I remember my mom trying to teach her four very young children to pray at bedtime. She would pray with thanks for the day, peace for our dreams and petitions for the needy. Sometimes when she would pray too long to suit us, my younger brother would interrupt with “…and we pray for all the people in China, by name they are….” Sometimes this is the overwhelming feeling I have when I consider praying for a lost world. It is a God sized job. So I humbly submit some suggestions from the Word:

1. Know God. “In all your ways, know Him, and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)
2. Ask God. “If anyone lacks wisdom let him ask God.” (James 1:5). For we do not know what to pray, but “the Spirit Himself intercedes for us”-helping us in our weaknesses. (Romans 8:26) The Spirit knows perfectly the mind and will and power of God. Our prayers are unstoppable when we pray according to His will. (1 John 5:14-15)
3. Pray like Christ. Pray His kingdom would come and His will would be done on earth. Consider all the places where His Name is not worshiped. Pray for these places. Pray for God to send out workers into the harvest. Pray for the gospel to go forth like an unquenchable wildfire.
4. Pray for light to shine in dark places. “For God who said, ‘let light shine out of darkness’, made His light shine into our hearts to give us the light of the gospel.” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Pray those who are blind would see and that those in darkness would be drawn to the light.
5. Pray for good news to reach the poor, healing to come to the broken-hearted, freedom to come to the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners. (Isaiah 61:1). Pray for Christ to be glorified and the Spirit of the Lord to set them free. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
6. Remember. Don’t forget our brothers and sisters at work in the world. We can help them by our prayers. Pray that Christ might “meet all their needs according to the riches of His supply in Christ.” (Phil 4:19). Pray that God’s strong arm would support them and that the joy of the Lord would be their (and our) strength. Pray especially for those suffering for the sake of the gospel.
7. Release power. Our prayers are powerful and effective for the removal of strongholds. “A wise man has great power and a man of understanding increases strength. For waging war you need guidance and for victory many advisors.” (Proverbs 24:5-6)
8. Pray Together. Encourage one another so we don’t lose heart or give up praying. “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work…though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 12). Jesus said “pray at all times and don’t lose heart.” (Luke 18:1)
9. Pray now. If we wait until we have finished praying for everything else, we will never pray for a lost world. While we are praying for others -God will “accomplish all things concerning us.” (Psalm 57:2).
10. Pray big. “Ask of me and I will give you the nations as your inheritance.” (Psalms 2:8). Nothing is impossible with God.