Thursday, April 14, 2011

Thursday's Devotion: Patience & Prayer

"We do not cease to pray for you."-Colossians 1:9

Some years ago, a woman wrote me that she had pleaded for ten years for the conversion of her husband, but that he was more hardened than ever.  I advised her to continue to plead. Sometime later I heard from her again.  She said her husband was gloriously and miraculously converted in the eleventh year of her prayer vigil.  How thankful she was that she kept on praying.

The Scripture says "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess 5:17).  This should be the motto of every true follower of Jesus Christ.  Never stop praying, no matter how dark and hopeless your case may seem.  Your responsibility isn't to tell God when He must act or even how He must act.  Your responsibility is simply to "pray without ceasing," trusting Him to act according to His perfect will.

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I can tell you from personal experience that I went to church by myself for about a year and a half, praying fervently for Jonathan's salvation the whole time.  He prayed to receive Christ in 2009 and was baptized in 2010!!  Our God is so good.  If you are praying for a spouse, a family member, a friend, or even an issue for yourself, do not give up. God is always faithful.  I know it's hard for us to remember that sometimes when His timing and ours don't line up.

I also wanted to reiterate the importance of being equally yoked.  I did not know for certain I wanted to marry Jonathan until I recognized he could be the spiritual leader in our home, which was in March or 2010. It is so important for believers to marry other believers....not marry someone in hopes they will someday change. I know that seems to go against today's theme, but I can just tell you God that it's black and white in the Word....we are to be equally yoked.  A person may have not truly accepted Christ if their nature has not changed and their life is not showing fruits of salvation.  The heart can be deceiving.

The cool thing about that testimony is that Jonathan said the Lord revealed the same thing to him once while we were on a break.  He had been saved, but wasn't following God the way he needed to be.  He said he was praying about us one day, and the Lord revealed to Him that if he (Jon) wanted us to be together, he was going to have to give up His old lifestyle and truly follow Christ.  Wow.  Am I blessed or what?!?

I hope today's devotion was as inspirational to you as it was to me.

2 comments:

Emily said...

Big Daddy has only been a Christian for like 10 years or so...the MAJORITY of their marriage Little Mama was the only christian and took those kids to church all be herself. I cannot IMAGINE having an unfaithful husband. I agree that you shouldn't marry unless you are SURE that the person you are marrying will help you get to Heaven!!!!

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