Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 69

Remembering - A Post from Arlington

These thoughts from my daughter, Kristen, are worth revisiting this Memorial Day. Copyright 2012 by Kristen Hatcher
Side by side, shadowed by white markers and red, white, and blue flags, they lay quiet under green grass in long, seemingly endless rows.   The silence is loud, the stillness heavy. 
The President will be here soon to express the gratitude of a nation. It’s Memorial Day, and it just felt right to begin my day at Arlington National Cemetery remembering just how high a price was paid for my freedom and the freedom of the country I love so much. Living in our nation’s capital, I’ve grown accustomed to seeing monuments to presidents, generals, and others who shaped our country, but the sight of these white headstones stretching as far as I can see never ceases to move me.
A desire to say thank you brought me to Arlington this morning. I didn't expect to leave with a blessing of my own.  
When I arrived, a kind volunteer offered me two beautiful long stemmed roses. “Place one on a headstone, and take one with you as a memorial,” she said as I took the flowers. Because I am new to Washington and unsure about what is appropriate, I had considered bringing flowers, but ruled it out.
As I walked through the cemetery, it was difficult to comprehend that under each of the thousands of white headstones dotting the ground lay someone’s husband, wife, mother, father, sister, brother, or friend--there in the ground--because of me. Because they believed that the idea of freedom, of a government by, of, and for the people was worth defending, worth dying for. 

Copyright 2012 Kristen HatcherLaying my rose on the headstone of a veteran of World War II and both the Vietnamese and Korean conflicts, I breathed a silent prayer of thanks for this brave man’s sacrifice for my freedom. The words of a song from the Civil war echoed in my ears, “As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free.” Their sacrifice reminded me of another innocent life that was given for my freedom centuries ago.  Our nation’s soldiers’ sacrifice freed my body and my mind; His sacrifice freed my heart and my soul. 
Abraham Lincoln, while dedicating Gettysburg National Cemetery, said, “The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did.”  From where I stand, a river separates our national cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, from our nation’s capital, in Washington, D.C.  The Peace Bridge connects the two. This bridge is only possible because of the men who surrendered their lives and were laid to rest here in Arlington. In fitting tribute, I acknowledge that I have peace with God because Jesus Christ surrendered his life long ago for me, because He loved me too much to leave me on the other side of the river without a bridge. 
This Memorial Day, we must remember the price that was paid for our right to shop, barbeque, spend time with our children, protest, live based on our religious beliefs, or choose not to believe at all.  It’s our right.We have the freedom to do so. But we must remember how much that freedom cost, and we must be thankful.
Copyright 2012 by Kristen Hatcher





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Thank you, Kristen, for allowing me to share this poignant memorial with my readers.







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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

8 Reasons to Do the Right Thing

Some days I don’t want to do the right thing. 

You’d think after more than 30 years of being a Christian, it would get easier. In many ways, it has. But there are still times when I just don’t want to do the right thing. 

Today was one of them. 

Get out of my warm bed at 5 a.m. to fix breakfast for my husband? Nope, that wasn’t on the top of my Oh boy, I get to do this today list. Even though I knew after breakfast we’d read a snippet of a devotional book and pray together, one of the best parts of my day, I still didn’t want to get out of bed. My flesh wanted to stay horizontal beneath the covers. 

Some days I don’t want to read my Bible, either. Other days I don’t want to be unselfish, or honest, or kind. The alternatives are often mighty tempting. 

I suspect I’m not alone. 

That high school boyfriend who sent you a private Facebook message? You don’t want to say no. And some days you don’t want to come home. And at night, when the kids have been especially bad and your husband doesn’t appreciate you? You think about walking away and never looking back. 

Some days you don’t want to go to church. Or to work. Or to visit your loved one in the nursing home. You don’t want to give. Or serve. Or pray. You don’t want to honor your vows, keep your promises, or train your children. 

Some days you just don’t want to do the right thing. 

But by God’s good grace, we do. 

Thank you, Jesus, for helping us. 

Today, on the day I climbed out of bed at 5 a.m. to fix my husband breakfast, and read, and pray, I thought of eight good reasons to do the right thing. 

