Intercessory prayer demonstrates love on its knees.  Also, it prepares lost souls for salvation.   But how do you pray for the lost?

 

1)  Pray realizing God wants to save the lost.

3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. [1Ti 2:3-4 ESV]

 

2)  Pray realizing you are in a war.

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, [2Co 10:4-5 ESV]

The point here was that you cannot debate the lost into salvation.  Even if you win the argument you're likely to lose the war.

 

3)  Pray for spiritual enlightenment and understanding for the lost.

4 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. [2Co 4:4 ESV]

So restore their spiritual eyesight.

 

4) Pray for the lost to be freed from captivity.

24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. [2Ti 2:24-26 ESV]

 

5) Pray for the lost to have a repentant spirit.

3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. [Luk 13:3 ESV]

 

6) Pray that the Father draw the lost to Himself.

44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. [Jhn 6:44 ESV]

 

7) Pray believing for the lost.

22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." [Mat 21:22 ESV]