Tim Challies has helpfully drawn together some ways in which the Bible can guide our prayers for unbelievers.

Here’s a summary:-

1. Praying for them

We begin with prayers for salvation. Each of these prayers seeks the same thing, but in a different way or from a different angle or using different language. Each of them is grounded in a specific text of Scripture.

‘Pray that God would circumcise their hearts,‘ Deut 30:6.

‘Pray that God would give them a heart of flesh,‘ Ezekiel 11:19.

‘Pray that God would put his Spirit within them,‘ Ezekiel 36:27.

‘Pray that they would come to Christ,‘ Matthew 11:28-30.

‘Pray that God would open their hearts to believe the gospel,‘ Acts 16:14.

‘Pray that God would free them from the slavery of sin,‘ Romans 6:17.

‘Pray that God would remove Satan’s blinding influence,‘ 2 Corinthians 4:4.

‘Pray that God would grant them repentance,’ 2 Timothy 2:25-26.

2. Praying for yourself

‘Pray that you will develop relationship with them,’ Romans 10:14.

‘Pray for opportunities to minister to them,’ Matthew 5:16.

‘Pray for them faithfully and persistently,’ Colossians 4:2; Luke 18:1-8.

‘Pray for a burden to plead for their souls,’ Romans 10:1.

‘Pray for boldness in generating and taking opportunities to speak the gospel,’ Ephesians 6:19.

‘Pray for other believers to encounter them,‘ 1 Corinthians 3:6.

3. Other Prayers

‘Pray that God would use any circumstance to do his work in them,’ Psalm 119:67; Matthew 6:10.

‘Pray that God would extend his mercy to them,’ 2 Peter 3:9.

‘Pray with confidence,‘ James 5:16.