We do the right thing: 

1. Because disobedience is sin. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). When I know what I should do and choose to disobey, there’s only one word to describe my action—sin. 

2. Because God punishes sin. “. . . because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in” (Prov. 3:12). Because God loves me, he will punish me for disobeying. His motives are pure. He wants the best for me. He knows that sin and its consequences cannot produce the good life I desire. 

3. Because the natural consequences of my disobedience will hurt me. Skipping my Bible reading, eating junk food, and being lazy all come with consequences. And they’re not good. 

4. Because doing the right thing lays the foundation for a good life. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:11). 

5. Because God sees every sacrificial, selfless thing I do. ”God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” (Heb.6:10). 

6. Because God will reward me—in this life and in the next. “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Mat. 25:21). 

7. Because I’ve never regretted doing the right thing, but I usually regret doing the wrong. 

8. Because I want to honor God and make him smile. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15). Most days I love Jesus more than I love myself. Because I love him, I want to please him. Love is the greatest motivator of them all. 

Today we get to decide whether or not to do the right thing. For these eight reasons and many more, I hope you’ll say yes.



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

"My Desire"

I read something today that made me cry.

Not because it was sad, but because it was beautiful.

One of my favorite authors and theologians, John Piper, in two paragraphs, described God. He used a simple word picture and everyday language. No Greek. No Hebrew. No plumbing the depths of his vast theological training. Just a simple example connected to a profound spiritual truth.*

And I bawled like a baby.

I cried because his writing put skin on God. He took God’s lofty grandeur and brought it down to me, a very unlofty and ungrand human being. I often struggle to grasp the magnitude of God. I wonder, how can he love me? Why does he love me? To what extent does he love me?

In a few short paragraphs, Piper made God so personal that I wept with love and gratitude.

Wow. 

Oh, how I want to do that. 

I want to be able to describe God so well that others are amazed—not by the beauty of my writing, but by the beauty of my Savior.

Father, reveal yourself to me so I can reveal you to others.

I want to share God so transparently that others feel my arms around their shoulders and know I’m walking the faith path with them, not scowling down from a lofty pinnacle.

Father, remove my fear of man and give me a healthy fear of you. Strip me of the sin of pride that wants others to see only the brightest parts of my life. Help me tell the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth.

I want to eliminate anything from my writing that will cause others to stumble in their pursuit of Jesus.

Father, help me learn the craft of writing so well that nothing I write prevents my readers from understanding your truth.

I want to be so in love with God that his love splashes onto every post I write, every article I pen, and every book I create.

Father, draw me near. Keep me close. Guard my heart. Fill my mind. I want to rest so confidently in God’s care that when I hear the enemy of my soul whispering lies, I can point to the cross and never doubt (Romans 8:32). Father, help me say with Job, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”

I want to love God well, point others to him, and glorify him with everything I do.

If this is your prayer, too, may God hear from heaven and answer our plea.

Lord, be pleased with the work of our hands and use it to draw others to yourself.

You may not be a writer, but your life tells a story that others around you are reading. Which chapters bring him glory? Share them. Which chapters bring him shame? Ask God to redeem them. Which chapters are still unwritten? Commit them to God so the final chapter of your life story will include the words, “'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord'” (Mat. 25:21).


*The passage I read, “Hugging God’s Neck Takes Away Fear,” is on pages 96-97 of John Piper’s latest book, What Jesus Demands from the World.


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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Rest or Rustle? Two Choices When We Feel Threatened

Thankfully, the mother bird saw the rat snake before the rat snake saw her.
She was perched on the edge of the nest she had woven in my hanging basket, a wriggling worm dangling from her beak. Ready to drop it into the open mouth of one of her fledglings, she froze, then quickly hopped into the nest. Her squawking babies quieted as she covered them with her outstretched wings. Hunkering down atop her tiny charges, she blended into the foliage until the slithering serpent passed by.
Those babies may have been newly hatched, but they knew something I sometimes forget—that danger is an invitation to trust. As my friend Nan Jones says, “It’s better to rest than to rustle.” The Psalmist puts it this way:
“I will trust in the shelter of your wings,” (Psalm 61:4).
When danger threatens me or my family, my default setting is to start squawking. I cry. I fret. I call my friends. I wring my hands and wail as if the Philistines were storming the gates. I work myself into an emotional tizzy that would rival a two-year-old’s bedtime meltdown. In the end, I’m left spent and exhausted.
On other days, when my heart is full of God’s Word and I’ve spent time in prayer, I react much differently. Like the baby birds in my geranium, I seek the shadow of my heavenly Father’s protective wings and rest quietly, trusting that he will care for me.

