Wow, I've just had a pure revelation and need to share.
Basically I was praying for my friend who is yet to know the Lord personally. I was praying that God would tunnel through the rock that has been formed around his heart and breathe life into his heart. And when I say tunnel through the rock, I mean tunnel through the crap that has built up over the years - the drug taking, the sexual relationships, the hard-heartedness, the barriers, the doubt....
It got me thinking about a few things which I thought were AMAZING!
On Sunday when walking to church I had a picture of really tall grass and me walking through it with other fellow Christians at WCC. The grass was long and it was tough to walk through, yet as we walked we trampled the grass and made a pathway.
Job 28v10 says
'(the people) tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures'
Isaiah 40v3 in reference to John the Baptist says
'Listen! It's the voice of someone shouting, "Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God'
Isaiah 43 talks about God
'making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland'
And then it became clear to me...
GOD WANTS US TO PREPARE PATHWAYS INTO PEOPLE'S HEARTS 'that the King of glory may come in' (Psalm 24)!
Perhaps instead of praying for people to be saved, we should be praying for a pathway for Jesus to come in. Perhaps we should focus more specifically on the things that are blocking or preventing Jesus coming into people's lives. Just as Helen preached a few months ago about 'mind the gap' we need to bridge the gaps in peoples lives and thus create pathways for Jesus to ride on into their lives. So often I just pray 'please let them know you' or 'please let them become a Christian'. But (and whereas that is effective and God hears my cry and knows my heart) how is that creating a pathway for Jesus to meet with that person?
I am so inspired.
'But we have this treasure in jars of clay' (2 Corinthians 4v7) - don't you think everyone has treasures in their hearts from God? Perhaps it is just a case of tunneling through the rock to get to it and release it?
Some interesting thoughts, not sure on the theological accuracy of some of it, but totally inspiring nontheless!
Have a blessed day and may God bless your prayers for those yet to know Him!
xxx
It's not us who saves people, it's God. Our place is to do exactly that - prepare the way for God to do his thing :)
ReplyDeleteInteresting, I know the theory of it but do you really think it will make a difference if the people you pray for come to a belief in Jesus? Do you think that your prayers can change things and lead them belief?
ReplyDeleteI know I'm just generally awkward but those are the questions I had after reading your revelation, sorry for sounding sceptical.
Take care.
Hellooooo!
DeleteThanks SO much for your comment. I think it is really good to not just take things for granted and as gospel truth but to question them and find out stuff for yourself. I totally agree with you in part also. Does prayer actually make a difference? Why bother? I really hear you on this and have often wondered. However a few things to think about...
1) The Bible tells us to pray, so I do - ask and you will receive, etc. It's not always how or what we want but what we need.
2) I think really, not praying carries too great a risk. What would happen if people didn't pray? The consequences are too great.
3) God loves to hear from us. Prayer is relational rather than prescriptive or rewards based - pray 5 times a day and I will bless you 5 times. It boosts our relationship with God. It takes great faith also. What happens about seemingly unanswered prayers and so on? I just know and believe that God has our best at heart so does not always answer the way we want.
4) Sometimes we have to just ask. A few years ago I really needed a new bed. My Dad knew I'd needed one for ages, but the process of me asking enabled Dad to let me have my independence. He didn't want to butt in, but let me come to him in my independence and ask - likea sign of maturity. God knows what we need - He is God, of course He does, but sometimes He doesn't like to butt in or force Himself into our lives so He waits patiently for us to ask.
5) I have seen far too many answered prayers to stop praying myself, including people to know Christ - my brother is one of them.
6)I don't have all the answers and some of this may sound cliché but at the end of the day I guess it's about faith. I don't know how a microwave works but I press a button and it heats up my food. I don't always know how God works (not that I want to reduce Him to a button pressing thing - I believe prayer is relational) however I ask Him stuff and He works.
I hope this is some food for thought. Keep asking questions and any more comments are greatly appreciated xxxxx