There are people in my life who I care very much about who are also far from Jesus. I pray from them frequently as a Pastor and friend. I have developed three very pointed prayers about each situation through the years.

1. Pray that circumstances in their life will open the doors to the gospel. This asks God to work in their situation and do things that might open their hearts to hear about Jesus. This can be as small as an unexpected bill a friendly Christian pays or as big as the doctors asking for more tests. My prayer is that God will do things that might lead to Christian conversations.

2. Pray that God would send people into their lives in the name of Jesus. All of us are powerfully swayed by the friends who surround us. One positive influence can change the direction of a person’s life. My prayer is that God would send a co-worker, team member, new neighbor, or someone into their life to bring that positive impact for Jesus.

3. Pray that I would have the right words to say at the right time. I know my life will be connected with them because of our relationship. I want to ensure that I do not miss opportunities to share Jesus when we are together, but I also do not want to overwhelm someone when they are uninterested. My prayer is that God will make me wise in my every interaction.

When I have a non-Christian in my life, I do not pray that God will save them. I am not seeking him to overpower their will and make them into reluctant children forced to state their love. I want them to come to Jesus and have a genuine personal relationship with him. So these are the three prayers I regularly pray for those who need Jesus.