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Praying Effectively For the Lost
"...the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not..." (II Corinthians 4:4)
43 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 27, 2012
I find it hard to really rate this book according to stars. For one, it's no literary masterpiece, nor was it intended to be. This is a simple booklet written to help Christians realize the importance and method of praying for non-Christians. If you understand and read the book in this light (a.k.a. cut it some slack), it is pretty good. Thomas's basic premise is that reaching lost people for Christ requires intercessory prayer on their behalf, so that the strong holds in their minds and hearts will be removed. After these are out of the way, they can truly hear and respond to the Gospel.
One problem that I had with the book was that there were several places where Thomas made some strong claims about the way God worked or the way things happened in the spiritual realm without backing up how he got there. I didn't necessarily disagree with him. I just believe it is important to cite from Scripture how you arrive at a particular belief. There were other places where I would have liked for the author to spend more time explaining key ideas, such as strongholds, or at least point to other resources where the reader could learn about them. But in the end, I found that this book did what it was designed to do--inspire me to pray for lost and broken people.
One problem that I had with the book was that there were several places where Thomas made some strong claims about the way God worked or the way things happened in the spiritual realm without backing up how he got there. I didn't necessarily disagree with him. I just believe it is important to cite from Scripture how you arrive at a particular belief. There were other places where I would have liked for the author to spend more time explaining key ideas, such as strongholds, or at least point to other resources where the reader could learn about them. But in the end, I found that this book did what it was designed to do--inspire me to pray for lost and broken people.
March 11, 2024
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The content and subject matter are of supreme importance, but I think the author fell short. In the beginning chapters there are so many quotes from others that I often wondered if the author had any original thoughts about the subject. This was corrected in the later chapters, but he was still prone to fanciful statements with little to no Scriptural backing or support.
This book is short so it is worth what little time it will take to read, but don't expect anything life-changing from its pages.
This book is short so it is worth what little time it will take to read, but don't expect anything life-changing from its pages.
September 23, 2020
The friend who loaned me this book was almost nervous to part with it, and said it's one she'd like to keep. I thought I could read it quickly and promised to return it to her.
My Sunday School teacher led us through various topics and verses from the Kendricks brothers' "The Battle Plan for Prayer," which I haven't read, but I appreciated the verse references and the ideas on what to pray. But there seemed to be an overwhelming amount to have it all at once. So, somehow, I ended up "leading" a group of ladies to pray through the verses for the lost and wandering, texting them one verse a day, going through the Kendricks brothers' list for praying for the unsaved, and then some others that I either knew or came across.
I thought this friend with this book, "Praying Effectively for the Lost," would start up when I ran out of verses on the topic and start texting these to the group. Instead, she loaned me this book. I can understand why she wanted the book back, so she can re-read it. (She is perfectly capable of texting people verses, so I am a little confused by this, but be that as it may...)
This book like the Kendricks' brothers' book, "The Battle Plan for Prayer" in that there are so many things to pray all condensed together that it's overwhelming. I thought that I could read through it in a week, since there are seven chapters. But it's so dense with verses, with ideas, with meanings. Sometimes the verse references are just listed without printing them out, and so I paused to retrace my steps and go back and read them. Interestingly enough, it has a different set of verses than the Kendricks brothers listed. Both are good.
I love Lee Thomas' enthusiasm, both for prayer and for the lost. I'm not familiar with all the works that he quoted, but those that I am, I greatly appreciate: S. D. Gordon's "Quiet Talks on Prayer," Andrew Murray's "The Ministry of Intercession," Charles Spurgeon, although I haven't read those particular works, and Oswald Chambers, although I haven't read "If Ye Shall Ask," either.
There are many powerful verses to pray, and this is definitely a book I'd both recommend and re-read, although, I'd say to take the time to savor it, and pray through it slowly. Or fly through it and then go back and pray through it slowly.
It's been so long since I've read S. D. Gordon's "Quiet Talks on Prayer," but I think his was the book that talked about prayers for a politician that made the politician start feeling the presence of God, until he became a believer. And Lee Thomas' "Praying for the Lost" has many such stories. I think S. D. Gordon also talked about praying for the lost, and when we don't know whether or not someone became a Christian before they died. I thought it was very compassionately done, and I'd recommend that book as well. But it is better, by far, to be sure that we ourselves have come to Jesus, and to see and know that others have as well.
But on the topic of that uncertainty - how can we be certain that those we pray for will come to Jesus in time? - I can't wade through those murky waters between God's Sovereignty and humankind's free will. I don't know. I'm not as certain as Lee Thomas in "Praying for the Lost." But there are things that I do know. I do know, for example, that God loves them (John 3:16), and that He's not willing for any to perish (2 Peter 3:9). And in the meantime, we are in a spiritual battle.
