Jesus once told a story about a shepherd who lost one sheep. He left 99 sheep in the fold to go out into the mountains and search for the single lost sheep. (Matthew 18:11-14)
Of course, this story is a parable, and it’s actually about people. So I asked myself one day, “What are all of us safe, warm sheep in the fold doing while our shepherd is out hunting for the lost one?”
Kicked back in our recliners, watching the tube? Taking on a second job to pad the bank balance? Building up our muscles at the gym?
Nothing wrong with any of those activities. But we could add one more. We could be praying for those cold, lonely, lost souls.
And wouldn’t it be amazing if there were 98 other people praying for your lost loved one?
Below, you will find 31 brief, Scripture-based prayers, one for each day of the month. Each prayer has a blank where you can insert the name of the person for whom you are praying. (Prayers are based mainly on the King James version of the Bible.)
99 people praying for someone every day isn’t a magic ritual that will guarantee that person’s salvation. It is an expression of our love and concern for the lost and a way for us to participate with our dear Savior in the Kingdom business to which He has called us.
A Prayer a Day
1 Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom You sent into this world to save us, I pray that today, You will draw _ to Yourself. John 6:44
2 God, our Father, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, I pray that You will shine in the heart of _ to give him/her the light of the knowledge of Your glory in the face of Jesus Christ. II Cor. 4:6
3 Father, keep _’s sins ever before him/her until You bring him/her to repentance and he/she is willing to confess his/her transgressions. Then wash him/her whiter than snow with the blood of Jesus. Ps. 51:3,7
4 Lord, keep Your hand heavy upon _ until he/she acknowledges his/her sins. Then become his/her hiding place and surround him/her with songs of deliverance. Ps. 32:4-5,7
5 Gracious God, create a clean heart and a right spirit within _. Grant that he/she will one day teach sinners Your ways. Ps. 51:10, 13
6 Father, make _ like the Prodigal Son, coming to himself/herself and going to You, grateful just to be treated as a hired servant. Luke 15:17-19
7 Lord, give _ the grace and the faith to put off his/her old self with its deeds and to put on a new self, which is renewed in the knowledge of You. Col. 3:9-10
8 Father, show _ the life-giving wisdom of confessing the Lord Jesus with his/her mouth and believing in his/her heart that You raised Jesus from the dead. Rom. 10:9
9 Lord, bring __ under the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and set him/her free from the law of sin and death. Rom. 8:2
10 Lord Jesus – You Who ever lives to make intercession for Your sheep – I pray that You will save _ to the uttermost. Heb. 7:25
11 Lord of the harvest, I pray You will send laborers to _ to compel him/her to come to Your banquet. Matt. 9:38, Luke 14:23
12 Father, reveal to _ the hunger and thirst of his/her soul and then graciously reveal to him/her the rich nourishment available to him/her in Christ Jesus. Is. 55:1-2
13 Jesus, cry into _’s spirit today, “If you are thirsty, come unto Me and drink.” Help him/her to reach out to You for that water which will become a perpetual spring, watering him/her forever with eternal life. John 7:37, 4:14
14 Father, create in _ a desperate hunger for that Bread of Life Who came down from Heaven to give life unto the world. John 6:33
15 Lord of Glory, deliver _ from the god of this world who has blinded his/her mind, and let the light of Your glorious Gospel shine into him/her. II Cor. 4:4
16 Father, bring _ out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set his/her feet on the Rock. Establish his/her goings and put a song of praise in his/her mouth. Ps. 40:2-3
17 Lord, make _ accepted in the beloved. Reveal to him/her the mystery of Your will so that, in the fullness of time, You may gather him/her to Yourself. Eph. 1:6, 9-10
18 Father of Glory, give unto _ the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You; enlighten the eyes of his/her understanding so that he/she may comprehend the greatness of Your power to all who believe. Eph. 1:17-19
19 Father, I ask You to bind the prince of the power of the air from _, and I pray that You will, by Your grace, quicken him/her together with Christ. Eph. 2:2, 5
20 Father, by grace save _ through faith. Reveal to him/her that salvation comes not by works, but only by faith, as a free gift. Eph. 2:8-9
21 Lord, strengthen _ with might by Your Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in his/her heart by faith and that he/she may be able to comprehend the enormity of Your love. Eph. 3:16-19
22 Father, the Word says that, whenever I pray according to Your will, You will grant my petition. It also says that it is Your will for everyone to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. So, I confidently ask You to save _. I John 5:14-15, I Tim. 2:4
23 Lord, help _ to get the wisdom and understanding that will keep him/her off of the path of the wicked. Instead, cause him/her to walk in the ever-brightening light of Your favor. Prov. 4:5, 14, 18
24 Father, reveal the good tidings of Jesus to _. Bind up his/her broken heart; proclaim liberty to him/her; and open the door of his prison. Is. 61:1
25 Lord, give _ beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Help him/her grow up into a mighty tree of righteousness. Is. 61:3
26 Father, reveal the truth to _ so that the truth can set him/her free. John 8:32
27 Lord, grant that _ will one day present his/her body as a living sacrifice unto You and that he/she will not be conformed to this world, but will be transformed by the renewing of his/her mind. Rom. 12:1-2
28 Father, send forth the Spirit of Your Son into _’s heart crying, “Abba, Father.” Gal. 4:6
29 Lord, grant that one day soon _’s knee shall bow at the name of Jesus and his/her tongue shall confess, “Jesus Christ is my Lord.” Phil. 2:10-11
30 Father, show _ that the things he/she thinks are valuable now are nothing compared to Christ. Phil. 3:7
31 Jesus, I pray that You will stand at the door of _’s heart and knock until he/she lets You in.
Rev. 3:20
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