Oftentimes we struggle to share the gospel with our friends. Either we are overcome with fear or don’t know what to share. We all need a burden to reach our lost friends for Christ. This is a 21-day Bible reading plan that helps us meditate specifically on passages related to evangelism and is accompanied by a short prayer for each day for our friends.
New City Delhi
Day 1
Scripture: John 1:1-18
Prayer guide
John 1:12-13
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Prayer:
Father, you are gracious to receive anyone who believes in you. You not only save them but you adopt them as your own children. And this right to be your child is a gift received by faith. Father, I pray that _______________________ would one day believe you as God Almighty and receive what you have done on his/her behalf by faith. I pray that you would open _______________________’s heart to experience this rich grace that you freely give.
Day 2
Scripture: John 3:1-16
Prayer guide
John 3:3
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for giving us a way to enter your kingdom. I pray for _______________________, that he/she would understand what it means to be born again. Open their heart and mind to the reality of their own spiritual death and lostness. May _______________________ understand that to be born again is to believe in Jesus and what he did on the cross. I pray that they will no longer be dependent on their own righteousness and good works but completely depend on Jesus as the one who saves.
Day 3
Scripture: John 4:1-26
Prayer guide
John 4:13-14
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Prayer:
Father, you alone can satisfy the deepest needs in our lives. Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross so that we can no longer be thirsty. I pray for _______________________, that he/she would realise that nothing in this world can fulfil their longings, desires or deep yearnings. May _______________________ taste the living water you provide and be satisfied. I pray that the gospel will take deep root into their heart and will become an eternal spring of life, joy and peace.
Day 4
Scripture: John 10:1-21
Prayer guide
John 10:8-11
All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Prayer:
Father, I see how the evil one robs and ruins the lives of my friends. I pray for _______________________, that he/she would hear the voice of Jesus, the good shepherd. I pray that _______________________ will no longer be under the destructive influence of the false shepherds in this world but would enter the eternal pasture through the true gate, Jesus Christ. I pray that one day, _______________________ will enjoy life in its fullness and accept Jesus who laid his own life for him/her.
Day 5
Scripture: John 14:1-14
Prayer guide
John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Prayer:
Jesus, you are the way, the truth and the life. No one can be saved apart from you. I pray that _______________________ would realise that there is no truth apart from Christ and that there is no way apart from what you have provided. Lead _______________________ through the people and circumstances in his/her life to your truth and life. Give me the boldness to share the truth with _______________________ and clearly, graciously and humbly present the gospel when the opportunity arises.
Day 6
Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30
Prayer guide
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Prayer:
Father, the burdens in this world are many. They crush us, enslave us and make us restless in our worldly pursuit for peace and joy. I see that _______________________ is also weary and burdened by so many things. I pray that you will relieve his/her pain and suffering and that one day _______________________ will find true rest in you. Give him/her the deep understanding of the emptiness in the worldly pursuits and come to you with repentance and faith.
Day 7
Scripture: Ezekiel 11:14-25
Prayer guide
Ezekiel 11:19-20
I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
Prayer:
Father, only you can give us a new heart. I pray that _______________________ will have a new heart and will have your spirit one day. Change his/her heart. Give him/her the grace to accept your word and believe in Christ. Nothing is impossible with you. I pray that one day ___________________ will follow you with all their heart and will worship you alone.
Day 8
Scripture: Acts 16:11-15
Prayer guide
Acts 16:14
One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
Prayer:
Father, what a joy to see Lydia receive Christ. I pray that _______________________’s heart will be opened to respond to the gospel. Give _______________________ an open heart and an open mind to acknowledge his/her own sin and accept their need for salvation through Christ. I pray that you would open my heart to have a burden to share the gospel when the opportunity arises. Give me patience, kindness and love as I prayerfully wait for an open door.
Day 9
Scripture: Romans 6:15-23
Prayer guide
Romans 6:17-18
But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Prayer:
Father, only you can set us free from the slavery of sin, condemnation and punishment. We thank Jesus for offering his life as a sacrifice for our sin on the cross. I pray that _______________________ will also be set free through Christ and the cross. I pray that he/she will no longer be slave to this world and to their own sinful flesh. I pray that _______________________ will one day obey from his/her heart and wholeheartedly follow you as Lord and Saviour.
Day 10
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-12
Prayer guide
2 Corinthians 4:4-6
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
Prayer:
Father, the people of this world are blinded by the evil one so they are unable to see the light of the gospel. I pray that _______________________’s eyes will be opened to see the glory of Christ. May the light of the gospel shine in his/her heart and life. May _______________________ receive the gospel and have his/her life transformed as a result of the glorious truth. Give him/her a mind that understands, a heart that receives and a faith that completely trusts in Christ.