What about you? How do you react when something scary threatens you? When are you more likely to respond with faith instead of fear? Leave a comment below and join the conversation. If you're reading by email, click HERE to leave a comment at the bottom of the post.



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

When the Finger Points Back at You

“Young people are so prideful. They think they know it all. They’re arrogant and unteachable.” 

A friend was ranting about what a difficult time she was having parenting her young adult children.

“He wasted time, money, and effort,” she continued. “If he’d done what I suggested in the first place, he’d never have gotten into such a mess.” 

I nodded sympathetically. 

“The worst thing about it,” she said, “is that he's so PRIDEFUL. Why won’t he just admit he needs help? He thinks he knows it all.” 

Proverbs 15:31-33 spotlights this problem of prideful arrogance: 

“The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gains understanding. 

A few days after this conversation, my husband and I were in the car. The air was mighty chilly, not because it was a cool day, but because we were at odds with each other. Even worse, we were at odds together on the way to church. 

I was driving, but I had only a vague idea of how to get from our new house to the church. But I sure wasn’t going to admit this to my husband. Especially not while we were giving each other the silent treatment. I wasn't going to ask for directions, because then I’d have to acknowledge he knew something I didn’t. 

He wasn’t volunteering any information, because, remember, we were giving each other the silent treatment. Everyone knows the person who speaks first during the game of silent treatment loses. 

So after taking the most circuitous route imaginable, we finally arrived at church--ten minutes late and grumpier than ever. 


“The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. He who disdains instruction despises his own soul . . .” 

Sadly, it’s not just young adults who disdain instruction and pridefully refuse to ask for help. It’s middle adults, and older adults, and senior adults. It's you, and it's me. We’re prideful and hardheaded, oftentimes to our own harm. 

But I’m thankful God is patient with me. 

Day after day he offers his wisdom and guidance through his Word, his people, and his Holy Spirit. “If any of you lacks wisdom,” he calls, “let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him,” (James 1:5). 

He chides me for my prideful spirit and reminds me, “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.” 

If you, like me, struggle with pride, will you join me in laying it down? Remember, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (1 Pet. 5:5). 

I certainly don’t want God to resist me. 

And who couldn’t use more grace?



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

What to Do When You Can't Fix It

Someone you love is struggling. Perhaps she’s sick, or angry, or discouraged. Maybe a child has broken her heart or her marriage is in shambles. Maybe it’s not one big ugly, but a lot of little uglies that have her down. She’s lost her perspective, and her faith is flickering. You know you can’t fix the situation, but you love your friend and you want to help. What can you do? 

Here are four steps to take when someone you care about is hurting: 

1. Pray 

We are in a battle, and the enemy of our souls prowls around, seeking whom he can destroy. Thankfully, we have powerful weapons in our arsenal. Jesus, at the Last Supper, knew he would soon be arrested and separated from his disciples. He warned Peter of the coming trial. 

“Peter, Satan desires to sift you as wheat.” Then he said something profound and powerful. “But I have prayed for you.” 

This conversation reminds me of two things. First, the forces of evil in this world want to discourage and defeat Christians. Second, that Jesus, the Lover of our souls, who is infinitely more powerful than Satan, is praying for his children. When we add our prayers to Jesus’, we join forces to support those we love. Every time I pray for my loved ones, I can be confident that Jesus has gone ahead of me and is interceding on their behalf. And while prayer, on the surface, seems passive, it is the most dynamic thing we can do. 

2. Love them, even when they’re not very loveable. 

Hurting people hurt people. It’s sad, but it’s true. Ironically, those who are hurt and angry often direct their negative emotions toward those who love them most. When this happens, our natural response is to pull back and distance ourselves from them. Well if that’s the way they’re going to act, fine. I’ll leave them alone. 

