Hi @barncat Thanks for your comment. I agree that not every prayer request will be granted. However, according to the Bible, we should nevertheless pray. (Philippians 4:6) Its all for Gods glory and to make His name known.
Jesus walked with and ate with and went to the homes of sinners, prostitues and criminals.
I didnt say you should not disapprove of her behavior, but if anyone is going to spend any time being upset by her behavior or his, they should find time to pray that the gospel be shared ith them.
Jesus prayed for unbelievers. Why shouldnt we? Are we better than Jesus? You wouldn just straight up pray for their salvation though, you would be praying for "the eyes of their heart to be enlightened." (Ephesians 1:18). The apostle Paul dealt with, and prayed for all of these churches he ministered to. Including and especially about the sin that persisted in those churches. The verse I quoted above in Ephesians is one such passage.
Your statement "you should be willing to share the gospel with those who will willingly listen" conflicts with scripture. The apostle Paul was never interested in being a Christian when God called him. He was not willing to listen. He was killing Christians, in fact.
There are many ways to pray for someone who is an unbeliever or even Christians who are in rebellion. Including:
- Pray that God will prepare their heart to receive His word like Esther and the people of Israel fasted and prayed for the King before approaching him. God can prepare a persons heart or harden that of someone who is in rebellion as he did to Pharaoh.
Our job is to love others and desire for and delight in their salvation.
You can also pray that people be sent to people who need the word of God rightly preached to them.
Then you can pray as Paul, and Jesus did that their salvation is sure, and they will persevere in walking in the light.
Here are a few more Bible verses that speak in this direction:
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.
1 John 5:14-16 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/1jn.5.14-16.NIV
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/1ti.2.1-4.NIV
Let me know if you would like to discuss this further (here, or offline). God bless you.