“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you,” 1Thessalonians 5:16

“Pray without ceasing!”  One of the greatest disappointments of my husband Terry’s life was that his older brother never accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior.  On my husband’s deathbed, he pleaded with his brother to accept the Lord, but his brother refused.  He said, “I could never believe like you.”  Terry asked him to read a book, The Case for Christ, written by Lee Strobel, but his brother refused and said, “it’s not for me.”  We continue to pray for him and hope someday he will turn to the Lord for salvation.

I read an interesting story about Joe Henderson, a businessman who came to faith in Christ through the witness of his aunt.  He was later appointed the executive director of the Gideons, a global ministry.  In the early days of his Christian life, Joe was burdened for his half-brother who was heir to a fortune worth 850 million dollars.  Joe shared his faith with him too aggressively and it resulted in a broken relationship.

Still Joe prayed for his brother, days turned to years, 57 in fact!  Finally, when both men were in their 80’s, the brother had a stroke and Joe called on him.  He cautiously asked him if he could pray, and the other man was willing.  On the next visit, the brother said with a bright smile, “Joe, I am born again!”  It took nearly 6 decades of prayer!  Never give up praying for loved ones who don’t know Christ.  Most of us have family members who have never met the Savior.  Don’t give up!  “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective!”  James 5:16.   

A few years ago, I took my grandkids and their friends to summer camp at Camp Barakel.  The speaker was “Uncle Kirby,” a fascinating teacher with many interesting stories from his life.  He told a similar story about a family member who professed Christ as a young man and married a lovely Christian lady.  After a few years, the young man walked away from his faith and spent most of his life ridiculing his wife’s faith.  His wife was an accomplished pianist and used her talents to play for the Lord.  This lifestyle went on for years while the family prayed.  One day when the couple were in their late 60’s, and enjoying their retirement years, they decided to send the day fishing.  As they were fishing, the husband turned to his wife and said, “I’m tired of fighting God, I’m going to live for Him from now on!”  His wife was flabbergasted!  The man meant every word and from that day, he started going to church, studying the Bible and really turned his life over to the Lord.  For the last ten years of his life, he was a living testimony to what God can do!  He talked about Jesus everywhere he went and he and his wife had the kind of marriage as God intended!  Never give up praying!  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” Philippians 4:6.  Our problem is that we give up too easily, feel like nothing is happening and so stop praying.   “Pray without ceasing for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Your friend, Jean