Yo Yo Prayers

Date: 6/07/2025

Introduction: I have people in my life that seem to be very challenged all of the time. I want to help add quality to their life, but there is nothing I can do to change their circumstances. Some say they pray and some say there is no reason to pray. Either way, I wonder if they have sincerely surrendered to Jesus and are letting Him be the Lord of their life.

Scripture:

1 John 5:14-15

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Do you have people in your life like that? Can you feel their hurts right along with them? Since God is a sovereign God, I struggle knowing how to pray and what to say. Do you ever experience that too? Do we really know what needs to happen or what needs to be done, especially for those really hardened hearts? Our prayers are only requests anyway. It’s not like we are ordering a pizza to make someone else’s life better. Besides, our lives are so entangled with the lives of others that what happens to one person effects so many others all around them. Some we don’t even know about.

Some days I feel so desperate that I cry out to God, “Lord, Whatever it takes! Just save them from the pit of hell! Help them to not be fooled by the lies of the devil!”. Then the next thing you know, the junk in their life is getting worse. So, here you go again crying out, “Oh God, , Whatever it takes! Just save them from the pit of hell! Help them to not be fooled by the lies of the devil!”. The whole time you are thinking to yourself, “Is the window of heaven closed? Did God go on vacation? Am I talking to myself? Isn’t this what I’m supposed to pray?”.

When their heart doesn’t soften (so you think) it just gets hard to watch them struggle. So then I pray, “Lord, bless them, give them a break through, and help them to have more than enough!” You’re waiting on God to show up but you’re not seeing anything. I look up and say, “Hellooooo, Anyone home?”

I can imagine seeing the Holy Spirit standing next to me with His arms crossed saying, “Well child? Make up your mind! Do you want Me to do whatever it takes or make it easy for them to get through this? Dear child, please remember that the motivation of your heart is what matters here. You say you love them and you ask me to do whatever it takes. But, when their situation gets tough, which is usually what it takes for stubborn people to look up for help, you ask me to help them. Are you asking me to help them so it will add quality to your life more than theirs because you have a hard time seeing them go through hard times? Well, the prayer that maybe you should pray would be that you would handle whatever it takes to get them to look to heaven and call out to God?”

WOW!!! What a concept, right? Oh, my goodness, am I hindering my family from getting saved because I am praying for my own comfort during their tough times? Then I remember hearing Mike Murdock say about the same thing. He said, “Do not pray for God to do whatever it takes unless you are ready to act right while you and your loved ones go through “Whatever It Takes!””. Now I get it.

Do you do that? Let’s make a change right now in how we pray for our family.

Father God, in the name of Jesus,

Please forgive me for praying a selfish prayer that limits You from bringing my loved ones to the saving knowledge of you. The sincere prayer for my family is the prayer that says, “please, do whatever it takes to keep them out of hell”. Since in their tough times my prayer is selfish let’s just change what I pray for myself. So, instead of praying for things to get easier for them when the times get tough so I won’t feel the stress of seeing them struggle, I would rather Lord that you help me to act right while you answer my prayer to do whatever it takes to get to embrace you as their own personal God. Help me to know how to show them by example how to pray. Instead of preaching to them, help me to pray for them, either by voicemail or by text, in such a way that they learn how to pray. Help me to know you are answering my prayers and that I can trust you. Help me to have the right words when I pray in private for them and when I pray for them in the prayers they can hear. Help me to get this right, because I really do love them and I want them to go to heaven. The times when I must watch them go through the muck that leads to you, I feel so crushed inside. Help me not to give in or quit. Help me to trust you even more. In Jesus Name, Amen!

I really want to act right during tough times. No matter if the tough times are mine or theirs. Everyone goes through tough times. I want my family to see how to go through these times and NOT STOP LOVING JESUS! I not only want my family to go to heaven, but I want them to be blessed. Each path is a process. As I go through the process of life (which is hard and tough) my family and I have to see the blessings that are already there and not miss them because our focus is on the hard time.

I consider you, the reader, as part of my family and the prayers I pray for them, I want to pray for you.

Lord Jesus,

Please help us to act right as we go through the tough times of life. Help our family to learn to call on You during their tough times and that they will follow You. Focus our eyes to see the blessings that You have placed all around us so we won’t dwell on the tough stuff. But, trust You with the tough stuff while we take in the blessings of the good stuff. Thank You for hearing and answering prayer.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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Further your Faith

The Bible teaches that prayer is essential for believers, connecting them with God and fostering spiritual growth. Believers should pray with faith, humility, and persistence, trusting God's wisdom and timing.

Acts 16:14

One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Matthew 7:7-8

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

James 5:16

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Matthew 21:22

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.