I recently started listening to the podcast “The Deep End with Lecrae.” This podcast has challenged me in many ways and helped me learn how to interact with difficult concepts within our own culture. In the podcast, Lecrae talks to many Christians who left the LGBTQ+ community and now belong to God, namely Jackie Hill Perry and Richard Matthews. While many of us know these individuals by name, we don’t know their stories.
Jackie Hill Perry left a lesbian lifestyle in order to pursue God. God changed her heart in the process, and she is now married to Preston Perry. She has been vocal about how God’s goal was not to make her heterosexual but rather for her to become holy. She has been open and states she still has temptations and struggles; however, Jesus’ grace helps her overcome these temptations.
Richard Matthews is a man who is self-declared to be ex-gay and has devoted his entire life to the Lord. While he also still struggles with same-sex attraction, he has resolved to live a life of celibacy. When we look at both Perry and Matthews, we see God’s amazing work, but we don’t need to stop there. From their lives, we need to be encouraged to pray for those within the LGBTQ+ community, to show love to them, and to extend compassion rather than judgment.
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1. A Prayer for Holiness
1. A Prayer for Holiness
As mentioned, Jackie Hill Perry has spoken extensively about God’s desire for her holiness rather than to become heterosexual. This is because God’s plan for everyone’s life is holiness (Leviticus 11:45). His ultimate plan is not found in a relationship or our sexuality, but rather in our growth in holiness as we continue to follow Him. The Father’s top priority will always be to transform us into the likeness of His Son.
When we are praying for the LGBTQ+ community, we need to pray for their holiness. Some people within the LGBTQ+ community are Christians, yet they are not living for God. For those who are Christians, we should pray for God to turn them to holiness. With time and dedication, our prayers can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). It is easy to pass on prayer because we think it doesn’t make a difference, but it does. We need to cover the LGBTQ+ community with prayer.
“Dear Jesus, please help those within the LGBTQ+ community to strive for holiness. Change their hearts to focus on You and to accept You. Help them to know that You want to help them and desire the best for them. I praise You for Your miraculous works. Amen.”
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2. A Prayer to Know Jesus
2. A Prayer to Know Jesus
Individuals in the LGBTQ+ community may think they are free, but in truth, they are held in bondage to sin and need to see the freedom that comes with knowing the Lord (2 Peter 2:19).
If we have the privilege to share the Gospel with someone in the LGBTQ+ community, we need to share the love of Jesus. However, we need to be caring, sympathetic, and loving. We never need to be judgmental or tell them they are an abomination or make them feel inferior. God loves all of us regardless of our sins, and the LGBTQ+ community is no exception (Romans 5:8). In the same way, He wants them to come to know His Son and place faith in His death, burial, and resurrection (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
“Dear God, please help the LGBTQ+ community to come to know Your Son. Equip them with the resources and people in their lives to come to place faith in Jesus. Turn their hearts to You and help their minds to be focused on the way of freedom rather than slavery. Set them free and give them a new start. In Your Son’s Name, I pray, Amen.”
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3. A Prayer for the Power of Grace
3. A Prayer for the Power of Grace
Grace is an amazing thing. None of us deserve God’s grace, yet He pours it out for us every day. The mercies of God are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). This is true for all people, whether believers or not. The Bible tells us that God sends rain and flourishing crops to all people, which displays to us He loves everyone (Matthew 5:45). We need to show the same grace God shows to all people.
Many of us struggle with a superiority complex, where we think we are better than others because we don’t struggle with a particular sin. However, it is clear that all sin is sin regardless of which sin it is. Jesus tells us that if we just look lustfully at someone or think an impure thought, we have committed adultery with that person (Matthew 5:27-28). Praise be to God that He doesn’t leave us in this sinful state, but rather, we can be renewed by receiving forgiveness by placing faith in His Son. This is why we need to pray for the power of grace to come into the LGBTQ+ community.
“Dear Jesus, I praise You for Your mercy, goodness, and love. I come to You today, asking that You bring grace to the LGBTQ+ community. Help them to come to know Your grace and to know that Your mercies are new every morning. In Your Name, I pray, Amen.”
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4. A Prayer for Conviction
4. A Prayer for Conviction
There are two types of sorrow: godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. Godly sorrow brings you to repentance, but worldly sorrow brings death (2 Corinthians 7:10). We need to pray for the LGBTQ+ community to be convicted and brought to godly sorrow rather than worldly sorrow. Conviction will bring godly sorrow into their hearts and help them begin to look for answers—answers that can only be found in Jesus.
The conviction that Jesus can bring into their hearts will help them turn away from living a life of separation from Him. For those who are believers within the LGBTQ+ community, we need to pray for the Holy Spirit to convict them and bring their hearts back to Jesus. The Holy Spirit can do amazing things, and we never need to doubt Him. Bring your prayers to God and trust Him to do something amazing within the LGBTQ+ community.
“Dear God, please help those within the LGBTQ+ community to be brought to godly sorrow. They don’t need to only have worldly sorrow as that will not help them be led to repentance. Please help believers and unbelievers alike within the LGBTQ+ to come to know You. Bring them to repentance and salvation through Your Son’s Name, Amen.”
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5. A Prayer to Know They Are Loved
5. A Prayer to Know They Are Loved
Everyone needs to hear about God’s love for them. God’s love for everyone is abounding and unconditional (Romans 8:37-39), and this includes the LGBTQ+ community. God’s love is not based on what we do or what we don’t do—it is based on His very nature. He loves us because He is love (1 John 4:8). If we don’t love others in the same way God loves them, we need to start spending more time in the Word and with Him in prayer.
God loves all people, which is why He sent His Son to die for us (John 3:16-17). God is not some sort of tyrannical ruler. Rather, He is our loving Father who desires to cover us with love, safety, and care. As believers, we need to pray to help those within the LGBTQ+ community to know God’s love for them. Regardless of what any of us have done, He still loves us and desires to have a personal relationship with us.
“Dear God, Your love is amazing. Please help the LGBTQ+ community to know Your love. Help them to know that You love them unconditionally and want a personal relationship with them. Fill their hearts with real love, which is only found in You. Thank You, God. Amen.”
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6. A Prayer to Accept Unconditional Forgiveness
6. A Prayer to Accept Unconditional Forgiveness
In order to fully understand God, the LGBTQ+ community needs to know that He offers everyone unconditional forgiveness (1 John 1:9; Colossians 3:13). Many people within the LGBTQ+ community are yearning for forgiveness and direction, yet they are not receiving it. They deserve to know about Jesus and have the opportunity to accept Him.
Once someone places faith in Jesus, they are given forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life. The unconditional forgiveness that God provides to us can help many people turn to Him. Ultimately, this is why we need to help the LGBTQ+ community understand God’s forgiveness, to accept Him, and fully grasp the life He has planned for them. Choosing Jesus will be worth it every time as He is the Savior, Lord, and Messiah who loves us beyond measure (John 15:9-17; 1 John 4:19).
“Dear Jesus, I’m coming before You today to pray for the LGBTQ+ community to accept Your unconditional forgiveness. Equip their minds and hearts with the knowledge that You will forgive them and give them a new start. Help them to see that life is better with You. In Your Name, I pray, Amen.”
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Originally published June 09, 2025.
