Prayer is a mystery. God the Father invites us to join with him in the work he is doing on earth in people’s lives. Why would he do that? Why does he wait for us to make requests for ourselves and others before he does what he already intends to do? Why does God want us to be involved?
Having read many books on prayer, I still don’t have answers to these questions that truly satisfy my heart. But I do understand that God does want us involved in the working out of his will in our lives and in those around us.
Our prayers go far beyond physical comforts. Yes, we pray for ourselves and others that we may receive our daily bread—the things we need for living each day. We also pray for good relationships with our family and friends. We pray for friends who are seeking employment and good working environments. We pray for safety in daily life, especially during seasons when the weather or earthly disasters make it possible that illnesses or injury may come. We pray for people by name, bringing them before the throne of grace. When our prayers are answered, we give thanks for ourselves and others.
But there is a greater prayer that goes beyond the physical and social. It is a prayer for the hearts and souls of those around us. We pray, “Heavenly Father, prepare this person’s heart so they may be willing to hear the gospel. Father, may your Holy Spirit move their hearts when they hear of their needy condition and your love given through your Son. Open their hearts, turn their eyes to Jesus that they may be saved.” We pray that God may do a miracle in their hearts. Life without the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is a life without hope, now and forever. “Heavenly Father, save us!”
Often, hearing the siren of an ambulance or entering the intensive care unit of a hospital, we have paused to pray, “Heavenly Father, show mercy on this person and their life so they may have another day, another opportunity, to hear the gospel and turn their hearts to you.” I don’t know about the people in the ambulances I have prayed for, but I do know that many times God has granted my requests for sick friends in the hospital. In mercy he provided the needed healing to their bodies so they could return home, thus allowing our friendship to continue for days, weeks, months and years.
This has given many friends precious time to learn of the love of God. Some were not granted that privilege of time, and our hearts were heavy when they left this world without Jesus.
Recently, a person we have prayed for and ministered to for many years, who has spent many months in intensive care and respiratory therapy, has made great strides in physical recovery. Though she was willing to receive our spiritual encouragement through Scripture, songs, and prayers, she still clings to her traditional ways of worship. People around us wonder if our prayers don’t have enough strength or sincerity—thinking that is why God does not answer to move her to believe. Yet in the end, it is not the strength of our prayers that matters; rather, God in his mercy, power, and grace will make the difference.
I believe God can and often does overrule a person’s physical condition to allow them time to be drawn to Christ, but at the same time, the Father will not overrule a person’s heart when they will not yield their soul to him. Only God’s Spirit can make this final difference in people’s lives as the Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens, sanctifies, and preserves their souls. I have learned methods, theory, songs, and sayings that help me to lead people to Jesus, but I can only put my trust in God’s grace through prayer that he will do the miracle in their hearts.
Thank you for joining us in prayer for the people that we minister to, just as we pray for you and your churches. Together we call upon our Father in heaven, mentioning family and friends by name, in order that precious souls will be set free and receive eternal life.
Michael and Delores Kittelson serve Lutheran Brethren International Mission as missionaries in Taiwan.