A Prayer For The Lost

A Prayer
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As my thoughts in restless turning,
Thru deep sigh express the yearning,
All my heart and keen desire,
Rescue sinner from the fire.
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Chilling sweat and labored pain,
And all hopes that I might gain.
On my tears compassion take,
And mercy grant for Jesus sake.
~Melanie R Bird
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No one prays for a person like a mother or father. There is no wondering; "Is this person elect ... is this God's will?" There is just the bottomless cry from a deep seated need to see a precious child own all that God has for them. We may pray earnestly for the lost in every place and expect that God will do all his holy will but when it comes to our child we are on our face before God refusing to take no for an answer. This earnest desire may often extend beyond our biological children to others. God places a parental call and concern on our heart for some individual.

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And yet, God may not answer right away. He may seem to reject our request. He may allow us to wrestle with him, beg, reason and insist. Finally he will drop to his knees, cup our face in his hands and say, "Child, great is your faith... let it be done as you have asked." ... time may pass while we wait for the promised fruition but in heaven it is as good as done. We do not pray to own something .... this is a catch and release. Like Hannah we have begged God for something with the understanding that we are giving it back to him. No individual will be truly happy apart from the heavenly Father. We may remain an agent of blessing as Christ's love and peace and joy overflows our hearts to others but we can never replace God in any one's life.

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Giving someone to the Father may mean that he takes them far away or it may be that they live right next door. Regardless, If you love that person you have a responsibility to them. God has placed that love in your heart. We all need a few people who truly care for us ... it is a gift from God. Caring for someone does not mean giving them up and walking away. Caring for someone means standing by whether near or far and continuing to love and pray for them. You are a force for good in their life. You have stewardship of that relationship. You are someone who loves them with the love of the Lord. If you leave your post who will care for them?