Praying for the lost

[MoNiCa4316]

Hello brothers and sisters in Christ,

Recently the Lord has been placing a burden on my heart to pray for those who don't know Him...those who are searching for 'something' and don't really know what it is...and are looking in all the wrong places. We were all there once..I know I was for sure. And I'm certain we all have friends or family members who don't know Jesus! So I just wanted to share this and encourage you all to keep on praying for your friends and don't give up...if it's difficult, ask God to give you His love for them..

Why am I saying all this? Because I really believe that if we pray for unbelievers their hearts would be changed...so I just want to encourage you all to do so. I really hope I will remember this myself, LOL!

I was reading about the Virgin Mary appearing in Fatima (please, please let's not debate this though)...and something she said really stuck with me: "So many go to hell because there is no one to pray for them". Whether we are Protestant, Catholic or Orthodox I think we can all see how this can be true...it is such a priveledge to speak to God and He hears us!! When we pray for the lost..He hears us! And sometimes it takes some time..or a lot of time...but don't lose hope if you have friends and relatives who dont know God...it took me several years to become Christian, so God may be working in their hearts and they don't even know it.

Just wanted to share this

God bless!

monica

 

[MoNiCa4316]

I came across this recently...I don't know the story behind it but this is a message the Lord gave to someone. I read it and thought it was relevant
"December 1, 2007
We are a faith of waiting. You wait for Me to return to the world and I wait for souls to return to Me. You feel a longing for Me and for goodness that causes you pain at times. I feel a similar longing for souls in the world who have rejected Me and so suffer the pain of separation from Me. How they hurt. How their wounds disturb them and cause them to hurt others. My heart sighs with loneliness for them. I ache to comfort them and console them. I long to heal their wounds. You, My beloved apostles, comfort Me in this grief by sharing this experience with Me. I am comforted by your fidelity to Me which is reflected in your fidelity to the cause of your brothers and sisters. As I wait, so do you wait and as I suffer, so do you suffer. I speak to you today, though, to remind you of something. As I rejoice, so should you rejoice. Rejoice with Me at the return of many souls just as perhaps others rejoiced at your return. Rejoice with Me at the healing of many souls, just as perhaps others rejoiced at your healing. You will rejoice that others return to Me through your consistent and humble service. We are a faith of waiting, it is true, but we are also a faith of rejoicing. The Father’s goodness spreads out over the earth in this time in waves of kindness and benevolence. You, My beloved apostles, gently push these waves out with your commitment to My service. The great mercy of the Father draws souls to My heart, the heart that burns steadily, a furnace of divine compassion and love. We are waiting, yes. But while we are waiting, we are preparing. You prepare to receive your King and I prepare to receive the fruits of your service. Be at peace, My beloved friends. We serve together, we suffer together, and we rejoice together. Be assured that you are loved and that your loneliness is temporary. I am returning."

Jesus really longs for these lost ones to come to Him...and if we do too...we share in His suffering. THen we will also share in His joy as we see them returning to the Father. The Bible says that the angels rejoice when a sinner repents...imagine the rejoicing there will be.. when we'll see all the saved ones in heaven who'll be there because someone prayed. And it's not just prayer, it's fasting too..that's really powerful.

I believe that two things can change the world...prayer and love.

 

[kisstheson]

Monica,

Oh my goodness...what can I say? This moved me so much. especially the prophecy from Jesus! I am beginning the see the fruits of the Lord's drawing in my own family. I was praying with my sister tonight. She has been away from the Lord for sooo long. When she started to pray I started crying. It was like Jesus was crying within me. But when she said, "Jesus draw me to Yourself" I burst out laughing because it was His great joy and longing to hear that prayer! He loves it when He wins and His wooing causes a yielding in the soul.

I need to see this fruit in my family matures and they all fall, truly, madly deeply in love with the Lord.

Ah but that tension...longing for His return and to see and be with Him yet He needs many souls to flood His heart. More for Jesus!

Joy and sorrow meet together in the heart of the Trinity. Even so should they flourish in the heart of believers. Help us Lord!

 

[MoNiCa4316]

I am so glad that moved you Amy! I think those words from Jesus are so precious too.

That is so wonderful about your sister! I pray the Lord would draw her ever closer to Himself ...that is great that this was her prayer too..those words were from the Holy Spirit for sure! I remember when I began to pray like that..I just wanted to know Him better. And that is a desire that He gives us so that means He is working in her life.

As a sidenote, I think it really blesses Jesus when people choose to pray and spend time with Him..

"More for Jesus"

AMEN.!

When she started to pray I started crying. It was like Jesus was crying within me. But when she said, "Jesus draw me to Yourself" I burst out laughing because it was His great joy and longing to hear that prayer! He loves it when He wins and His wooing causes a yielding in the soul

btw I love what you said here, because you were sharing His feelings...isnt that a big part of being His disciple? I think so..

 

[capnator]

I agree... Praying for the lost is a great work that needs to be done!

Would anyone like to share how they go about this? I am curious as to how others do this because I have also had this burden placed on my heart.

The way I personally approach it is this, to make lists of groups of people that I know, eg. friends, family, work collegues, sporting friends etc. and then try to pray through one list everyday, that way I've prayed for nearly everyone I know in the space of a week or two. I when I get through all the lists I just start all over again

 

[MoNiCa4316]

Hi Capnator! Well I think that making lists is a good idea, and I know lots of people who do that! I sometimes do that too, but other times I just feel that a particular person needs prayer, and so I pray for them...maybe another approach is to ask God to lead you in prayer for particular friends/family members? There's nothing wrong with lists though

God bless

monica

 

[JPPT1974]

Lord help those that don't
Know you to believe in
You and accept you as
Savior & Lord and repent
Of their sins as it is important
They accept you as Savior & Lord
And repent before time runs out
In thy name and will amen

 

[MoNiCa4316]