Abraham’s intercession for Sodom shows the power of persistent, faith-filled prayer for those who seem far from God. Even when situations look hopeless, God invites us to partner with Him, standing in the gap for our family, friends, and communities. Like Abraham, we may not see immediate results, but our prayers matter deeply to God, and He desires that none should perish. Don’t give up, even if you’ve been praying for years—God is working in ways you cannot see, and your faith-filled prayers can make an eternal difference. [15:23]
Genesis 18:22-32 (ESV)
So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”
Reflection: Who is one person you’ve nearly given up praying for? Will you commit to interceding for them again this week, trusting God’s heart and timing?
God’s desire is not for judgment, but for every person to turn from their ways and find life in Him. He is patient, longing for all to come to repentance, and He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. When we pray for the lost, we align ourselves with God’s own heart—a heart overflowing with mercy, compassion, and hope for redemption. Let this truth fuel your prayers and give you confidence that you are praying in agreement with God’s deepest desire. [20:14]
Ezekiel 33:11 (ESV)
Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Reflection: As you pray for someone far from God, how does knowing God’s heart for their salvation change the way you pray for them today?
Faith is not about being good enough or having it all together; it is about believing God and trusting His promises. Even Abraham, called righteous for his faith, made mistakes—yet God still invited him to partner in His redemptive work. The faith we need to pray and believe for others is a gift from God, not something we muster up ourselves. If you feel weak or inadequate, ask the Holy Spirit to give you His faith, and step out in trust, knowing that God honors even the smallest seed of faith. [23:01]
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Reflection: Where do you feel your faith is lacking as you pray for others? Will you ask the Holy Spirit today to fill you with His faith and help you trust God’s promises?
There is a spiritual battle for the minds and hearts of those who do not know Christ. The enemy blinds people to the truth, building strongholds of lies, pride, and unbelief. But God has given us spiritual weapons—prayer, the Word, and the authority of Jesus—to tear down these strongholds. As you pray, declare God’s truth over your loved ones, resist the enemy, and believe that God is at work breaking down every barrier that keeps them from seeing the light of the gospel. [26:56]
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (ESV)
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Reflection: What is one specific lie or stronghold you sense is keeping your loved one from Christ? How can you pray and declare God’s truth over that area today?
Faith is not passive; it requires action. Like Abraham, we are called to look beyond what we see and declare God’s promises over those we love. This might mean putting up a photo of the person you’re praying for, writing out scriptures, and daily speaking God’s truth over their life. Don’t be discouraged by what you see in the natural—see with the eyes of faith, and keep believing that God is able to do what seems impossible. Your prayers and declarations are powerful and effective. [30:07]
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to put your faith into action for someone you’re praying for—such as writing out a promise of God and declaring it over their life each day?
Today, we gathered to reflect on the powerful story of Abraham and his intercession for Sodom, drawing out lessons for how we pray for those in our lives who do not yet know Christ. Abraham’s journey began with a call from God to leave everything familiar and step into the unknown, trusting in God’s promise to bless him and make him a blessing to all nations. This call was not just about Abraham’s personal journey, but about his role in God’s redemptive plan for the world—a plan that still unfolds through us today.
As Abraham watched Sodom descend into wickedness, he was confronted with the seeming impossibility of change. Yet, when God revealed His intention to judge Sodom, Abraham stepped into the gap, wrestling with God in prayer for the city’s salvation. This was not a mere negotiation, but a profound partnership—God inviting Abraham to share His heart for mercy and redemption. Abraham’s persistent, faith-filled intercession is a model for us as we pray for family, friends, and others who seem far from God.
We often feel discouraged when our prayers for loved ones seem unanswered, or when years pass without visible change. Abraham’s story reminds us that God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, and that He calls us to persevere in faith. Our prayers are not rendered ineffective by our imperfections or past failures—Abraham himself made many mistakes, yet God still chose him to intercede. Faith is not about our own strength or goodness, but about trusting in God’s faithfulness and using the faith He gives us.
We are engaged in a spiritual battle, where the minds of those we love are often blinded by strongholds—false beliefs, pride, and temptations. God has given us spiritual weapons to tear down these strongholds through prayer, declaring truth over our loved ones, and standing in the gap as intercessors. This is an active, ongoing responsibility, not a passive hope. We are called to pray with expectation, to declare God’s promises, and to believe for transformation even when we cannot yet see it.
Let us not give up, but continue to pray with faith, using the authority Christ has given us, trusting that God is at work even in the unseen. As we pray, we partner with God in His desire to bring salvation to all, just as Abraham did.
Genesis 18:16–33 (ESV) — > Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? ...”
> (Read the full passage: Genesis 18:16–33)
Ezekiel 33:11 (ESV) — > Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (ESV) — > For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
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