Day 11
Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:20-26
Prayer guide
2 Timothy 2:25-26
God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Prayer:
Father, I pray that you would grant _______________________ repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth. May _______________________ repent of all their false saviours, dependence on self and their own righteousness and turn to Christ. Deliver _______________________ from the snare of the devil and free him/her to do your will. I pray that their repentance will be genuine and result in a gloriously transformed life.
Day 12
Scripture: Romans 10:1-15
Prayer guide
Romans 10:1-3
Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
Prayer:
Father, my heart’s desire and prayer is for __________________ to be saved. He/she has their zeal not based on the knowledge of God’s word but on their own intellect, experience, accomplishments and success. _______________________ has not understood the perfect righteousness of God through Christ but instead is doing his/her best to establish his/her own righteousness. Grant _______________________ to know you and open his/her heart to see your loving sacrifice on our behalf.
Day 13
Scripture: Matthew 5:1-16
Prayer guide
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Prayer:
Father, I pray that my actions and words would result in your glory. May everything I do and say come from a heart that rests and rejoices in the gospel. And when I interact with _______________________, may he/she understand the hope of my salvation and that the Holy Spirit is at work in my life. I pray that I will live like Christ, selfless and full of genuine love, that my whole life will be a witness to _______________________. Holy Spirit, I pray that you will use me as an agent of reconciliation between God and _______________________ for your glory.
Day 14
Scripture: Luke 18:1-8
Prayer guide
Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up
Prayer:
Father, often times I become weary in my prayer. I am impatient and don’t persevere in praying for my friends. Today I pray that you will give me a fresh burden as I pray for _______________________. Even when nothing seems to be working, you are always at work. Help me to see you at work. Help _______________________ to see you as a God who never gives up and loves unconditionally.
Day 15
Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20
Prayer guide
Ephesians 6:19
Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel
Prayer:
Father, I confess my fears when it comes to sharing the gospel. I fear people and what they will think of me. I fear rejection and failure. I fear being laughed at or ridiculed. I fear that I will be embarrassed and ashamed. I confess these fears to you. I pray for boldness as I share the gospel. I pray that when I share the gospel with _____________________ I will not be controlled by fear but I will be filled with love. Cover me from my own inadequacies and grant me confidence through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Day 16
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:5-15
Prayer guide
1 Corinthians 3:6-7
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you because I am not alone in praying for _______________________. You, in your own providential way, have your people working in _______________________’s life. I pray that the gospel light will shine through your people as they interact with _______________________ on a day to day basis. I pray that all these witnesses in his/her life would point to Christ and that you will cause the seed of your word to grow, take root and bear fruit for your glory.
Day 17
Scripture: 2 Peter 3:1-10
Prayer guide
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your patience. You don’t treat us according to our sins but extend your love and kindness. May your kindness lead _______________________ to repentance and faith. I pray that _______________________ will fully realise the depth of his/her sin and what it deserves. I pray that _______________________ will not only realise about sin but the gift of salvation in Christ Jesus.
Day 18
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Prayer guide
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
For they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Prayer:
Father, I pray that _______________________ will turn from their idols both physical and spiritual and turn to Jesus as Saviour and Lord. May _______________________ receive the gospel with true repentance and faith and acknowledge you as the living God. I pray that the power of the evil one, the power of money, success, fame and lust, the power of fleshly desires be overcome by the power of the Spirit. Rescue _______________________ from the coming wrath for your glory.
Day 19
Scripture: Colossians 1:3-14
Prayer guide
Colossians 1:13-14
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Prayer:
Father, you rescued us through your Son Jesus Christ. You saved us, redeemed us, adopted us, filled us with your Spirit and have given us a glorious inheritance. I pray that _______________________ would also experience the redemption and forgiveness of sins. Rescue ________________ from the dominion and power of darkness and set him/her free. May _______________________ know you and Christ’s resurrection power in a powerful way.
Day 20
Scripture: Psalms 67:1-7
Prayer guide
Psalm 67:1-2
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
Prayer:
Father, your kingdom is everlasting and your reign is supreme. I ask that you be gracious to _____________________ so that he/she may know you and the power of your salvation. Turn your face toward _______________________ so that he/she can turn his/her face toward you. I plead with you that you would reveal your word, make known your ways and change his/her heart.
Day 21
Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8
Prayer guide
Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Prayer:
Father, I pray that I will be always ready to share my faith with _______________________. I pray that I will not be motivated by selfishness but instead moved with love. Give me courage and boldness to be your witness to _______________________ and make me sensitive to opportunities you give so that I can share the gospel clearly and humbly.