“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 NIV (emphasis mine)
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
Is your heart heavy because someone you love rejects Jesus as Savior? Perhaps he(she) calls himself an atheist. Or maybe, they just refuse to search for Truth and instead stand stubbornly in the darkness, clinging to “intellectual” arguments that support their atheistic beliefs.
If you’ve been praying for someone for a long time, don’t give up now. Be encouraged and strengthened by the promises of God.
Galatians 6:9 (NIV) says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
For a long time, I have been praying faithfully every day that Jay would accept Jesus as Savior. Becoming weary, my prayers have been reduced to “God please help Jay. I don’t know how to pray for him. I don’t even know where he is. You know, Lord.” That is the prayer of someone who is weary in prayer.
After searching God’s Word for encouragement, I was not disappointed. This is what I learned. It is not meant to be a “formula” for prayer, but rather, an encouragement that you are praying according to God’s will and being led by the Holy Spirit. So don’t give up!
Following Paul’s example, simply pray that he will be saved. “Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.” Romans 10:1 NIV
Pray that the Lord will send Christian workers into his life. God uses people to accomplish his will. “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:5-6 NIV
Pray that God will give him spiritual understanding and that the Lord will lead him to repentance. ” … in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:25-26 NIV
Pray that God will open his heart. “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul” Acts 16:14 NIV
Pray that God will give him spiritual sight and make His light shine in his heart, as He did yours.
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” 2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6
Continue to pray with perseverance. God has called you to pray for this person. As you pray, remember to thank God for His love, mercy, kindness, and faithfulness.
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” Colossians 4:2 NIV
“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1 NIV
Pray with the knowledge that his salvation is God’s will.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 NIV
(Where did we get the idea that God should be on our timetable?)
Therefore pray, “your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:10 NIV
Pray with confidence, remembering that our God is a God of mercy, love and faithfulness.
“The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].” James 5:16 AMP
Your prayer for someone’s salvation is most definitely a spiritual battle. Do not listen to the devil’s lies. Of course Satan will try to discourage you and make you give up. Instead, obey God’s Word and keep praying.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV
From this study, here is what I have learned: God hears my prayers. It’s not that He isn’t answering them or that He doesn’t hear me. (The devil will try to tell us that!)
My “assignment” to pray for Jay has not ended. The battle is not over. In fact, I am in the heat of the battle. I will keep praying.
When I am praying God’s will, I know He is working even though I haven’t seen the final result yet.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV
God’s Word encourages me and strengthens my faith! It will do the same for you.
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
“Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time handed down to the saints.” Jude 3 NASB (emphasis mine)
Amplified Bible Footnote: There is no “secret knowledge” or “better way” or alternative belief system which God has revealed to some unique group or teacher. The truth is available to everyone.
It is the Holy Bible, the Word of God.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
Photo by Alex Grodkiewicz on Unsplash
RealChristianWomen.blog
But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me,
the Lord has forgotten me.”
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.” Isaiah 49:14-16 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
Photo by Gabe Pierce on Unsplash
RealChristianWomen.blog
Our Father God’s clock moves at His pace, and His blessings are always on time for His faithful ones who acknowledge Him before men. God does indeed speak and live in the hearts of His children today, including you and me.
Alan Kearns, Devotional Treasure
This excellent, short devotional about Joseph will encourage you today! It did me!
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
Photo by Lucian Alexe on Unsplash
RealChristianWomen.blog
Jesus said to the Jewish leaders,
“But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.” John 5:45-46 NIV (emphasis mine)
How many prophecies did Jesus fulfill? Many! See the answer on GotQuestions.org here.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
Photo by Laura Seaman on Unsplash
RealChristianWomen.blog
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 NIV
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
Some of you asked how my daughter and her new husband met. Here’s the rest of the story:
Once upon a time, there was a lonely man in Texas. And there was a lonely woman in Kentucky. (1,000 miles apart).
Both the man and the woman had traveled difficult paths filled with tragedy and heartbreak. But they persevered, loving and serving Jesus.
God looked down, saw these two children of His, and remembered His promise to heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
How would He bring them together? God had a plan!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Here’s what happened:
“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” Romans 8:28 AMP
I share this story to encourage you. God loves you and knows what is going on in your life. Trust Him with your whole heart. Even though bad things may happen that you can’t understand, God has promised to work them together for good. I have seen this play out over and over in my own life.
Note: Born on the same date, they married on their birthday! Also, interesting: Her name means “Christ-follower”. His name means “Gift of God”.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
“Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.” Ezra 1:5 NIV (emphasis mine)
My thoughts: Pray that God will move the heart of the one you are praying for to be saved. He can do that!
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
Photo by Artem Kovalev on Unsplash
RealChristianWomen.blog
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17 NASB
My thoughts: The Holy Spirit has been given to help us, guide us, teach us truth, and encourage us! Hallelujah!
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
Photo by Rayyu Maldives on Unsplash
RealChristianWomen.blog
Real Christian Women 