on the lost

Father,

We come into Your presence and we acknowledge You. You are here.

You are the Shepherd who leaves the 99 for the 1 that was lost. You are the Father who runs toward the prodigal son. You are the One who looked over the crowds, saw they were helpless, and chose to lay down Your life.

Your Word tells us we are not our own — we belong to You.

So before we ask for anything…

Forgive us.

Forgive us for growing comfortable being surrounded by light while others are stumbling in the dark. Forgive us for the apathy that has settled into our hearts. Forgive us for judgment that rose up where mercy should have lived. Forgive us for deciding it wasn’t our responsibility to speak that difficult person about you.

Soften what has hardened in us.

You see what we cannot see. You feel the ache of every soul that is far from You.

And Lord, we confess — sometimes we don’t.

Awaken us.

When indifference creeps in, shake us. When fear silences us, strengthen us. When pride makes us feel superior, humble us.

Give us Your eyes.

When we encounter people who don’t know You — who don’t long for You, who reject You — let us see eternity in them.

Let us see beyond behavior. Let us see the wound underneath. Remind them they are deeply loved. Equip us with the heart to show them Your love.

Because you did not avoid the broken, Lord. You touched lepers. You dined with sinners. You sat at tables no one else would sit at.

Interrupt our comfort. Place specific names on our hearts. Wake us up to pray for them. Burden us in ways that produce action.

Let us not treat the lost like projects, but like family not yet home.

If we feel afraid, give us courage. If we feel inadequate, remind us — You are the One who saves.

And never let us forget —

We were once lost. We were once blind and deceived. We were once wandering, empty, broken, without hope. Slaves to sin. Chasing pleasure. Searching for meaning.

And You came for us.

You pursued us with relentless love. You sent Your Son to pay a debt we could never pay.

So help us pursue the resistant the way You pursued us.

Make us willing to stretch our schedules, risk awkwardness, stay present when it would be easier to withdraw.

May their stories weigh on us. May our hearts ache. May our eyes weep at the sight of sin like You wept over Jerusalem.

You stretched out Your hands all day to a rebellious people. You spoke with gentleness. Teach us how to love without compromising truth.

Give us that same courage. That same patience. That same desire for all to come to repentance.

In our church. At work. In our families. In friendships where we have stayed silent.

Don’t let us leave this room without carrying someone in prayer. Trust us with someone’s story Lord. And let heaven increase because we said yes, Lord send me.

We thank you Lord for this great blessing.

In your heavenly name we pray Amen.