by David Brenneman
I don't know if the saying "a prayer in progress" is being coined by me but it's how I described someone to someone else who's a Believer last night.
“Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’ ” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge *said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”” Luke 18:1-8.
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:10-21.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; ” Colossians 4:2.
“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, ” Ephesians 6:18.
All who are alive today really are the result of someone else's prayers. All who are alive were, at some point, standing on the shoulders of someone's prayers.
The only point where prayer should stop is when such people are no longer breathing. Until that point there's always hope in the Lord for these wandering souls to see the light and come to Christ.
Truly...who really wants to use an excuse before Jesus of things or situations as to why they gave up on someone who eventually did come to Christ for salvation?
If things done to us stop us from being the light of Jesus Christ...then we need to review the Gospel accounts concerning all that Jesus went through, all He suffered, before going to the cross.
Nothing done towards us stacks up to that.
Praying within ceasing. How we are to treat those who persecute us. How we're to be the exemplary standard of Ambassadors for Christ in how we conduct ourselves in the world.
I have family who are a prayer in progress. Situations happened and they no longer speak to us. I have people whom I have not seen in days, months and years whom are on my mind...these are a prayer in progress. I go through life like all who were granted a today from the Lord do. I run across all sorts of people. These too should be a prayer in progress.
We, as part of denying ourselves to follow Jesus, must not put our feelings or emotions ahead of what we are commanded to do in the Lord.
We don't get to choose who's deserving of God's grace and mercy. We don't get to choose who's worthy of second chances. We don't get to decide who is worth praying for and who isn't.
The rules for prayer are rather easy and simple.
If God's allowing someone to at all, in any way, be involved with your life...then add them to your prayer list.
So what as to how they've possibly treated you badly. Your mission is to obey God in all your ways.
I am not a betting man but in this particular case I would easily win a wager that the Apostles prayed for those whom they encountered. Whether from persecution or from praise they prayed for those whom God brought into their lives.
Someone prayed for you and that's how you came to Christ for salvation. To someone else for that you were a prayer in progress. After coming to Christ for salvation you, hopefully, continued to be a prayer in progress to grow with respect to your salvation. To become more like Jesus Christ.
Christians who hold grudges aren't representing Christ. Christians who aren't practicing prayer daily are not obeying Christ.
Out treasure in Heaven is people. The harvest Jesus spoke of are people.
Jesus came to be born of a virgin, live a sinless life, die a horrific death on a cross, rise 3 days later conquering sin, death and the grave, only because of people.
People in your life should be a prayer in progress for you.
Jesus prayed for you in this.
Let go of whatever it is that's causing you to not pray for those who've possibly done you wrong.
Whatever your reasons they won't be acceptable when you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life.
Let those whom God has brought you be a prayer in progress for you to be praying for.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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