7 Ways to Pray for that One Who’s Drifted Away from God

Published by helloredds@gmail.com on

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I had the chance to be involved in a couple of Christian parenting events recently.

Much great information was shared, and lots of good discussions took place. It was a joy to be included in these events.

However, there was something I heard over and over that broke my heart.

Parents and grandparents are watching their kids pull away from God.

Children who once walked closely with Jesus are now out in the world frolicking and playing.

They’ve walked away from the Lord.


And, these parents’ (and grandparents’) hearts are breaking.

Most of us have a family member who doesn’t walk closely with Jesus anymore—maybe a child, maybe a grandchild, maybe a parent, or maybe even a spouse.

We’ve watched these loved ones drift away, fall away, pull away, and even run away from God.

Our hearts are broken over them, but we aren’t exactly sure what to do about it.


Our hearts are broken over them, but we aren’t exactly sure what to do about it. Click To Tweet


Can I suggest that you begin to SUPER SOAK this person who’s drifted away in prayer?

  • Invite your friends to pray.
  • Invite your family members to pray.
  • Ask your Bible study group to pray.
  • Pour out your prayers for this soul who has drifted.

7 Ways to Pray for that One Who Has Drifted Away from God


How should you pray?

I’d like to suggest 7 ways you can powerfully pray for that one who has drifted away from God.



First, pray that the one who has drifted will NOT ENJOY the pleasures of the world.

Verse“Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father.”  (1 John 2:15, MSG)

Prayer – “Father, I pray that _________ will not love the world or the world’s ways.

I pray that they will not love the world’s goods. Lord, don’t allow this world to squeeze out Your love in _________‘s heart.

Instead, open _________‘s heart back wide to You.”


Lord, don't allow this world to squeeze out Your love in my child's heart. Click To Tweet


Sometimes, those we love pull away from God. They drift. How can we help? Here are 7 ways to pray for that one who's drifted away from God. #driftedaway #drifted #pray #prayer


Second, pray that the one who has drifted will find the world to be EMPTY.

Verse – “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”   (Ecclesiastes 1:2, MSG)

Prayer – “Father, as _________ is out in this world seeking fun and pleasure, would You help them to come up empty?

Make things so empty, so meaningless, so dry, so desolate, and so hollow to _________.

Make them miserable in their sin and their pursuit of this world.”


Father, as my child is out in this world seeking fun and pleasure, would You help them to come up empty? Click To Tweet



Third, pray that they will TASTE THE KINDNESS of the Lord.

Verse“If in fact, you have [already] tasted the goodness and gracious kindness of the Lord.”   (1 Peter 2:3, AMP)

Prayer – “Lord, would You allow _________ to get a taste of Your goodness?

Would You give _________ a sweet taste of your gracious kindness?

Send into _________ ‘s world a great sense of how kind You are.”


Would You give my child a sweet taste of your gracious kindness? Click To Tweet


Sometimes, those we love pull away from God. They drift. How can we help? Here are 7 ways to pray for that one who's drifted away from God. #driftedaway #drifted #pray #prayer


Fourth, pray that the one who has drifted will EXPERIENCE THE LOVE of God’s people.

Verse – “A friend should treat a troubled person kindly, even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty.”  (Job 6:14)

Prayer – “Father, would You send some loving Christian friends into _________ ‘s life?

Would You allow _________ to experience the kindness of God’s people, especially now as _________ has pulled away from You?

Like never before in _________ ‘s life, they need godly people around them. Place these people in _________ ‘s world and use them to impact them.”


Would You allow my child to experience the kindness of God's people, especially now as he/she has pulled away from You? Click To Tweet



Fifth, pray that they will know HOW MUCH God loves them.

Verse“May you have power together with all the Lord’s holy people to understand Christ’s love. May you know how wide and long and high and deep it is.”  (Ephesians 3:18, NIRV)

Prayer – “Oh, Lord, would You allow _________ to understand Your love?

Would You help _________ to know how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is for the?

May _________ begin to grasp how very much You love them?”


Oh, Lord, would You allow my child to understand Your love? Click To Tweet


Sometimes, those we love pull away from God. They drift. How can we help? Here are 7 ways to pray for that one who's drifted away from God. #driftedaway #drifted #pray #prayer


Sixth, pray that the one who has drifted will BE DRAWN BACK to their first love.

VerseBut I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first.”  (Revelation 2:4-5, NLT)

Prayer – “Father, would You bring _________ back to their first love?

I remember when they first came into a relationship with You. They were so excited.

Would You encourage them to repent, turn back, and do the works they did at first?

Would You bring _________ back into a close relationship with You?”


Father, would You bring my child back to their first love? Click To Tweet



Seventh, pray that they will FALL DEEPLY in love with Jesus.

Verse“And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.”  (Deuteronomy 6:5, NLT)

Prayer – “Lord, would You draw _________ to Yourself?

Would You encourage _________ to fall deeply in love with You?