Instead, ask God to enable you to love them even more. Try to see life through their eyes. Imagine how you’d feel if you were in a similar situation. Share those thoughts with them. If I had just lost my job, I’d be feeling pretty scared right now. This may open channels of helpful communication and direct them into healthier ways of expressing their feelings. 

Determine in advance that no matter what they say, you'll respond with love. Conflict doesn’t start with the first person. It is the second person’s response that determines the course of the conversation.  

3. Look for practical ways to serve them. 

Kathy, a patient of mine, lost her husband to cancer after an ugly seven-month battle. He was admitted to a hospital 90 miles away the week after Christmas. Shortly after they arrived, she received a series of text messages. When she opened them, she saw pictures of her three best friends--at her house. 

What are you doing in my house? she texted back. 

We’re taking down your Christmas decorations was their reply. 

Kathy’s friends couldn’t stand vigil at the hospital, but they wanted to support and encourage her. Instead of fretting about what they couldn’t do, they did what they could—something practical that still brings a smile to Kathy’s face years later. 

4. Leave room for the Holy Spirit to work. 

The Lord may give you the opportunity to share scriptural truths, promises to claim, or comforting Bible verses. Do it. 

But don’t be surprised if your friend isn’t ready to receive your words. If she responds negatively, take a step back. The Holy Spirit will continue to work, even if your friend appears to have closed the door. 

Watching a loved one struggle is hard. We feel helpless, because we want to fix her problem and lift her burden. Sharing words of faith from your own experience, praying, and listening when she feels like talking will help her heal. Continue to love her, and look for ways to serve her. Finally, trust the Holy Spirit to speak to your loved one’s heart and restore its joy. 

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). 

What about you? What do you find helpful when a loved one is struggling? Leave a comment in the comment box below. And if you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE and scroll down to the end of the post to share your thoughts.



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

When I Am Afraid

“Giiiiiiiiii gi!” 

My two-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter’s frightened cry pierced the happy quiet of my backyard. 

Moments before, she’d been playing peacefully. Now she was racing toward me, her eyes wide with fear. Kneeling down, I opened my arms, and she flung herself into them, her breath coming in short, hard gasps. 

“What’s wrong, baby girl?” I asked, looking around for a big dog or a scary snake. 

“Airplane,” she said, pointing to the sky. 

Sure enough, there was a jet, high in the sky, making its noisy ascent from the nearby airport. 

“That airplane won’t hurt you,” I said, wrapping my arms around her trembling little body, “but you did good to come to Gigi. Gigi will always protect you.” 

This morning in my quiet time I read Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” 

It reminded me of the way Lauren ran to me when the airplane frightened her. Because she’s learned to trust me, she instinctively knew I would protect her. Her child-like faith rested securely in me. 

I want to be like Lauren when big, scary things disrupt my life and make me afraid. Only instead of running to a person for protection, I want to run straight into the loving arms of my heavenly Father. I know I can trust him, because he’s demonstrated over and over again how much he loves me. 

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32). 

I love Lauren, and I would die to save her. God loves me even more, and he already died to save me. What further proof do I need that I can trust him with whatever comes my way? 

Although 50 years separate Lauren and me, we’re a lot alike. We are both frightened easily, but we also both know where to run for safety. 

What about you? Is something big and scary threatening you today? Run to Jesus.



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

A 9-Word Prayer that Could Change Someone's Life

Have you ever watched someone with the gift of evangelism share their faith and wished you were so bold? Have you heard people talk about spiritual conversations they’ve had with coworkers, friends, and family and wondered, why doesn’t God give me opportunities to share my faith like that? 

I’m not a fearless evangelist, nor do I have the spiritual gift of evangelism, but years ago I learned a prayer that has opened up more opportunities to share my faith than I can count.

Lord, show me where you are at work today. 

This simple prayer is part of D. James Kennedy’s Evangelism Explosion training that teaches people how to share their faith clearly and boldly. It’s based on Jesus’ words in John 5:17,

"My Father is always at his work . . . ."

