Pray to see changes in others

We pray to see change in others. Many do not believe this is possible – only wishful thinking – but I beg to differ with this assumption. I am here today writing a series on Why Pray because my wife and our two girls prayed for me to change. We moved to Southern California in 1979 and during that time, I became heavily involved in the New Age movement. I taught on the New Age, preached in metaphysical churches, and was a guest on a metaphysical TV station in Long Beach. For six long years, my wife and girls, who had become born again, prayed for me and asked everyone in her church to pray for me. You see, one of the New Age beliefs is, there is no such thing as sin, fear or guilt. You take those off the table of a man in his early thirties and you have a serious problem. I did not take sinning lightly, as I was an A+ sinner; you name it, I did it. But, my wife and two daughters did not quit passionately and persistently praying for me, even though friends encouraged her to divorce me. One Sunday morning, while they were in church, I was reading a metaphysical book, when all of a sudden, I threw the book on the floor, fell down, and cried out to Jesus to forgive me and save me. One second, I was a staunch New Ager that adamantly disliked Christians, and the next second, I am on my knees asking Jesus into my life! Folks, Jesus answers our prayers we pray for other people. My name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life because my wife and two daughters refused to look at the circumstances but kept their eyes on Jesus and never lost hope in God who sees our situation and hears our cries for help. We are instructed in Colossians 1:5-6 to be confident in our hope that God’s Good News is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives. Paul goes on to say in verse 9 he never stopped praying for them, and his helper, Epaphras, also never stopped praying earnestly for them (4:12). May we be like Paul and Epaphras and never stop praying earnestly to see change in others and the nations of the world. (see also Phil. 1:9, 19; Thes. 1:11-12; 2 Tim. 2:1-4; Heb. 13:19) When I begin to feel like a situation I am praying for is hopeless, I quickly remind myself of His promise in Jeremiah 32:27, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?” No, there is absolutely nothing too difficult for our God to do; whether we are praying for a person or a country—may we get this deep down in our spirit, and never stop praying and expecting God to answer our prayers! Oh Father, may we really believe deep in our heart, mind, and soul, that You absolutely love to answer the prayers of Your children. You never turn a deaf ear to our pleas to You for help, as You are a good, good Father who really does care for us. And may we grasp the truth there never has been, nor ever will be something too difficult for You. We read in Your Wonderful Word, You are the God of the impossible. That is who You are – and that is what You do! May we never, ever give up and stop praying for seemingly impossible situations, regardless how bleak it may seem to us. We choose to keep our eyes focused on You, Lord Jesus, and not the condition or dilemma. Our hope has been, and will continue to be in You, and You alone.