life—choices that frighten you for the future.  Someone who has turned his/her back on all that you value in life. Someone who has even turned away from you.

You have reached out, loved, provided, cared, preached, rescued—and of course, prayed. I know.  I’ve been there.  And I’ve found that sometimes I need some help in this battle.  And it is a battle.

The following prayers have been helpful to me and to many in our Prayer for Prodigals community.  Perhaps you will find some courage and encouragement as you bring these prayers—a few or all—to the Lord. 

1.  God would give him a deep sense of how valued, loved, special, accepted he is to Jesus; and that he was created for very high purposes that are far more exciting and challenging than anything he can create himself.

2.  He would soften her heart and awaken her conscience, and remove any spiritual blindness.

3.  God would reveal the truth about the people he is associating with: show him their true characters and motives and the final result of their lifestyles; that he would tear away the glamour and excitement that may cover up any sin involved (John 16:13, Gal. 5:19-26)

4.  God would draw her away from any relationships that are hindering God's purpose and leading her to ungodliness. (1 Cor. 15:33)

5.  He would reveal the Truth about his own choices and where he is headed—see the rewards in his good choices and the destructive consequences in any bad ones. (2 Cor. 7:9)

6.  Holy Spirit would keep pursuing her and not let her rest, but lead her to complete repentance; cause her to feel no peace when involved in anything sinful and very at peace when doing things that are according to God's will.

7.  God would retake any ground given to Satan by his actions and exposure to ungodly people and activities.

8.  Holy Spirit would bring to her memory many of the Scriptures she memorized in earlier years, that her mind would be flooded with the Word of God--whatever He knows she needs to be reminded of (John16:13, 2 Cor. 8:9, Gal. 3:24).

9.  God would show him in an unforgettable way that He is alive, very real, powerful, holy, personal, standing with open arms, but will not be mocked.

10.  He would humble her and get her attention, as gently as possible.

11.  God would bring Christians out of the woodwork and he would constantly be bumping into them; they would remind him of the positive experiences he had with God's family and be pulled to desire to be part of His family's fellowship.

12.  He would create in her a sense of needing her family, and opportunities for her to "need" us and for us to know the best way to show love to her.

13.  He would not allow him to "get away with" anything illegal or immoral--he would know there are immediate and long-term consequences to disobedience and disregard for God

14.  Her self-sufficiency and trust in her own efforts apart from God would not work or satisfy so she sees her need to yield to and depend on Him (John 15:5, 1 Cor. 3:18-20).

15.  God would make some supernatural provision for specific needs he has, e.g., job, car, so that he knows it is from God.

16.  God would put a hedge of thorns around her, to keep her from going her own wrong way and to protect her from the evil one.

17.  God would continually show him/her that He loves him/her and is full of compassion, mercy and grace as He calls him/her to come back, where there will be a great celebration.

What about you? How have your prayed for your loved one?

(With gratitude to Nancy Beverly)