When I ask God to show me where he’s working in the world, it reminds me that God is always drawing people to himself. There’s never a lack of opportunities to share my faith; I’m just usually too self-absorbed to see them. I bumble past people every day whose hearts are tender and receptive to spiritual things because I’m just not looking for them.

Praying this prayer and believing God will answer it keeps me alert for spiritual signs that God is using my neighbors’, friends’, and family’s life circumstances to open their hearts to him. This happened recently with one of my dental patients.

When I asked him what was going on in his life, his eyes filled with tears.

“My wife’s been battling cancer, and it’s not looking good.” 

“That must be very scary,” I said. My statement unleashed a flood of words, and for the next ten minutes we set aside his dental needs to talk about his greater need—to know that whether his wife lived or died, he would one day see her again. By the end of his appointment, I knew God had answered my prayer to show me where he was working in the world.

Maybe God had answered my prayer by bringing the man to our office that day. Or arranged for me to be assigned to him instead of another hygienist. He might have led me to ask the question that unlocked the deepest concern of his heart. Or perhaps it was all three. One thing I know for sure, asking God to show me where he was at work in the world encouraged me look for his answer. 

God is at also work in your world today. Will you have eyes to see it and be a part of what he’s doing in someone else’s life? I encourage you to begin your day with the simple nine-word prayer, “Lord, show me where you’re at work today.” Then be ready to join him.

 Father, I pray for the people reading this post. Help them care enough about this sad, sick world to share the hope they have in Christ. Give them eyes to see where you’re at work around them and courage to come alongside you. Give them tender hearts and gentle words. Use them to draw men and women, boys and girls to a saving knowledge of you. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

10 Tips for Successful Fasting

Three years ago, a friend challenged me to begin fasting and praying one day a month for my adult children. 

When she suggested it, I had mixed feelings. I love my children, and I want God’s best for them. I also love food. I have a high metabolism that requires me to eat often. My kids call me “the toddler,” because I eat every few hours to avoid headaches, lightheadedness, and weakness. I keep food stashed in my purse, desk drawer, and car in case I have a sinking spell. So I thought long and hard when my friend suggested a prayer plan that involved doing without food for extended periods.

As I weighed the benefits against the losses (no pun intended), I realized that I want God to release his power in my family’s life way more than I want a comfortable stomach and a headache-free life. For the last three years then, I’ve set aside one day a month to fast and pray for my adult children. 

I shared many of the biblical reasons for fasting in a post called, “I Don't Like Fasting.” I suggest you click on the link and read this brief post before continuing. Because people sometimes ask what my fasting day looks like, today I decided to crack open the door to my prayer closet and share what works for me. Your prayer strategy might be very different, and that’s OK. The most important thing is not how we pray, but that we pray. 

Here’s my approach to a day of fasting for my adult children: 

1. Fast from dinner to dinner. I used to fast by skipping breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I almost always failed. Now I fast for 24 hours from after dinner one evening to just before dinnertime the next. It’s still a full day, but I skip two meals instead of three. 

2. Consider an alternate fast. Some people can’t skip multiple meals because of medical conditions. An alternative to a 24-hour fast is a single meal fast, a liquid only (juices, teas, broths) fast, or a fast from TV, internet, sweets, coffee, or a favorite activity for a longer period of time. One of my friends gave up her once-a-day Coke for 40 days to pray for an unsaved loved one. 

3. Drink water constantly. One of the hardest physical ailments that accompanied fasting for me was a terrible headache. I did some research and discovered that lack of food isn’t what causes headaches; it’s lack of water. Staying well hydrated can prevent that brain-stabbing headache that can quickly derail a fast day. 

4. Drink herbal tea with a little sweetener if you really start to feel crummy. 

5. Set a timer. Because life goes on, even during a fasting day, I sometimes get so busy with a task that I forget to pray. This defeats the purpose of fasting to intercede for my adult children. At the same time, I can’t pray nonstop. To make sure I pray often during the day, I set the timer on my phone for one hour. When the timer goes off, I stop and pray for five minutes for some aspect of my children’s lives.

