Nancy Duggin
Editor’s Note: This column is Part 2 of a three-part series on prayer. Part 1. “Believers Should Answer Call to Intercede for Lost,” appeared in the Sept. 10, 2025, issue and can be found here.
Statistically, millions of our Tennessee friends, family and neighbors have no relationships with Jesus Christ. There is no shortage of opportunity to intercede on their behalf, but where to begin? Begin by asking the Holy Spirit to increase our passion for the spiritually lost and guide us in how we should pray and engage them in purposeful ways.
In Ephesians 1:17-19, Paul prayed the following for believers, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” As we grow in our understanding of Paul’s words, we will grow in our relationship with the Father and be better equipped to share the gospel with boldness.
At the end of each worship service at the church I attend, the words “you are sent” are shared. What are we being sent to do, one might ask? Living a “sent life” means we are aware of the work of the Holy Spirit to draw others to Jesus and how we are to engage those He is drawing.
We simply join God in what He is already doing. I have prayed phrases from the Ephesians passage for a neighbor who suddenly began wondering about Jesus and His claim to be the “way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).
My goal is to focus on asking open-ended questions to allow for ongoing conversation. If someone states they do not believe in Jesus or the Bible, I’ll usually ask them to share what has led them to that belief or conclusion. I want them to truly reflect on what they say they believe.
Be attentive to how they answer and the questions they ask. These serve as great starters for future conversations. I focus on what the Bible states and not so much on what I think. God’s Word is the final authority.
Right now, pray the prayer from Ephesians for yourself. Take a moment and ask God to send the Spirit of wisdom and revelation on those for whom you are praying.
We know we are to share the gospel; however, only the Holy Spirit can convict and bring understanding of who Jesus is. Pray that the “eyes of his heart may be enlightened.” You might not see the results of your prayers immediately; however, do not give up — do not become discouraged. Keep praying.
Here is my prayer for us as believers as we seek to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. Feel free to join me in this prayer if you find it helpful.
We come before You, Father God, with hearts bowed in humility, yearning for Your presence through the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. We lift up those who find themselves longing for more — more hope, more direction, more of what is true and everlasting. Stir within them a hunger that cannot be satisfied by the fleeting things of this world, but that draws them closer to Your heart as their Creator.
Open their minds to conversation about You. Remove any barriers of complacency, and awaken a passion that burns for Your truth and life-giving water. Grant us, as Your people, the discernment to receive what is holy, and the courage to share Your truth in gentle, loving ways. Let the longing in each heart become a pathway to deeper faith, guiding them to seek and find the fullness only You can provide.
We pray fervently against all forms of spiritual blindness and the obstacles that keep the lost from recognizing Your grace. Break down barriers that stand between them and Your truth. May their eyes be opened to see the wonder and hope that is found in You. B&R
