Planted Prayers

My younger sister is one of the lost.  She struggles through her day in misery and barely covers it with a forced smile.  She is angry, sad, and defensive.  She attempts to fill her need of Jesus with baseball, friends, alcohol, and more baseball. 

She is lost.

This is my sister of "BFF" quality from our early youth.  We played on the same ball teams, cheered on the same squads, shared clothes and friends, and shared bedrooms.  We even shared the title of Homecoming Queen.  She is the sibling that never judged or questioned my decisions (possibly wrongly so).  She can be funny and caring and will serve others until she is spent.

But, she is lost.

She has a permanent sport on my prayer list for the last 10 years.  My prayers are the same over and over.  And over.  "Lord, why can't she see she needs you?  Why won't she stop running away and run toward you? Why, Lord?"

Sometimes I wonder if my Father's ears are sore from my constant, sometimes rote, prayers over her heart.  Now, I know that he never tires of my concerns over her.  But come on, Lord!  Let's see some action here.

Can you say "impatient"?

While reading Mark Batterson's book The Circle Maker, I was smacked on the forehead with his thoughts about thinking and praying "long".  He says prayers can be like seeds planted.  We want to reap the second after we sow.  We want things to happen at the speed of light.  Instead our prayers should be in line with the "patience of the planter, foresight of the farmer, and the mindset of the sower".  Instead of thinking and praying in terms of time, my prayers are prayed in light of eternity (pp 134-135).

This isn't really a new thought.  However, I like the picture it gives of seeds and their seemingly slow growth.  Under ground the seed is busy setting down roots and soaking water to create a solid foundation for what will grow up top.  None of those things can we see.  We pray and wait and wait and pray not seeing what is going on behind the curtain.

But God knows.  He knows how my prayers for my sister's heart have changed.  Less rote and demanding and more sincere and heartfelt.  God knows how my prayers for her have changed my heart.  God knows what is brewing in her heart and the outcome of her decision is already written. 

Regardless of the result of my prayers here on earth, God's word says:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express Romans 8:26.

So, I will continue to pray even if I don't have any words.  I will pray in light of eternity and seek to set aside my impatience.  I will pray long for her heart.

What a marvelous God we serve.

Have a prayerful day,
Niki