In what ways can we pray for others to "see and be ashamed"? The Biblical Basis: Isaiah 26:11 “LORD, Your hand is lifted high, but they do not see it. Let them see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame; let the fire reserved for Your enemies consume them.” What “See and Be Ashamed” Means • “See” – have eyes opened to God’s undeniable activity, holiness, and judgment (2 Kings 6:17; John 9:25). • “Be ashamed” – experience godly sorrow that exposes pride, silences rebellion, and clears the way for repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10–11). • The goal is not humiliation for humiliation’s sake, but a redemptive shock that drives the sinner to the Savior (Luke 15:17–18). Why We Can Pray This Way • Scripture models it (Psalm 83:16; Micah 7:16; Isaiah 26:11). • God’s honor is at stake: His righteousness demands acknowledgment (Psalm 97:6). • Love for the lost: spiritual blindness must be broken before grace is embraced (Acts 26:18). • Protection for God’s people: when enemies repent or are restrained, the church flourishes (2 Thessalonians 3:1–2). How to Pray for Eyes to Be Opened Ask the Lord to… • Expose His unmistakable works—miracles, answered prayer, and providence they cannot dismiss. • Illuminate Scripture when they encounter it (Psalm 119:130). • Confront them through Spirit-empowered preaching and testimony (Acts 2:37). • Draw them into situations where worldly supports collapse and only God remains visible (Jonah 2:7). • Remove satanic veils that blind the mind (2 Corinthians 4:4). How to Pray for God-Induced Shame Ask the Lord to… • Pierce their conscience with the contrast between His holiness and their sin (Isaiah 6:5). • Heighten the emptiness of sin’s false promises (Jeremiah 2:19). • Let them feel the weight of offending a righteous Judge (Romans 1:32). • Produce remorse that leads to confession, not despair (Psalm 51:17). • Surround them with believers whose godly lives provoke conviction (1 Peter 2:12). Safeguards for the Heart • Pray from love, not spite; vengeance belongs to God (Romans 12:19). • Desire repentance more than retribution (2 Peter 3:9). • Remember your own deliverance from blindness and shame (Ephesians 2:1–5). Practical Prayer Patterns 1. Name the person or group. 2. Declare God’s revealed zeal for His people (Isaiah 26:11). 3. Petition for sight—“Let them see Your hand…” 4. Petition for shame—“…and be convicted, silenced, and turned.” 5. Ask for accompanying mercy that leads to saving faith. 6. Close with praise for God’s justice and grace (Psalm 85:10). In this way we intercede that rebels will “see and be ashamed,” stepping from exposed pride into the welcoming arms of Christ. |
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