My Wish is my Prayer

We've all heard the classic question stemming from Ali Baba, Aladdin or some other literary fantasy,   “If you had a genie and 3 wishes, what would you wish for?” Of course, 3 more wishes, right?! Or how about infinite wishes?! I know, it sounds contradictory talking of God and fantasy in the same article, but just for argument's sake, can you see how cool it would be?  As a young girl, I would have wished for barns full of horses and of course, German Shepherds; for fields of tall grass and days of sunshine. (Ok, so maybe I would still wish for those!) But seriously, as I get older and realize the value of a life in Jesus Christ, my wish would be for family and loved ones to come to know Him; for them to be saved.

I pray daily for so many. Truth be told, I sometimes have great anxiety over the fact that some of the people closest to me do not know Jesus. I witness and I pray, I pray and I encourage. But in most cases, I see no progress. The seeds are planted, but I see not even the earliest evidence of germination. I become frustrated and discouraged. I take it upon myself and make it personal. I try to remind myself that God is the only one who can bring a loved one to salvation. We are called to be examples and to reflect Jesus in our daily walk, but we alone cannot make an unbeliever into a believer. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. Getting out of God’s way is sometimes the best witnessing we can do.

I am reminded of the mess I was for so many years. I, too was told about Jesus and how submitting to Him was the best thing I would ever do, how a simple prayer would cover a multitude of sins and give me freedom from the bondage I didn't even knew I was in. I resisted, I reasoned and I refused for a long time. I justified and defended my behavior. I wasn't hearing it! But at some point, I began to get it; to listen to and understand the good news. It was like watching a film with subtitles and then suddenly hearing it in English. As if the blinders were removed, and I saw the whole picture. The patience that God had while I resisted is the same patience I must exercise as I wait for him to move in the hearts of my loved ones.

 Ephesians 2:4-9 says “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Wow! What a gift!

So join me in praying for the lost, the broken and the lonely. May God come into their hearts and change them with the saving love of Jesus Christ. And if this is you, and if you do not know Jesus as your savior, I urge you to accept His free gift of life. He loves you and will meet you where you are. Best. Decision. Ever.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for saving me with the blood of your son, Jesus. Thank you for your patience with me as you prompted me to respond to your invitation. I pray that all those who are called into your kingdom respond sooner, not later,  with an emphatic, “Yes, Lord!” In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen