Keeping Christ in Christmas- Dec. 7- Keep Praying for Your Friends and Family

 

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom." Isaiah 40:28

 Everyone has friends and family who don't know Jesus. It's easy to grow weary in praying for them to come to salvation through Christ. Prayer after prayer you see no fruit of the prayers prayed. You see no change of heart.Your flesh is impatient and frustrated but The Spirit inside you says, "keep praying."  So you do.

I had been thinking about this lately and was determined to pray daily for those I know who don't know Jesus. I heard a great program this evening on Moody radio about the greatest gift at Christmas-reaching your family for Christ. Pastor Arni Jacobson wrote a book which identifies Five keys with biblical references to continue praying for them. I haven't read his book, but I did hear his entire interview on Haven today and found what he had to say about prayer to be quite encouraging.
Click on the link below and read Pastor Jacobson's references to praying for lost hearts. http://www.haventoday.org/5-keys-with-biblical-references-gd-585.html

My favorite of his five keys was #5, "Believe in the depths of your heart your family will come to know Christ."

I think that is where we grow weary the most- in believing God- that HE can save our friends and family. It is not up to us to save, we are supposed to share God's truth. God brings salvation.

Many of you will be seeing relatives at Christmas.You'll be reminded of those members who don't know Jesus over a Christmas meal or during a Christmas Eve gathering. Sometimes it can put a damper on your Christmas day because of the way you hear they are living their lives. Your heart is burdened, and you become frustrated because you see no change in their heart. Don't grow weary. Take the burden to the ONE who never grows weary!  Instead of becoming frustrated and sad, PRAY. Thank God for reminding you about the friend or family member who is lost or backslidden. Pray silently for the member while you eat Christmas dinner. Look for opportunities to talk with them when you gather together. Follow up with them after the Christmas season is over with a card. Tell them you are praying for them.

And keep praying.

Just keep praying!