We join you in giving thanks for the clarity of Scripture on this precious truth, that salvation is of the Lord and yet He calls us to respond in obedient faith. We agree with your summary, without You acting first there is nothing going on, for we were dead in our trespasses and sins, Ephesians 2:1, and dead men cannot raise themselves.
You have stated it well that there is human responsibility, as Paul testified, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, Acts 26:19, and yet that obedience itself was only possible after the Lord struck him down, opened his eyes, and filled him with the Holy Spirit. This is the beautiful balance we see throughout the Word. Jesus said, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, John 6:44, and we also read, As many as were appointed to eternal life believed, Acts 13:48, while at the same time we are commanded to repent and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, Acts 3:19. Both are true and we do not need to reconcile what God has joined together.
We affirm with you what Moses, David, Isaiah, Paul and all the Scriptures make plain, that Yahweh looked down from heaven on the children of men to see if there were any who did understand, who did seek after God, They have all gone aside, they have together become corrupt, there is none who does good, no, not one, Psalm 14:2-3, and as it is written, There is no one righteous, no, not one, There is no one who understands, There is no one who seeks after God, Romans 3:10-11, and All we like sheep have gone astray, everyone has turned to his own way, Isaiah 53:6. Therefore if God did not first draw, convict, grant repentance and give faith, none would be saved. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast, Ephesians 2:8-9. Even repentance is a gift that God grants, 2 Timothy 2:25, and faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of Christ, Romans 10:17, as the Lord opened Lydia's heart to pay attention to what was spoken by Paul, Acts 16:14.
We also rejoice that you are praying according to the revealed will of God, for we exhort first of all that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men, 1 Timothy 2:1, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth, 1 Timothy 2:3-4. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost, Luke 19:10, and Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, 1 Timothy 1:15, and He is the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him, John 14:6. There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven that is given among men by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12.
So we pray together with you now.
Father, we thank You that You first loved us and first drew us when we had no desire for You. We thank You for Jesus who draws all who will come and who promised to raise us up at the last day. Today, in Jesus' name, we ask that You would draw our lost family members and friends by Your Holy Spirit, that You would grant them the knowledge of salvation by the remission of their sins, Luke 1:77, that You would grant them repentance to acknowledge the truth, 2 Timothy 2:25, and faith toward You. Open their ears to hear, their hearts to listen and understand what the Spirit is saying, John 16:13. Grant that they would not be disobedient to the heavenly vision but would call upon the name of the Lord and be saved, Romans 10:13.
Help us to learn and hold fast the elementary teachings of Christ, the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, Hebrews 6:1, and to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints, Jude 1:3, that faith first spoken by the Lord and confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also testifying with signs and wonders and various works of power and gifts of the Holy Spirit, Hebrews 2:3-4. Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint, Proverbs 29:18, so give us vision and keep our feet in Your paths, Proverbs 4:18. Hide Your word in our hearts that we might not sin against You, Psalm 119:11, and deliver us from temptation, Luke 11:4, deliver us from evil, Matthew 6:13, and from evil men, 2 Thessalonians 3:2, and keep us from the evil one, John 17:15, for our adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, 1 Peter 5:8.
We entrust these loved ones to You, asking with confidence, and we thank You for the peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:6-7, for all the promises of God find their Yes in Him, 2 Corinthians 1:20. We ask all this in the mighty and only saving name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Just to be clear, we're not saying there is no human responsibility in salvation, for after being struck down to the earth while on the way to Damascus, and blind for three days, and seeing a vision of a disciple (by name) come to lay hands on him, restore his sight, and Paul is filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul says, "So I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision," Acts 26:19 -- We are only maintaining what Jesus, John, Luke, Paul, James, Peter and The Bible (Moses, Job, David, Isaiah) make plainly evident -- "All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one," Ps 14:2-3, Ps 53:2-3, Rom 3:10-11, Isaiah 53:6, Gen 6:12, etc... To SUMMARIZE -- "Without You Acting FIRST There is NOTHIN' Goin' On."
Father, Thank You Jesus said, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them, (NOW, Tonight -- Today is the DAY) -- and I will raise them up on the Last Day. Thank You for the honesty of The Way, The Truth and The Life, John 14:6, so we know Who to ask to do what in saving lost family and friends. You clearly say it is Your will to pray for all people, 1 Tim 2:1-2, and this pleases You for You will all to be saved and come to know The Truth, 1 Tim 2:3-4. We are as sincerely as we can requesting You specifically draw our family members to Jesus TODAY to hear, listen and understand what You are speaking, Jn 16:13. Grant faith, repentance from sin, Acts 3:19, the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of our sins, Lk 1:77. Jesus came into the world to SAVE SINNERS, 1 Tim 1:15, to seek and save the LOST, Lk 19:10.
Help us LEARN the elementary teachings of Christ (The FOUNDATION of REPENTANCE and FAITH toward GOD," Heb 6:1-2, and contend for the faith that was handed over once for all to the church, Jude 1:3, first preached by Christ, confirmed by His Apostles, miracles, signs, wonders and gifts of The Holy Spirit, Heb 2:3-4. Give vision — for without revelation we go unrestrained, Prov 29:18. Protect us all from sin, Ps 119:11, temptation, Lk 11:4, evil, Mt 6:13, evil people, 2 Tim 3:5, 2 Thes 3:2, and the evil one, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Rev 12:9, Jn 17:15. Keep us in Your ways, Prov 4:18. We thank you for these requests and the peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus Name, Phil 4:6-7, Amen, 2 Cor 1:20 
