Lord, I know you work all things out for good. Could you please, Lord, help my loved one come to know you? They have left the faith, and they need help truly coming to accept you. I pray that they accept your wonderful gift of salvation. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.”

This is only a sample prayer, as you can craft the words in any way you want. The Lord wants you to be open and honest with Him. He isn’t deterred by our feelings and emotions.

Without accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord, a person cannot receive salvation. Apart from Christ, there is no way to receive forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

This means if a person never accepts Christ in their earthly life, they will not be able to go to heaven when they die. Being “a good person” will not cause someone to go to heaven. The truth is that we are all sinners, and none of us are good (Romans 3:23).

Our goodwill never outweighs our bad. This is why we need the Lord because only He can provide forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Your loved one also needs to know the amazing grace of Jesus and accept His free gift of salvation in order to be saved.

2. Prayer for Guidance

A second prayer for a family member who leaves the faith is a prayer for guidance. Since your family member does not know the Lord, they will not be able to make decisions that bring glory to God.

Often, since they have newly left the faith, they will be rebellious and might engage in reckless activities and behavior. It is important during these times that we pray for our loved ones to have proper guidance from the Lord.

The sinful nature and the temptations of the world can lead a person down many wrong paths and engage in bad behavior. If you want to help your family member who has left the faith, pray for their guidance.

A sample prayer for your family member could be, “Dear Lord, please help my family member know Your will. Please, Lord, help them to be able to make the right decisions and to follow you. I know they are far from you, Lord, right now, but bring them back to You and bless them with guidance. I trust You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.”