Praying for your unsaved Loved Ones-Believing God’s Promises

When it comes to the Salvation of our loved ones, we often make the mistake of not believing what we are praying for. We say that we want our family to get saved but do we truly believe that they can? The word of God is very clear when it states in Acts 16:30-31 “And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Not only is the free gift of Salvation given to any person that asks but the Lord is also making sure that we know that the offer of Salvation is for our entire household. It then boils down to whether you take the Lord’s Word at face value or not. As believers of Jesus Christ it is our responsibility to diligently pray for the Salvation of our family members, friends, co-workers, and even strangers.

Let’s take a look at two other passages of Scripture that give us insight on having full assurance in God’s Word. Mark 11:22-24 details “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

The words “not doubt” being used here is the Greek word “diakrinō” which means: nothing doubting, wholly free from doubt. The word “believe” being used here is the Greek word “pisteuō” which means: to trust in Jesus or in God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something. So, when we break down these two powerful words we can see that the Lord is revealing to us that we are to believe wholeheartedly with no doubting that He is able to help us receive what we are asking Him for.

As long as what you are requesting from Him aligns with His Word He will help you move that mountain out of the way. Let’s take a deeper look into what the word mountain means. It is the Greek word “oros” which means: to accomplish most difficult, stupendous, and incredible things. Bringing a family member to Jesus Christ can feel like moving a mountain. If they are living in sin and don’t want to hear anything about Jesus Christ it is our job to intercede on their behalf regardless of how difficult it may seem.

Another passage of Scripture that describes moving a mountain is found in Matthew 17:20 and it states, “So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Here we can see the same meaning of the word mountain being used.

The Lord is reiterating the fact that unbelief is one of the main reasons why you don’t see your prayers being answered. Then He goes on to say that having faith (belief) as small as a mustard seed can move a mountain out of the way. When you pray for a person’s salvation you want to pray from a place of belief and not from a place of doubt.

Another example of what happens when you have doubt and unbelief in your heart is found in James 1:6-7. It states, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.”

Here we can see that the Lord is clear that we are to ask Him in faith with absolutely no doubt because a person that doubts should not expect to receive anything form the Lord. God wants us to continually increase our faith and it should not ever remain stagnant. Why is it critical to have faith in the first place? The fact is that without having faith it is impossible to please God, Hebrews 11:6.

The passage also details that those that believe that God is Whom He says He is will be rewarded for diligently seeking Him. One of the rewards that the Lord gives those that come to Him in absolute faith are answered prayers. As long as they do not go against God’s Word we can have whatever it is that we are asking Him for. We must walk by faith and not walk by sight or by what things may look like on the outside, 2 Corinthians 5:7. We serve a mighty God!

We have to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord wants every single person, no matter who it is, to be saved. Jesus Christ died a painful death on the Cross at Calvary so that our sin debt would be paid in full thus allowing us the opportunity to have the free gift of Salvation. This includes every member of your family, friends, and strangers that you meet every single day.