I love reading stories of George Müeller. He was a British evangelist and cared for over 10,000 orphans in his lifetime. There are many stories of miracles that happened because of his faith and consistent prayer life. One of the stories I read said that he had five friends he wanted to come to Jesus. He committed to praying for them daily. After one year of praying, one gave their heart to the Lord. After ten years, two more accepted Jesus. After twenty five years of praying for his friends, the fourth one came to know Jesus. George died still praying for his fifth friend. That one decided to follow Jesus after the funeral, fifty years after the first prayer. He never stopped trying to get them to Jesus.
I also love the story in Mark 2. Jesus had returned to Capernaum and began to teach the Word of God to people in a home. The Bible says there were so many people there to see Him, that not only was the house full, you couldn’t get near the door. That’s when 4 people showed up carrying their paralyzed friend on a mat. Verse 4 says, “When they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Jesus; and when they had dug out an opening, they let down the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying” (AMP). These four were going to do anything to bring their friend to Jesus. They were relentless and Jesus honored their faith. In fact, the first thing He did for their friend was to forgive his sins.
James 5:16 says, “The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].” I don’t know how persistent you have been trying to get your family member, spouse or child to Jesus, but don’t stop. George Müeller kept praying persistently for fifty years and God honored it. For the paralytic, it was the faith of his friends that Jesus saw. They wouldn’t let a crowd, walls or a roof come between them and Jesus. Don’t be intimidated by whatever obstacles you see. Keep praying. Your fervent, persistent prayers are having a powerful effect in the unseen. Keep digging through that roof until you breakthrough and get them to Jesus.
Photo by Google Gemini
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 