A child, spouse, or a friend… watching someone close to us turn their backs on the faith is a heartbreaking experience. But, God is good! Though our loved ones turn their backs on God, God never turns His back on them!

We cannot save our loved ones. Only God can do that. But there are two things we can do. One, we can trust God’s promises. And, two, we can pray.

Here are 10 prayers for the prodigals in our lives.

Prayers for the prodigal 10 prayers from scripture

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Philippians 1:6

And I am certain that God, who began a good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

I pray, Lord, that you who began a good work in ______, will continue this work until it is finally finished on the day Christ Jesus returns.

Ezekiel 34:16

I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak.

Lord, thank you for your faithfulness to ______. I pray you will search for your lost one, ______, who strayed away and bring them safely home again.

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Matthew 18: 12-14

(Parable of the Lost Sheep) If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.

Oh, Heavenly Father, in your loving kindness it is not your will for any of your sheep to perish. Have mercy on _______ and as the good shepherd, I pray you will search for _______ who is lost and return them safely to the flock.

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.

You have promised to search for the ones who have strayed. I praise you and thank you that I can trust in your promise to not let ________ perish!

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Thank you, Lord, for both your patience with _______, and your desire for _________ not to perish. I pray you will lead _________ to repentance.

Luke 5:31-32

Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Thank you Father for sending your son to call the sick. I pray ________ will recognize their sinful nature and be led to repentance.

Luke 15:24

“For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.

Oh, Lord, I pray that ________, who is lost, will be found again! Lead _________ back to you, Gracious Father. Make them alive again.

Hebrews 7:25

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him (Jesus), because he always lives to intercede for them.

Thank you Holy Father for sending your son Jesus in order that through him we have a path to you. Thank you Jesus for interceding with God on ________’s behalf. Lord, I pray that ________ will find the path to Jesus that leads to you.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Thank you, God, for loving us and giving us your Son for our salvation. I pray that _________ will believe in you, that they would not perish, and that they would have eternal life.

Acts 3:19

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

I pray that _________ will repent of their sins and turn back to you so that their sins may be wiped away and their soul refreshed.