Prevailing in Prayer for Another

Praying for the salvation of another can be an arduous and demanding task. Often, as we continue in prayer day after day, we see no evidence of God moving. Day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year can pass without seeing any hint of change on their part. After so much time invested it would be easy to just give up. However, we must press on.

We must remember that God moves in the heart of individuals in His time and in His way. Early in the book of Acts we are introduced to a man by the name of Saul. He was very committed to the Law of Moses and would aggressively strike down anything that threatened this Law. Acts 9:1-2 tells us this man was “still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” He had permission from the high priest to arrest any who professed Christ. In our vernacular, this was a bad dude. However, God had a plan for him and he was about to be forever changed.

We are told of Saul, “As he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ and he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’”

And just like that, Saul – who would later be known as Paul – went from chief persecutor of the church to chief propagator of the church. Just minutes before this event, there was no evidence that God was or would move in the life of Saul. And now, Saul is broken and humbled before the Lord.

Scripture does not tell us if people were praying for the salvation of Saul or not. However, we know that the moment God decided to move, Saul was eternally changed. As we pray for the salvation of others, we should not get discouraged if we see no evidence of God’s moving. We must persist in prayer. Often the move of God in the life of another is not progressive but instant. Do not give up. Prevail in prayer. When God decides to move, He will move. Do not lose heart, but press on with great confidence the power of our Lord.