Faithful in Prayer
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. – Romans 12:12
I recently read an article by Lee Strobel in Decision Magazine and wanted to share his question with you. It was, “What would happen if, tonight, you were to go back to your room, and Jesus appeared to you and said,’I am going to grant you everything you asked for in your prayers last week.'” “If He said that tonight, would there be anyone new in the Kingdom of God tomorrow?”
“Are we praying? Are we praying consistantly, expectantly, fervently? Is there someone in your life you used to pray for? You used to lift them up to the throne of Christ, but then it’s almost like you made the decision for them. You don’t say it, but your attitude is, “They’re never going to come to faith,” and you kind of give up on them.”
Isn’t that just powerful! Isn’t that convicting!
I am guilty of doing that very thing and I’m so grateful that God gave me that moment, reading that article to get my attention and help me to restart my prayers for the people I know who need Jesus. God hasn’t given up on them and neither should I.
That message reminded me that we don’t see the whole picture and we don’t know that moment when someone will make a decision for Christ. It could be very soon, years from now or sadly never, but regardless we are called to be faithful in prayer.
I noticed that the desired results of the prayers in Mr. Strobel’s question had nothing to do with our personal requests, but rather the eternal implication of lives saved. How different would our prayers be if we prayed with the expectation that salvation could happen by the end of the prayer? or the next prayer? or the next?
When my husband read my prayer journal and saw that I had been praying for him daily, for over 6 months, it changed him. God did not answer all my requests, but my husband was touched by the sincerity and the consistancy. In the process my heart was changed and in time, I know my prayers will make a difference and in the waiting I want to remain faithful.
