Do you know how to pray your family into the kingdom of God with skill? I have found that many Christians don’t. They throw prayers in every direction and hope something comes of it. That’s especially true when they pray for the lost. I’ve met people who’ve prayed for 20, 30 or 40 years without results.

Knowing how to pray with skill can change that. Understand this: If you’ve been interceding for your brother (or anyone else), there’s nothing wrong with him except the devil! No human being who truly understood the salvation Jesus offers would reject it of his own free will. No one!

Why, then, are so many people still unsaved? Second Corinthians 4:4 tells us that the devil is the one who has blinded their minds. Once you realize that it’s the devil—not your brother—who’s the real problem, your first prayer step becomes clear. You must get the devil out of your brother’s way.

Jesus said you can’t enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except you first bind the strong man (Matthew 12:29). So bind him. Say, “You spirit operating in the life of my brother, blinding him to the gospel to keep him out of the kingdom of God, I bind you now. I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. I carry His authority and righteousness, and in His Name I command you to desist in your maneuvers. I spoil your house according to the Word of God, and I enter into it to deliver my brother from your hands.”

Now, you may not be able to cast that devil entirely out of the situation, because your brother may invite him back in faster than you can cast him out. But you can bind that spirit and keep it bound. It may keep you busy for a few days, but you can do it.

You’ll find your next prayer step in Matthew 9:37-38. Jesus, looking out at the multitudes who needed ministry, said to His disciples, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” It’s the Word of God that brings faith for salvation (Romans 10:17). See to it that the Word comes across your brother’s path.

“How?” you say. “He won’t listen to me!” Maybe not, but God knows who he will listen to, and He’ll send that person halfway around the world to talk to your brother if necessary.

Once you’ve prayed for your brother like that, from then on, put your faith in action by treating him like he’s saved—not like he’s no good. Talk to him about the good things of God the way you would if he were already born again. Then just stand back and watch how things change. You’ll be amazed.

Speak the Word

I bind the spirits blinding the minds of my loved ones concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ. I obey the command of Jesus by asking the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into this harvest, for it is truly plenteous. (2 Corinthians 4:4; Matthew 9:37-38)