Have you thought about someone you love – a family member or a friend, and felt your heart break because they seem so far from God? I think we’ve all had that experience.
We feel so powerless. Most of the time we can’t talk them into believing the truth. It’s hard to watch those we love make big mistakes in life. But here's the truth: You are not powerless.
Today, I want to show you how praying just 5 minutes a day can lead those you love to Christ - to life.
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As promised, the link to: How to Pray For Lost Loved Ones
by Dutch Sheets https://amzn.to/4gQgXbi This is an affiliate link.
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**Why Don't People Believe?
Imagine trying to pour water through a completely blocked filter. That's how the gospel sounds to someone whose spiritual ears are closed. They can’t hear it. Their hearing is filtered through their thoughts, their emotional wounds,, false beliefs, and twisted desires from our culture. These totally block their ability to see or hear the truth that would set them free.
2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
So when someone you love rejects Jesus they aren’t making a rational, informed decision. They literally “can’t see” the truth. That’s why your and my prayers are so important. They can’t set themselves free because they don’t even know they are in Satan’s prison, sentenced to death.
**You Are God’s Answer to the Spiritual Blindness of Those You Love
2 Corinthians 10:3 NLT, 4 NIV, 5 NASB
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of strongholds 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
Your prayers have divine power to demolish strongholds. You pray and God applies His power to tear down the strongholds in the lives of those you love. Strongholds aren’t demons, they are the areas in people’s lives where Satan holds people captive,.
Dutch Sheets, explains:
1 Speculations- logismos (Greek) – MINDSETS/WORLDVIEW
Logismos is the sum total of the accumulated wisdom and information learned over time. It becomes what one really believes - the person’s mindset or worldview. Mindsets are our mental filters.
2 “Every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God” -,hupsoma – PRIDE
Hupsoma has the same root word as “Most High” God. This is the root of pride. In Genesis 3:5 Satan led Adam and Eve into the first sin with “You too shall be as God.” And he has been holding millions of people captive with this deception ever since.
3 “taking every thought captive” to the obedience of Christ – noema – UNGODLY THOUGHTS, TEMPTATIONS, AND SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL
“The word “thought” is noema, which also means plans, schemes, devices or plots. It refers to the spontaneous thoughts and temptations satan uses to control people, also his ongoing schemes and plans.”
**5 Minute Prayer to Save Your Lost Loved Ones
Pray 2 Corinthians 10:4
“Father I pray in your authority. You gave me divine power for my prayers to destroy these strongholds in (person you love – I’ll use a name: Ruth).
1. MINDSETS/WORLDVIEW (logismos)
What mindset is controlling (Ruth)? You may know. It may be a false religion, materialism, socialism, addiction, etc. If you don’t know ask and God will tell you.
Pray: “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I am destroying you [name the controlling spirit]. You may no longer blind [Ruth], deceive her or keep her in darkness. I pray in Jesus name and by the power of His blood. Open her mind so she can see.
2. PRIDE - hupsoma
Pray 2 Corinthians 10:5 over the one you love:
“[I am] destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God” in (Ruth’s) life. Jesus, bring her to her knees with joy as she receives Your salvation.”
3. “taking every thought captive” to the obedience of Christ
“Using the power God gave me in 2 Corinthians 10:5, I take every thought captive in (Ruth’s) mind. I reject every ungodly thought, temptation, and deception. (Ruth) shall know the truth and the truth will set her free. (John 8:32)
Pray these 5 minute prayers for one person you love today. Tomorrow. And every day. Pray until the strongholds have been torn down and the one you love is no longer blinded by Satan, but can see the light of the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We must fight for those we love. Nehemiah 4:14
5 minutes a day. 1,825 minutes a year. Over 30 hours a year tearing down deceptions and lifting the one you love to God. How big an impact could you make in 30 hours of focused, consistent prayer?
You can literally change a life in just 5 minutes a day. Let’s pray!