For the Lost
Read John 17:1–5
During the pandemic, it felt like the whole world shut down. At first, it seemed manageable, but soon days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months, and months turned to years. When the world forces you to look inward, it is easy to forget that you are part of something greater. Not just your circle and community, but the brotherhood of humanity. Those created in the image of God.
As we continue to pray to reconnect, we are looking out to the world, reconnecting with God’s people everywhere, and with God’s great commission, which was to go into all the world. This week we are exploring these prayers by following the prayer of Christ found in John 17.
The very first thing Christ addresses is that he is about to glorify the Father. He is saying that God granted him the authority to give eternal life. But he then describes the secret to eternal life in John 17:3 This is eternal life: That they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
That is our first prayer this week. We are praying for the lost. Not just friends and family by name but those you don’t know. Everyone. Today we are praying that God would be Glorified in their lives through the work of Christ and the eternal life he gives, and they would know you.
Prayer:
Father, we lift up the lost to you. We know that you desire all men would be saved, and we pray for that to happen in their lives. We ask you to gift them with faith and that any confusion or fallacies keeping them from knowing the truth or experiencing salvation would be overcome. We pray that you would guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Help us to be sensitive to your Holy Spirit concerning them. When we speak to them, help us speak your words and truth. We ask that you help us show them the same grace, love, and forgiveness that you have shown us. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.