I loved the list of reasons to pray: the power of God, the attributes and attitudes of God, the works He's done in the past, the list of promises to pray, the consideration of the state of our own hearts, the prayers for both the lost and for those servants of God reaching out and the prayers for the Word of God in people's lives. I'm also glad Lee Thomas talked about unity in prayer.
One verse that Lee Thomas keeps returning to in his book is Luke 11:21-22, which is one I hadn't thought to pray in this type of circumstance.
"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils." - Luke 11:21-22, NIV.
Yes, ask anything and everything good of God on behalf of others. But I'm not sure that this verse has the same context of praying for the lost. The context that Jesus gave it in the verses above it, was one of casting out demons, and in showing that He was not on the demonic side when He was casting out demons. The strong man, or the demon, was guarding his own house, or the human, but Jesus, who was Someone stronger, overpowered the demon and set the individual free.
I am not convinced that every unbeliever is possessed by demons. I will agree that unbelievers are bound by their own sin-nature (and we believers still struggle with our own sin natures.) I will also agree with Lee Thomas' other list, that unbelievers are Satan's prisoners (Isaiah 14:17), slaves under Satan's authority (Acts 26:18), children of the devil (john 8:44), blinded to the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:3-4), 'energized' by Satan (Ephesians 2:2), helplessly held in Satan's grasp (1 John 5:19.) So, it is well that we pray God require Satan to release an individual, to cease influencing that individual, whether or not they are actually demonically possessed.
So, now that I have these "new" verses to pray for the lost and wandering, I don't know what I'll do with them. Certainly, I've been praying for those I know in my own life. But do I go back to texting them to the group? Of that, I'm not sure, because the group has moved on to studying other topics now, and I'm also thinking about maybe texting people verses to pray over our nation as a whole instead, as elections draw near... But I don't want to sit on these verses without employing them too long, either, because they are also good. I should probably also talk with the ladies' group leader and see what she would have me do (or not.)
Favorite quotes:
“He [God] wonders to find ministers of His gospel complaining that their duties do not allow them to find time for [prayer], which He counts their first, the highest, the most delightful, their alone effective work.” – Andrew Murray on Is 59:16 in “The Ministry of Intercession”
“On one occasion some Salvation Army workers wrote to General Booth decrying their ineffectiveness in winning souls and asking what they should do. He sent back a two-word message, ”Try tears.’” – Lee E. Thomas
“I cannot resist the conviction – I greatly dislike to say this, I would much rather not if I regarded my feelings or yours. But I cannot resist the conviction that there are people in that lower, lost world who are there because someone failed to put his life in touch with God, and pray.” – S. D. Gordon in “Quiet Talks on Prayer”
“Praise is another powerful weapon we can use, for when we begin to praise God, He comes into the situation (Psalm 22:3) and how wonderful it is to have the ‘commander-in-chief’ on the scene of the battle!!” – Lee E. Thomas
My Sunday School teacher led us through various topics and verses from the Kendricks brothers' "The Battle Plan for Prayer," which I haven't read, but I appreciated the verse references and the ideas on what to pray. But there seemed to be an overwhelming amount to have it all at once. So, somehow, I ended up "leading" a group of ladies to pray through the verses for the lost and wandering, texting them one verse a day, going through the Kendricks brothers' list for praying for the unsaved, and then some others that I either knew or came across.
I thought this friend with this book, "Praying Effectively for the Lost," would start up when I ran out of verses on the topic and start texting these to the group. Instead, she loaned me this book. I can understand why she wanted the book back, so she can re-read it. (She is perfectly capable of texting people verses, so I am a little confused by this, but be that as it may...)
This book like the Kendricks' brothers' book, "The Battle Plan for Prayer" in that there are so many things to pray all condensed together that it's overwhelming. I thought that I could read through it in a week, since there are seven chapters. But it's so dense with verses, with ideas, with meanings. Sometimes the verse references are just listed without printing them out, and so I paused to retrace my steps and go back and read them. Interestingly enough, it has a different set of verses than the Kendricks brothers listed. Both are good.
I love Lee Thomas' enthusiasm, both for prayer and for the lost. I'm not familiar with all the works that he quoted, but those that I am, I greatly appreciate: S. D. Gordon's "Quiet Talks on Prayer," Andrew Murray's "The Ministry of Intercession," Charles Spurgeon, although I haven't read those particular works, and Oswald Chambers, although I haven't read "If Ye Shall Ask," either.
