God is listening!

In recent months I read a book by John Dickson called "Promoting the Gospel". It's a great book. I picked it up again just now because I remember a story the author told about his childhood. He knew a lovely elderly lady who used to babysit him and his brothers since they were young. John's father had died when he was nine; every day since then, Elsie had prayed for John, his mother and his two brothers, asking the Lord to bring them into his kingdom.

John Dickson is a christian now. And so is his brother Jamie. Isn't that amazing? The prayer and encouragement of one woman brought two people into God's kingdom! Maybe more.

I know another story like this one. Told to me in a sermon by Josh Apieczonek, who spoke at LiT camp. He said that at his church they have these cards on the pews where church members and new people can write their details and prayer points. Josh knew a girl who wrote a prayer point on one of these cards every week. And every week she asked for the same thing - prayer for her father, who was not a christian. So Josh prayed for the girl's father every single week.

Some time later, in an open prayer at church, this girl prayed aloud and thanked God that her father had become a Christian.

I am just stunned by these amazing acts. Devotion to prayer and faith in God. And I am even more stunned by God's overwhelming care and power. He listens. And, His will be done, our prayers will be answered.

We all have non-christian friends. I know you'd love them to come to Christ. But I'm sure you can think of at least one person who you are convinced could never become a Christian. Don't doubt! Have faith in God. Commit to prayer for this person, and if it be God's will, that person could join the kingdom.

For, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). That means everyone. So it also means that anyone can come to Christ. If you are with Christ, then there is every chance your non-christian friend can be too.

So pray! Pray every day if you can. And have faith like in God. 'Jesus replied, "...you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'move from here to there', and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."' - Matthew 17:20-21