We all have people that we know and love that we become truly burdened about. We want to see our family and friends find the Hope and Healing they need that can only be found in Christ. We know the blessing of walking with the Lord and how wonderful life can be with Him. We run across situations in our lives when we know the choices that someone makes are just very detrimental to them. When we try to talk to them about God and the plans that He has for their life, they may turn away or change the subject. As much as we long to see them follow the Lord and walk in His ways, they just don’t seem to want it. They may not be ready for the Lord to work in their life and no amount of conversation or pleading with them seems to do any good. I believe this is when it becomes critical to pray on their behalf and to stay away from the prodding and nagging that we tend to do. The more they resist, the more we can become discouraged and even anxious about the choices that they make.
Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
- Psalm 55:22 NLT
Chances are, that we had someone in our past praying for us and pleading with God on our behalf. We were without the knowledge that we possess now, did not know what we were doing, and that life could be better by coming to know the Savior. And so, the ones for which we plead for, and with, now are in a similar situation. They just don’t know. No amount of striving and guilting them seems to work. Inviting them to church or suggesting that they should come, does not lead to the results we would like and then we become frustrated that they just won’t do what we know they should. Even though we know the benefits of a life lived for Christ, they don’t. They are unaware and even blind to spiritual things. We know how much better their life can be, but they may see it as us just wanting to control their life and telling them what to do. We may come off as “holier than thou” or condescending, rather than loving and seeking their genuine overall good, even with the kindest of conversations. We forget how patient and loving our God is and we want results now!
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
- 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
But we must remember that on our own journey to the cross, at least for most of us, it did not happen overnight. There were bags and baggage that we slowly had to lose our grip of and let go. Sin habits and outright defiance that we weren’t ready to cut out of our life right away. Yielding control of our life to some unseen and unknown being does not happen all at once, usually. We learn and grow by fits and starts and as we learn, He is pruning the fruitless parts of our life away from us. He is transforming us by His Word and Spirit and as He does so, we must show Grace to those we have concerns about. If we are so burdened for them, then we should be willing to get on our knees and pray for them.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Quite often, I find myself in conversation about a person and their need for change, rather than crying out to God on their behalf. Talking about someone and their spiritual needs is not praying for them! No matter what I may call it, it is sin. It is a lack of Trust in the God who Saved me and I must repent of that. Then I can correctly and rightly, go to Him in prayers of petition for the one(s) I love and care deeply for. Then He will hear and answer the requests according to His will and timing. Then we can leave the people we love in Bigger Hands. As time passes, we can still petition Him, but there will be no need to worry or fear for them because the God who Loves them and Cares for them desires for all to come to Him. We may not recognize it in this way, but we are trying to “play God” whenever we worry, fear and are anxious about ones we love. We already know that we are not in control of their life and what the best plan is for them. That is God’s territory and yet we still like to have it in our hands. Let us come to the place where we really seek the Lord and His will for their life. Let us leave it in the Capable Hands of the One who deserves our Trust.
Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
- Psalm 55:22 NLT
Chances are, that we had someone in our past praying for us and pleading with God on our behalf. We were without the knowledge that we possess now, did not know what we were doing, and that life could be better by coming to know the Savior. And so, the ones for which we plead for, and with, now are in a similar situation. They just don’t know. No amount of striving and guilting them seems to work. Inviting them to church or suggesting that they should come, does not lead to the results we would like and then we become frustrated that they just won’t do what we know they should. Even though we know the benefits of a life lived for Christ, they don’t. They are unaware and even blind to spiritual things. We know how much better their life can be, but they may see it as us just wanting to control their life and telling them what to do. We may come off as “holier than thou” or condescending, rather than loving and seeking their genuine overall good, even with the kindest of conversations. We forget how patient and loving our God is and we want results now!
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
- 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
But we must remember that on our own journey to the cross, at least for most of us, it did not happen overnight. There were bags and baggage that we slowly had to lose our grip of and let go. Sin habits and outright defiance that we weren’t ready to cut out of our life right away. Yielding control of our life to some unseen and unknown being does not happen all at once, usually. We learn and grow by fits and starts and as we learn, He is pruning the fruitless parts of our life away from us. He is transforming us by His Word and Spirit and as He does so, we must show Grace to those we have concerns about. If we are so burdened for them, then we should be willing to get on our knees and pray for them.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Quite often, I find myself in conversation about a person and their need for change, rather than crying out to God on their behalf. Talking about someone and their spiritual needs is not praying for them! No matter what I may call it, it is sin. It is a lack of Trust in the God who Saved me and I must repent of that. Then I can correctly and rightly, go to Him in prayers of petition for the one(s) I love and care deeply for. Then He will hear and answer the requests according to His will and timing. Then we can leave the people we love in Bigger Hands. As time passes, we can still petition Him, but there will be no need to worry or fear for them because the God who Loves them and Cares for them desires for all to come to Him. We may not recognize it in this way, but we are trying to “play God” whenever we worry, fear and are anxious about ones we love. We already know that we are not in control of their life and what the best plan is for them. That is God’s territory and yet we still like to have it in our hands. Let us come to the place where we really seek the Lord and His will for their life. Let us leave it in the Capable Hands of the One who deserves our Trust.
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