In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, the Scriptures command us to make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for all people. That includes non-believers who don’t share our faith in Christ the lost people who are yet to know the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, the Bible tells us to pray for all people whom God desires to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Hence, aside from praying for the well-being of non-believers, what we pray for is their coming to know Christ and their salvation.
Father in heaven, I pray that those non-believers who do not know You will come to the knowledge of the truth, which is only found in the person of Jesus, for He is not just the truth but also the way and the life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
What Do You Pray for a Non-believer?
Mostly, what we pray for other believers is also what we pray for non-believers. Just as we pray for the well-being of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we also pray for non-believers. For example, if we have a non-believer friend who is sick, we pray for their healing and recovery. If they need provision, you can also pray for that. Anything regarding their well-being, you can present it to God in prayers (Philippians 4:6-7).
However, it is important to note that there are prayers you can only pray for believers, such as the grace to live a God-honoring life. Surely, believers desire to live a God-honoring life because, in Christ, they are already new creations with new hearts who desire to pursue holiness, being radically changed by the Gospel. Pursuing a godly life does not necessarily make sense for non-believers because they are still in sin. Also, there are prayer points that can only be prayed for believers because they are sons and daughters of God, a privilege that can only be found in Christ.
That is why the most important prayer we can pray for non-believers is for them to know Christ and be saved. The most important blessing they can receive is not healing from a certain sickness, financial provision, a job promotion, or any earthly blessing. Rather, the greatest blessing they can receive is Christ Himself, in which they have life. That is why Paul is radical in preaching Christ and the unsearchable riches found in Him (Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;).
How to Pray for a Non-Believer
How to Pray for a Non-believer?
We pray for non-believers either by praying for their well-being or for them to be saved. Mostly, we pray for both. When praying for their well-being, you must first know their needs. There are several ways for you to know this. You can start by directly asking or listening carefully whenever you have conversations with them. For example, you have a non-believing officemate, and he mentioned in your conversation that he is having a hard time at work. There, you can pray for strength upon him, whether face to face or on your own personal time with God. The second way is knowing through observation. Sometimes, we can know what to pray regarding the well-being of non-believers through what we observe in their lives. The third way is by the Holy Spirit. You may either ask the Holy Spirit about what you can pray for them, or the Holy Spirit can express to you what to pray for.
Father in heaven, I pray for my non-believing friend who is currently having a hard time at work. I pray for Your grace to be upon him and that You will give him the help and strength he needs to press on. Whatever strength he receives is only because of the grace You chose to show. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
As mentioned before, the important prayer we can pray for non-believers is for them to know Christ and be saved. That is simply because apart from Christ, there is nothing for them but wrath and death (Romans 1:18; Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.). Whatever good things non-believers have is all because of God’s common grace that He has shown the world. However, in Christ is freedom from sin, eternal life, forgiveness, newness of life, and adoption as God’s child. Christ is the very person whom every person needs.
How to Pray for a Non-Believer
We pray for non-believers to be saved by praying to the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts, turning them from hearts of stone to flesh (Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.). We also pray for the Holy Spirit to open their spiritual eyes so that they may see who Christ is (John 9:25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.). We pray for such things so that their hearts shall be softened and their spiritual eyes shall be opened so they may receive the Gospel, believe it, repent from their sin, and commit to follow Christ. Such is the difference between the blind man and the Pharisees. God’s grace changed the blind man’s heart, opening his spiritual eyes (John 9). The Pharisees, on the other hand, despite their knowledge of the law, missed out on Christ because they had hardened hearts and blinded eyes (Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.).
How to Pray for a Non-Believer
How to Pray for a Non-Believer
Holy Spirit, I pray for my friend, who is still a non-believer, that You would soften his heart as I preach the Gospel to him and open his spiritual eyes so that he may see the truth. Work in his heart that he may believe Christ’s work on the cross and turn away from the life of sin. Thank You because no one is too far from Your grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
You can pray these prayers for whoever non-believing person you know, whether they are family, friends, acquaintances, government leaders, etc. It is also important to know that just as we pray for them to know Christ and be saved, we should also do our part, which is to preach the Gospel itself for those non-believers. Pray also for those whom you cannot preach the Gospel to, like the lost people in another country, the president, etc. You can pray for them to have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and for the Christians around them to have the boldness to preach Christ to them.