I’ve come
to know the depth of anguish for a loved one and friend who has walked away
from God or never come to know Jesus’ saving power in his life. When a loved who
once gave his/her heart to Christ later faces the spellbinding deception of
Satan and turns away from God, family and friends watch and fall on their knees
before the Lord asking Him to call and convict that person to return to Him.
Months turn into years and before you know it 3, 5, and 10 years or more have
passed, and still the loved one has not turned back to God.
When we get
to this point, we feel we have said everything in our heart begging God to
intercede for that person. We feel we have used every word in the English
language to bring the person before God. Possibly we wonder why we should continue
to pray, not because we give up or don’t care about the loved one, but because
no more words can be spoken than we have already said to the Father.
Next we
remember Jesus’ story of the insistent widow and understand we should not stop
praying for this loved one. But what more can we say? How can we express anew
our heart’s desire for the person to return to the Lord, their Salvation? We
remember, too, the earnest prayers of a righteous person avails much (James
5:16). Because of our love for the person, our love for God, and our obedience
and faithfulness to Him, we will continue to pray. But how do we pray when all
the words have been said?
I have
reached this point. After hearing people for years saying they have prayed for
the salvation of a loved one for 5, 10, or 20 years, I wonder how they could be
so faithful in praying. What I have learned in my own experience is we do it because
of love-love of the person and love of God. I, like many with and before me,
reached the mental impasse of what more can I say when I have exhausted the
words of the English language.
At this
point, I remember and realize words are unnecessary. Paul taught about this
state of being unable to express our hearts to God. He said in Romans 8:26, “In
the same way, the Spirit also helps our weakness, for we do not know how to
pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too
deep for words.” [NASB] Words are unnecessary for intercession with the Father.
The love and intent of our hearts speaks louder than feeble and insufficient
words from our mouths.
Another
thing I learned as I reached this impasse goes alongside what Paul wrote. This
lesson did not come from study or from someone’s wisdom. It came from
desperation as I sought the Lord. At the point I realized I could not put adequately
into words what I desired the Lord to do and felt stymied by words, I threw my all
before Him. I mentally in prayer put my heart on the altar before Him,
opened it for Him and said, “See…Hear.” This was all I could think to do. It was
my fragrant aroma to Him.
As I
consider these two things, isn’t this the ultimate expression of interceding
for someone? True intercession for someone includes desperate love for the
person and for God, and putting our all on the altar before Him. Our all is our
heart and life. It includes everything we are and have. What would you give for
your loved one to come to know the Lord as Savior or to return to the Lord?
If you have
come to the end of words in prayer, you are at the end of yourself. This is desperate
love of the person. When you seek God even at the end of words and place your
heart on the altar, you show you desperately love God because you know He is
faithful to His covenant with you. He loves you enough to listen and answer
your prayers. God provides each believer with His Spirit for such times as
these-when our love is great, our faith in God remains strong, and our feeble
vocabulary runs out.
At this
point, recall Jesus’ words, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and
I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:23 [NASB]) Jesus did not say this only to
sinners. He said this to all people, believers and unbelievers. At the point where we lay down our lives by
offering our hearts on the altar and exhausting our vocabulary in earnest
prayer so the Spirit intercedes for us, we have come to the end of ourselves.
We have begun to seek the rest and peace of Christ.
When our
wills join God’s will, our energy comes exclusively from Him and originates and
resides in Him alone. Why? Because of His love and faithfulness to us, His
children. And, because of our sole reliance upon Him.
For whom have
you been praying for months and years? Have you exhausted your words? Have you
grown tired in intercession for him/her? Have you come to the end of what you know
except that God is love and He is faithful? That is when you can rest in Him by
laying your will, your heart, on His altar. His Spirit will intercede for you.
God hears. He is busy at work bringing the person you love to Him for the first
time. He is busy working to bring your loved one back to Him.
Allow your love for and trust
in God to bring you to the end of your striving.
Accept His rest as you lay
your will on the altar of His rest and peace.
Oh, Lord God, I am tired. I am weary. I am heartsore for a loved one. I have
prayed, and I trust You will hear and answer my prayer because You love this
person, too. You want a personal relationship with each person and will not
give up on reaching out to and convicting lost and rebellious people. Today, I
come to the end of myself and seek rest in You. I give what is left of myself
to You. I give You my heart, my will, and my love. My loved one I give to You. No
words are left that I have not used as I prayed. You know my heart of love for
this person and for You. I seek my rest in You, trusting You. Amen.
