Tonight I held my daughter as she wept for her unsaved friend. Sydney has been witnessing to her friend for over a year and Syd has been patient and loving, waiting for her to make a commitment. Tonight during an altar call she was so desperate for her dear friend to choose Christ. Her grief was deep, She cried,"Mom, I don't think she is ever going to make a decision!" As she cried I prayed.
In the message, Isaiah is quoted saying "shed honest tears for the lost harvest"
As I was interceding I was reminded of how long my grandmother fought the same decision. God's unfailing love was enduring enough to wait 94 years for her. Why or how I will never know.
This is what floated through my mind as I prayed for my daughter. That, and I wish I hadn't ate so much garlic.
I shared with Sydney how sovereign God is. He is breaking down walls in her friends life and proving that he is a Father that will never leave her as her real father did. This may take some time, but don't give up on her.
I tried to think of the last time I wept over and unsaved friend. Here lately it was for my grandmother, but before that. When was the last time I grieved for the lost? I mean really grieved for them and interceded for them to come to the Father of life.
I remembered:
We were leaving a women prison in Mexico we had just ministered in. My prayer had been "break my heart for what breaks yours, God"
I had the privilege to preach that day. I prayed with many women and held many mothers as they cried for their children that were living on the streets. I felt completely helpless and wept and prayed with them- Praying for Gods peace, comfort and wisdom. As we were leaving, the grief hit me. It doubled me over, a heartache I could not explain. My dear friend Kim held me as I heaved sobs of a broken heart that I knew was God the Fathers pain.
That was the last time I truly wept for the lost-6 months ago.
I never wanted to forget that pain. Sydney's grief over her friends indecision reminded me to grieve the lost. Cry out for those I love who do not know Him.
Psalm 56:8 You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book
Now I know a person cant walk around boo hooing all the time, This is not what I mean. I think you can grieve without crying. But then there are times it just has to spill out. Your tears become your prayers, the way Hannah's did. These are some of our most powerful prayers when our tears do the work and our words just fall to the ground.
I know for me, Gods is wanting my awareness of the lost to be heightened. To be so keenly aware of a person, knowing when I need to pray for them and when I need to to present the Gospel. Knowing when to be silent. And yes, sometimes weep over them.
Matthew 10:5 Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: "Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously. The Message
Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." NIV
It really is that simple, just tell them Jesus loves them, pray for them, touch the untouchable, and kick out some demons. AND... still love them if they don't make the commitment.
