Danny Hickman Supporter Believer in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ

Today's verse by Charles Spurgeon in the Spurgeon daily devotional is 1 Thessalonians 5:17: "Pray without ceasing." Then I ran across this question from 2014. Someone wants to know if their time is being wasted praying for a loved one that has strayed from the sheep fold. It's beginning to feel to this OP that prayer is no match for Satan's grip, or for the busted and broken will of the person who has wandered away from God. 

I have a caution for this OP: don't you wander off! Don't let your natural tendency to trust in your own understanding lead you away from faith in the truth. You must trust in God; specifically, you must trust in God's Word! What are we told to do when it seems to us that we're all alone in whatever situation we find ourselves? We're told to "Wait on the Lord." (Psalm 27:14, Isaiah 40:31, Romans 8:25, Galatians 5:5, Hebrews 10:36, and many more). 

What are we to do while we're waiting? Are we to listen to Satan's threats or are we to focus our attention on God? 

Here's the thing: I advise you to refrain from listening to people who call themselves believers who believe in their own abilities; who believe that they have power to effect change in another person's life. (If we had that kind of power, we could effectively cut out "the middle man" and get the job done on our own). Prayer is a privilege. Prayer is God's open door policy. Prayer is the King extending His scepter to us to receive us to petition Him when we enter into His court. 

The King of kings and the Lord of lords receives lowly sinners, and invities us to "Come to Me, all who are burdened and weighed down and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28). There's only one way to go to Him, and that is through prayer and supplication. 

Someone wants to know if he or she is wasting their time. If you're only open to your own outcome being realized, you need to pray a different prayer. You want the person who has strayed to do like the lost son of Luke 15 and "come to his senses" (vs 17).

In that parable, no one is said to be praying for the son to return to his father. The father in the story is typical of our Father God; He doesn't pray about the son, He keeps watch; He sees the son returning when no one else sees him. The older brother isn't praying for him to return, he's angry when his brother comes back and the father's joy overflows. Prayer isn't mentioned anywhere in the story. 

What brought him to his "senses?" He remembered what he left. He compared his present state to that which he could return. He made a decision to go back and ask to be forgiven for his recklessness. He trusted that his dad would 'cut him some slack.' 

I think his dad trusted that he would go broke the way he did, and would remember HIM. I think his dad knew he wasn't capable of making it on his own in a "far country" (vs 13). He knew what he had instilled in his son. He knew the young man was his. 

Don't stop praying! Your loved one has strayed? Consider this: could it be that you and others are being trained by God while the "Prodigal" is in the wind? 

I don't believe God overlooks any of us at any time. God isn't ignoring your prayers! What are you trusting in, your prayer or the One to which you pray? If your loved one belongs to God, he /she belongs to God, and "no one can snatch him/her from His hands" (John 10:29), whether you pray or not! 

It isn't a question of whose will is stronger between the prodigal, the prayer team, or Satan. God is sovereign. Call on Him in the day of trouble and He will deliver you (Psalm 50:15, 91:15, Jeremiah 33:3, John 14:14). 

The question is, "Do you believe the Word?"

6 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report