Some Questions

There are some things I have been wondering about and thinking about regarding prayer lately. The first thing was God's will and prayer. A sermon on prayer (I will post the outline) got me thinking about this. I have prayed that someone (my daughter for instance) would get saved, for months on end I have prayed - done everything within my power to plead with her to get saved - and then been disappointed that she will not accept Christ. Part of my mind wants to find comfort in telling myself "Oh, she will get saved one day. It's just a matter of time" - yet I know that there is no guarantee!

Even though we pray for someone to be saved, or get right with God, or some other intercessory prayer, God will not violate the individual's free will. Now "free will" is a loaded term, but I mean simply, his freedom to choose. So how do we pray for those who are in open rebellion to God? Simply mention them by name? How can we specifically pray for them?

God will answer prayers that are in His will, but that do not overstep someone's God-given freedom to turn to Him...or to continue in their own way. I can't help thinking of a sheep and a shepherd in this vein of thought. A shepherd may try to get a sheep to safety, but the stubborn sheep may not want to be saved. It may see the greener grass on the other pasture, not knowing of the cliffs, the wolves, or the impending storm clouds.

How does the shepherd deal with the sheep? He may pull them in with his crook (influences that change our direction). He may call to them, but they must be able and willing to hear his voice. He may go and get them, and actually pick them up and remove them from the immediate danger - this is not lasting change, as if the heart is not changed, the sheep will go back to trouble as soon as possible. I have heard that when shepherding, if a sheep constantly runs away, the shepherd breaks it's leg, and then it stays with the shepherd as it heals, and that relationship is built. This might apply to a Christian who is running from God, when God allows events to occur in their life as a means of correction.

So to carry this over to prayer: pray for the lost (unsaved, or backslidden), that they would hear the call of God. Pray that they would be influenced to turn to God, and the flip side of this is, pray that Satan's influence would be thwarted. Pray that whatever is needed, God would correct and chastise the straying Christian. This may seem cruel, but you have to know the Saviour. He is ever merciful, good, and kind. The discipline He gives us will not scar us or damage us, but it will keep us from the scarring and damaging effects of sin.