 6. Use a prayer guide for focus and direction. You can develop a journal where you list different things you want to pray for your children, like physical health, spiritual growth, work success. Or you can compile a list of Scripture verses to claim on their behalf. My favorite guide, Stormie OMartian’s The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children, combines both.

At the end of every chapter is a sample prayer. Every hour I pray a different chapter’s prayer. This allows me to ask God to help my adult children develop a heart for God; grow in wisdom; find freedom, restoration and wholeness; understand God’s purpose for their lives; work successfully and enjoy financial freedom; avoid sexual pollution and temptation; and many other requests. 

7. Choose a day when you’re likely to have more “mental space.” I try to schedule my fasts on days that aren’t crammed so full I don’t even have time to think. Because prayer requires mental concentration and dialogue with the Lord, choosing a day that doesn’t allow for mental pauses means your day of fasting and prayer might deteriorate into just a day of fasting. 

8. Be open to prayer “tangents.” During a fast, God often brings to mind other people and prayer needs. While my primary goal is to pray for my children, whenever a different need comes to mind, I pray for it, trusting that the Holy Spirit is directing my prayer energy where it needs to go most. 

9. Use your hunger or cravings as prompts to pray. Whenever your tummy grumbles or you desire what you’re fasting from, pray instead. Instead of trying to ignore your cravings, use them as prayer prompts. 

10. Expect spiritual and physical opposition. I wish I could say I look forward to my monthly fast. I don’t. Every month my flesh tries to talk me out of fasting. This isn’t a good day; you have too much to do. Why not skip it this time? You can pick it back up next month? Are you really going to fast when there’s leftover lasagna and chocolate cake in the refrigerator? 

Inevitably a friend will invite me out to lunch that day, or I'll have to attend a dinner for a co-worker who's moving away. My husband will bring home a special food treat or a women's ministry leader will schedule a planning meeting over lunch.

What helps me stay faithful to my commitment to fast month after month is an overwhelming desire to see God release his power into my children’s lives. This is infinitely more precious to me than chocolate cake and lasagna. 

Second Corinthians 4:17-18 comforts and encourages me: 

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 

Do you fast regularly? What tips or suggestions for success can you share? Please tell us about your experiences by leaving a comment in the box below. If you’re reading by email, click here to visit Hungry for God online and scroll down and leave a comment at the end of the post.



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

The Secret of Praying for Unbelievers

Think of a person you care about who doesn’t know Christ as their Savior.

If you’re like me, every time you think of this person, your heart aches, because you know if they don’t accept Christ, they will die one day and spend eternity in hell. This frightens me—that someone I love could spend eternity separated from God (and from me). May it never be.

But the reality is that one day we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account. The entrance exam to heaven has one question: 

In whom are you trusting?

There’s only one right answer: “I’m trusting in Jesus Christ as my Savior.”

For years I couldn’t give that answer. The best I could do was hope my good works outweighed my bad works on judgment day. Some of my acquaintances, friends, and loved ones can’t give this answer because they haven’t yet come to faith in Jesus Christ. They’re still trusting in their works to get them into heaven. They don’t understand the truth of Ephesians 2:8-9:

“For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man shall boast.”

Because I love them, I witness to them, serve them, and do my best to demonstrate God’s love to them. But the most important thing I can do is to pray for them. 

I ask God to open their hearts to believe. Scripture tells us that no one comes to God unless the Father draws him (John 6:65), so it makes sense to ask God to draw our loved ones to himself and open their hearts to believe.

The book of Acts tells of a woman named Lydia. She was a religious woman who was trying to worship God as best she knew how. But she hadn’t trusted Jesus as her Savior. Paul shared the Gospel with her, like we should with our unbelieving loved ones. And then something miraculous happened. Acts 16:14 describes it this way:

“The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.” 

Apart from God opening a person’s heart to believe, the message of the Gospel falls on deaf ears. The spiritually dead cannot receive the life-giving truths of Scripture unless God opens their hearts. This is what we should pray for.

The take away from Acts 16 is simple: Pray for the people you love who don’t know Christ as their Savior. And when you pray, ask God to open their hearts. Pray and don’t stop.

“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Rom. 10:10).

If you leave your loved one's first name in the comment box below, I'd be honored to pray for them.



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If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher