Tag Archives: praying for unsaved loved ones

Don’t Stop

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1 Samuel 4-8

Sometimes when I read God’s Words a verse or phrase will stand out to me. When that happens I am cautioned to not make is say something it does not. So I stop and consider what the Bible says about the subject in other places. God will not “say” something that contradicts the entirety of His Word.

Today, the phrase that stood out to me was from something the Israelites said to Samuel when the Philistines had gathered for war against them. The terrified Jews went to Samuel and said, “Don’t stop crying out to the Lord our God for us.” (7:8)

The context is God’s people – believers – were facing the enemy. They recognized their dependence on Yahweh and wanted Samuel to be their mediator. The context is about a physical war between people. I get that.

But when I read those words this morning, I thought of the members of my family who have rejected God, deconstructed their faith, fashioned gods of their liking and serve the god of self. And I hear God say… “Don’t stop praying for them.”

I will admit the situation seems pretty hopeless.. Each one of these loved ones has a strong personality, most are successful, confident people. But they are heading straight to hell, and some of them are taking their children with them.

Even the Philistines recognized the power of Yahweh. They asked, “Who is able to stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?”

No one.

Not without the blood of Jesus.

In a sense, I hear their God-created souls crying out to me, “Don’t stop praying for us.” They might deny it, but their longing for peace and love and acceptance and hope comes from the God who loves them and gave Himself for them, God who doesn’t want any one of them to perish, but that all of them have eternal life, the gift of God through Jesus.

I can’t stop now. I won’t stop crying out to the Lord my God until all of them give their hearts to Jesus, and accept His work on the cross for themselves God says nothing is impossible for Him. I’m counting on that. Because, like I said it seems pretty hopeless for some of them.

I don’t think I’m off base making the connection between my unsaved loved ones and the cry of the Israelites here in 1 Samuel. If the context is different, the heart of the matter is the same. The heart of the matter is prayer. And I can’t stop praying.

(Daniel 4-5) Don’t Give Up

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Yesterday I was saddened that King Nebuchadnezzar’s knowledge of God didn’t reach his heart, didn’t change him. He remained the same arrogant, self-satisfied, ruthless king he’d always been, even after recognizing the power and authority of God.

But I saw something today that blesses my heart, makes me love God all the more, and encourages me to continue to pray for my loved ones who don’t know Him. Here it is:

God never gives up on any of us.

Nebuchadnezzar had another dream, God gave Daniel the interpretation, the horrible events of the dream came true. Then Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself before God, and God blessed the king greatly because finally, his knowledge of God had reached his heart.

I guess I want to encourage us all to keep praying. Our resistant loved ones may have to experience horrible circumstance (read what Nebuchadnezzar experienced) before they humble themselves.

But take heart. God isn’t going to give up on them while they are still breathing. Don’t you give up, either.

Acts 1-4; Don’t Give Up

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Are there people who hold a special place in your heart, but who don’t know the Lord? You are burdened for them, and pray for them constantly. Maybe you’ve shared your love of Jesus with them, only to have them shut you down. Maybe this has gone on for years, and you just don ‘t see any sign that they will ever accept the grace of God through His Son Jesus.

There is something here in Acts I want you to notice. The Gospels tell us that Jesus’ siblings didn’t accept him as anything other than their crazy big brother. (Matthew 13, Mark 6) Even from the cross, Jesus asked his friend to care for His mother. Where were his brothers?

But something must have happened between the cross and Acts 1:14. Jesus had spent about 40 days teaching and performing miracles after He rose from the dead. Many people watched as He went home, ascending into heaven as they were looking intently up into the sky.

Now they waited. Jesus had said He was going to send the Holy Spirit to them. So they returned to Jerusalem like the Savior had instructed them. Scripture tells us who were present in that upper room as they waited:

Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James Alphaeus, Simon, and the other Judas. These were Jesus’ closest disciples while He was on earth. But that’s not all who were there. Verse 14 tells us:

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. 

Did you catch that? Read it again. Who joined those in the upper room? Who were constantly in prayer? The disciples, some women, Jesus’ mother, AND HIS BROTHERS!

We don’t know the details of their conversions. But we can rejoice in the fact that at some point they believed. It doesn’t appear they believed before Jesus died on the cross. But here they are, with the disciples, obeying what Jesus had told them to do, praying, and waiting.

Don’t give up on that loved one who seems to think you are crazy because you are a follower of Jesus. Don’t stop praying. Don’t stop living outloud. Don’t stop finding opportunities to talk about your Savior. Don’t stop loving them.

Many of us can share testimonies of people we prayed for for years, maybe with a bit of doubt they’d ever really humble themselves and accept the Savior. But they did. God loves answering that prayer. And as long as they have breath, Jesus is willing to save.

Don’t give up.