Sometimes the only thing anyone can do is pray. When it comes to our children we want to fix things for them, we want them to make the right decisions and do the right things. We want them to grow up and have happy fulfilling lives. But often what we want for our children isn't what they get, or even what they want. The disadvantage for us as parents is that we can't walk for them. We have to let them go their own way. Oh sure we can steer them and guide them, but it's kind of like the ol' saying... "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." They have to make their own decisions and run their own race.
Prayer is sometimes the only hope for our children. As I say this I almost make it sound like there is no hope at all for the situation. I don't mean to sound like that, because the truth be known, it's the most powerful thing we can do. Especially if our walk with the Lord is sound and our relationship with Christ is strong. I'm reminded of these verses...
Proverbs 15:29 "The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous."
Philippians 4:10 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication , with thanksgiving, let your request be known to God."
James 5:15,16 (15)" And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins he will be forgiven. (16) Confess your trespasses to one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."
Yesterday I received a phone call from a good friend of mine. She was obviously discouraged as she shared with me that her daughter whom she thought was saved, now says that she wasn't saved. She says that she was young and when the other youth went forward, she went to, but she really never gave her heart to Jesus, she just did it because her friends did. Her daughter has had her share of struggles in her life and through the years there has been a tough strain on their relationship. Now she finds out that her daughter isn't saved and the thought of her daughter still being lost is almost more than she can bear. It was a devastating blow. The reason I tell you this story is to share with you her heart. The reason she called me wasn't because she needed to talk about it. The reason she called me was because she was doing all she knew to do to help the situation. She was asking all of her friends that knew the Lord to pray for her daughter. You see, her daughter was meeting with a good friend of theirs today to talk about her salvation. She was asking everyone she knew to pray for God to open her heart so she would receive His gift of salvation. She knew that if everyone prayed then there was hope that her daughter could still be saved.
We'll of course all I could think about was her and her daughter. I prayed often at every remembrance of them all day yesterday and today. This evening I emailed her about the visit asking how it went? She emailed me back...
"My daughter got saved today! I know that it's because of your prayers and the prayers of all my friends that helped to soften her heart so that she would be open and willing to give her heart to Jesus. I'm asking for prayer for her and us as she doesn't have but one Christian friend and the friends and the lifestyle she currently has is not good. Thanks for your prayers. I know that it's friends like you and God that can make all the difference in her life."
So let me ask you... What is it that you wish you could change? Is it your relationship with your children? Maybe your spouse? Maybe your relationship with your co-workers or Boss? Maybe you have a lost friend that needs to know the Lord and it seems that they just won't hear the Good News. Whatever it is... It's not ever hopeless. Pray, pray, pray! Do like my friend did, call everyone you know that is a prayer warrior and ask for their help in praying for you and with you. It's at times when it seems like there is nothing we can do to help, that we can do the most... WE CAN PRAY.
Prayer is sometimes the only hope for our children. As I say this I almost make it sound like there is no hope at all for the situation. I don't mean to sound like that, because the truth be known, it's the most powerful thing we can do. Especially if our walk with the Lord is sound and our relationship with Christ is strong. I'm reminded of these verses...
Proverbs 15:29 "The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous."
Philippians 4:10 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication , with thanksgiving, let your request be known to God."
James 5:15,16 (15)" And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins he will be forgiven. (16) Confess your trespasses to one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."
Yesterday I received a phone call from a good friend of mine. She was obviously discouraged as she shared with me that her daughter whom she thought was saved, now says that she wasn't saved. She says that she was young and when the other youth went forward, she went to, but she really never gave her heart to Jesus, she just did it because her friends did. Her daughter has had her share of struggles in her life and through the years there has been a tough strain on their relationship. Now she finds out that her daughter isn't saved and the thought of her daughter still being lost is almost more than she can bear. It was a devastating blow. The reason I tell you this story is to share with you her heart. The reason she called me wasn't because she needed to talk about it. The reason she called me was because she was doing all she knew to do to help the situation. She was asking all of her friends that knew the Lord to pray for her daughter. You see, her daughter was meeting with a good friend of theirs today to talk about her salvation. She was asking everyone she knew to pray for God to open her heart so she would receive His gift of salvation. She knew that if everyone prayed then there was hope that her daughter could still be saved.
We'll of course all I could think about was her and her daughter. I prayed often at every remembrance of them all day yesterday and today. This evening I emailed her about the visit asking how it went? She emailed me back...
"My daughter got saved today! I know that it's because of your prayers and the prayers of all my friends that helped to soften her heart so that she would be open and willing to give her heart to Jesus. I'm asking for prayer for her and us as she doesn't have but one Christian friend and the friends and the lifestyle she currently has is not good. Thanks for your prayers. I know that it's friends like you and God that can make all the difference in her life."
So let me ask you... What is it that you wish you could change? Is it your relationship with your children? Maybe your spouse? Maybe your relationship with your co-workers or Boss? Maybe you have a lost friend that needs to know the Lord and it seems that they just won't hear the Good News. Whatever it is... It's not ever hopeless. Pray, pray, pray! Do like my friend did, call everyone you know that is a prayer warrior and ask for their help in praying for you and with you. It's at times when it seems like there is nothing we can do to help, that we can do the most... WE CAN PRAY.
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