There are many powerful verses to pray, and this is definitely a book I'd both recommend and re-read, although, I'd say to take the time to savor it, and pray through it slowly. Or fly through it and then go back and pray through it slowly.
It's been so long since I've read S. D. Gordon's "Quiet Talks on Prayer," but I think his was the book that talked about prayers for a politician that made the politician start feeling the presence of God, until he became a believer. And Lee Thomas' "Praying for the Lost" has many such stories. I think S. D. Gordon also talked about praying for the lost, and when we don't know whether or not someone became a Christian before they died. I thought it was very compassionately done, and I'd recommend that book as well. But it is better, by far, to be sure that we ourselves have come to Jesus, and to see and know that others have as well.
But on the topic of that uncertainty - how can we be certain that those we pray for will come to Jesus in time? - I can't wade through those murky waters between God's Sovereignty and humankind's free will. I don't know. I'm not as certain as Lee Thomas in "Praying for the Lost." But there are things that I do know. I do know, for example, that God loves them (John 3:16), and that He's not willing for any to perish (2 Peter 3:9). And in the meantime, we are in a spiritual battle.
I loved the list of reasons to pray: the power of God, the attributes and attitudes of God, the works He's done in the past, the list of promises to pray, the consideration of the state of our own hearts, the prayers for both the lost and for those servants of God reaching out and the prayers for the Word of God in people's lives. I'm also glad Lee Thomas talked about unity in prayer.
One verse that Lee Thomas keeps returning to in his book is Luke 11:21-22, which is one I hadn't thought to pray in this type of circumstance.
"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils." - Luke 11:21-22, NIV.
Yes, ask anything and everything good of God on behalf of others. But I'm not sure that this verse has the same context of praying for the lost. The context that Jesus gave it in the verses above it, was one of casting out demons, and in showing that He was not on the demonic side when He was casting out demons. The strong man, or the demon, was guarding his own house, or the human, but Jesus, who was Someone stronger, overpowered the demon and set the individual free.
I am not convinced that every unbeliever is possessed by demons. I will agree that unbelievers are bound by their own sin-nature (and we believers still struggle with our own sin natures.) I will also agree with Lee Thomas' other list, that unbelievers are Satan's prisoners (Isaiah 14:17), slaves under Satan's authority (Acts 26:18), children of the devil (john 8:44), blinded to the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:3-4), 'energized' by Satan (Ephesians 2:2), helplessly held in Satan's grasp (1 John 5:19.) So, it is well that we pray God require Satan to release an individual, to cease influencing that individual, whether or not they are actually demonically possessed.
So, now that I have these "new" verses to pray for the lost and wandering, I don't know what I'll do with them. Certainly, I've been praying for those I know in my own life. But do I go back to texting them to the group? Of that, I'm not sure, because the group has moved on to studying other topics now, and I'm also thinking about maybe texting people verses to pray over our nation as a whole instead, as elections draw near... But I don't want to sit on these verses without employing them too long, either, because they are also good. I should probably also talk with the ladies' group leader and see what she would have me do (or not.)
Favorite quotes:
“He [God] wonders to find ministers of His gospel complaining that their duties do not allow them to find time for [prayer], which He counts their first, the highest, the most delightful, their alone effective work.” – Andrew Murray on Is 59:16 in “The Ministry of Intercession”
“On one occasion some Salvation Army workers wrote to General Booth decrying their ineffectiveness in winning souls and asking what they should do. He sent back a two-word message, ”Try tears.’” – Lee E. Thomas
“I cannot resist the conviction – I greatly dislike to say this, I would much rather not if I regarded my feelings or yours. But I cannot resist the conviction that there are people in that lower, lost world who are there because someone failed to put his life in touch with God, and pray.” – S. D. Gordon in “Quiet Talks on Prayer”
“Praise is another powerful weapon we can use, for when we begin to praise God, He comes into the situation (Psalm 22:3) and how wonderful it is to have the ‘commander-in-chief’ on the scene of the battle!!” – Lee E. Thomas
October 27, 2013
This is a short little booklet, but has some really vital information on praying for the lost. I read this a year or two ago, and still use many of the techniques it offers with biblical warrant, such as asking the Lord to 'bless' those unbelievers whom you are praying for, and for the Lord to 'open their eyes' to the truth. This book challenged my prayer life, and brought me to my knees in praying for the lost. Thinking about all my co-workers, family, and friends who don't know the Lord honestly makes me horribly sorrowful, and leads me into prayer with my Father. Lord, please open their eyes; please O Lord.
Brent McCulley (10/26/13)
Brent McCulley (10/26/13)
November 22, 2020
Two stars for a good concept, and a loving heart for the lost. Good historical references to godly men of old.