Inspire _________ to love You with all of their heart, their soul, and their strength.

Put people around them who sincerely love You. Use these people to prompt _________ to love You more.”


Would You encourage my child to fall deeply in love with You? Click To Tweet


Sometimes, those we love pull away from God. They drift. How can we help? Here are 7 ways to pray for that one who's drifted away from God. #driftedaway #drifted #pray #prayer


Special word… it may take a while for your loved ones to come back to the Lord.

Pray on!

Don’t lose heart.

Don’t give up!

In James 5:16, the Bible reminds us…

“The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.”


Sometimes, those we love pull away from God. They drift. How can we help? Here are 7 ways to pray for that one who's drifted away from God. #driftedaway #drifted #pray #prayer


The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Click To Tweet


Would you like to make a bigger deal about prayer? Here are some articles for you:

Add prayer to your day

https://melanieredd.com/surprisingly-simple-ways-add-prayer-day/

Praying for your teens

https://melanieredd.com/7-stellar-ways-to-pray-for-your-teenagers/

Praying for your middle schoolers

https://melanieredd.com/7-positive-ways-to-pray-for-your-middle-schoolers/

Praying for your young adults

https://melanieredd.com/5-fabulous-ways-to-pray-for-young-adult-children/



7 Ways to Pray for that One Who Has Drifted Away from God

I’ve created a printable just for you to use in your prayer times. 

Maybe you can keep it in your Bible? 

Right-click. Save. And, print!


Sometimes, those we love pull away from God. They drift. Here are 7 ways to pray for that one who's drifted away from God. #dirfting #awayfromGod #pullaway #backslide #hope #howtopray #prayer



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18 Comments

Randy · 08/29/2023 at 2:14 PM

Thank you so much. I’ve casted many prayers for my son that is going through a very tough divorce. Covering every way possible to pray to God for changing his heart. He knows his God, but feels like there is no hope. Your message and guidance has been a blessing in our troubled times.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 09/02/2023 at 8:52 AM

    So glad you were encouraged, Randy!
    Keep praying!
    God is able to turn things around!
    Blessings,
    Melanie

Jennifer M. Bell · 03/02/2023 at 4:27 AM

Pray for their heart: Ask God to soften their heart and help them to be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 03/02/2023 at 9:46 AM

    Exactly, Jennifer!
    Also, great ways to pray!
    Hope you have a blessed day~
    Melanie

Laura · 05/12/2021 at 7:22 AM

Thanks for making this post. My son states that he knows the God of Israel is real, that Jesus the Messiah is real, that salvation is real. He goes to church. However, he admits that he has no sense of emotional attachment or loyalty to the God of Israel and no commitment to Jesus the Messiah. I applaud my son’s honesty on the subject and respect him for being honest about it. These suggested prayers are a great help to me.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 05/13/2021 at 12:43 PM

    Hey Laura,
    It sounds like you and your son are having great and open conversations. That’s so good!
    And, I pray that he will be drawn into a relationship with God and will taste the kindness of Jesus.
    So glad the prayers encourage you!
    Blessings,
    Melanie

Gen · 12/30/2019 at 4:02 PM

Thank you for these. I will be doing this for my daughter who is starting to stray. And I ask everyone here to please pray for my 11 year old KaytLynn to find her way back as she is struggling in her belief.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 01/04/2020 at 10:04 AM

    Thank you, Gen, for stopping by and leaving a comment.
    I will pray with you for your Kaylynn to find her way back to the Lord.
    Asking the Spirit to pursue her and continue to show her God’s love – over and over again!
    Keep me posted~
    Melanie

sydell · 02/25/2019 at 10:37 AM

This is so powerful and gives Hope to never give up! Thank you so much!

Johnie · 07/04/2018 at 4:13 PM

I believe this site was to bless and encourage me to continue to reach out for my love one. Please pray with me that she returns to the LORD. I will remember to use the 7 ways to pray for her and others. Thank you. Johnie.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 07/05/2018 at 11:31 AM

    Amen, Johnie!
    I’m so glad you have been encouraged.
    And, I am praying that God will continue to bless you, uplift you, and give you grace!
    Blessings,
    Melanie

Laura Lane · 05/05/2018 at 12:11 AM

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

SusanB · 03/29/2018 at 2:27 AM

Thank you so very much. This message just came at right time for me to pray for family members. May God continue to use you as His vessel in sharing God’s love and glory.
Blessings?
Susan Buikema

    helloredds@gmail.com · 03/31/2018 at 8:58 AM

    Thank you, Susan!
    So thankful for you and for your encouraging words.
    I pray that God will bless you and your family – especially as you pray!

Dee Klein · 11/12/2017 at 8:24 PM

Just wanted to say thank you for this prayer resource.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 11/14/2017 at 5:17 PM

    Thank you, Dee!
    Keep praying. God sees, hears, and knows!
    Blessings to you,
    Melanie

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