Three stars removed for the following reasons:
1. Atrocious hermeneutics. Incorrectly interprets many of the scriptures referenced, two of which are cornerstones for idea behind the book.
2. False dogmatic statements and doctrine based off of those bad hermeneutics.
3. Overall bad writing.
I would recommend to the avid reader, simply for the heart of the author and a few nuggets from the quotes.
I will probably read it again just to further digest in the future.
Three stars removed for the following reasons:
1. Atrocious hermeneutics. Incorrectly interprets many of the scriptures referenced, two of which are cornerstones for idea behind the book.
2. False dogmatic statements and doctrine based off of those bad hermeneutics.
3. Overall bad writing.
I would recommend to the avid reader, simply for the heart of the author and a few nuggets from the quotes.
I will probably read it again just to further digest in the future.
September 4, 2017
A Praying Gram-Gram
This book really did inspire me to pray more effectively. It helped me understand better how to pray and to never give up. My loved ones need salvation and I didn't really know how to pray for them until I read this book. I've always prayed and grew up in church but I never knew this kind of praying. God has given Lee Thomas a gift to help people get prayers answered. I have more confidence in my ability and through what I have gained from this book I know God will answer my prayers His way and in His timing, but I know He will. I will find people to pray with me and I will pray with them because of my new found confidence.
This book really did inspire me to pray more effectively. It helped me understand better how to pray and to never give up. My loved ones need salvation and I didn't really know how to pray for them until I read this book. I've always prayed and grew up in church but I never knew this kind of praying. God has given Lee Thomas a gift to help people get prayers answered. I have more confidence in my ability and through what I have gained from this book I know God will answer my prayers His way and in His timing, but I know He will. I will find people to pray with me and I will pray with them because of my new found confidence.
Read
June 27, 2019The author does an magnificent job of walking us through scripture to convict our hearts and challenging the church to shift her mindset on what matters to God the most.
January 2, 2020
Short but full of great ways to pray
May 30, 2025
Very spot on biblical insight w verses to support on how to pray for the lost. This book has give me me renewed hope for my unsaved relatives.
December 12, 2025
Praying Effectively for the Lost by Lee E. Thomas was a phenomenal read! It's a perfect guide to prayer all condensed in this book of only 7 chapters. This powerful book was gifted to me and I will forever treasure all the wisdom and inspiration.
So much encouragement and tools to help you pray for those that are lost! We all want to make Heaven crowded and especially to see our loved ones in eternity. It offers hope when you are discouraged. Be persistent in your prayer life. Satan wants you to get discouraged so you will quit praying. I love the verse the author used (one of many) in Mark 3:27 'No man can enter into a strong man's house and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.' The author explains 'it means that no lost person will ever be saved unless someone frees him from the demonic influences that control him.' Keep praying persistently.
I highly recommend this book. I plan to read it again and then take notes when I read it a third time.
So much encouragement and tools to help you pray for those that are lost! We all want to make Heaven crowded and especially to see our loved ones in eternity. It offers hope when you are discouraged. Be persistent in your prayer life. Satan wants you to get discouraged so you will quit praying. I love the verse the author used (one of many) in Mark 3:27 'No man can enter into a strong man's house and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.' The author explains 'it means that no lost person will ever be saved unless someone frees him from the demonic influences that control him.' Keep praying persistently.
I highly recommend this book. I plan to read it again and then take notes when I read it a third time.
August 15, 2024
Do you care enough to pray for them?
For those who pray for the lost, this is a great resource, so they can have hope and a strategy to keep on pressing on...
For those who don't pray, this will make you question whether or not your heart is aligned with God's in the mission of saving souls.
For those who pray for the lost, this is a great resource, so they can have hope and a strategy to keep on pressing on...
For those who don't pray, this will make you question whether or not your heart is aligned with God's in the mission of saving souls.
March 16, 2015
Just a brilliant book! Short, right to the point and about the most important tool we have to win the soul for God (after the Gospel) - the prayer. The book gives effective tools and the biblical grounding for the prayer for people who hate God or don't seek them (just like we all have been).
It is so encouraging with the personal stories of the people who have chosen persistency in prayer for their dear ones and God delivering.
This book encourages to stay faithful and bold in what already wishes to do.
I've read it in Russian and on my Kindle, so it's available online too.
It is so encouraging with the personal stories of the people who have chosen persistency in prayer for their dear ones and God delivering.
This book encourages to stay faithful and bold in what already wishes to do.
I've read it in Russian and on my Kindle, so it's available online too.
July 13, 2016
Overall the book was just ok. It didn't really move me in a powerful way.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews