”This is what the Lord says—he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’; another will call themselves by the name of Jacob; still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and will take the name Israel.” Isa. 44:2-5
Dear heavenly Father, what an awesome Scripture this is—one which give us hope as we pray for family and friends alike. How we long for you to be gracious on behalf of our children, our parents, our siblings, our extended families, and our friends. O Lord, there are so many for whom we carry heartbreaking concerns and heavy burdens.
Gracious Father, thank you not only for forming us in our mother’s womb but also for revealing Jesus in our inner hearts. This gives us great courage in asking you to pour out your Spirit on a vast array of loved ones. First of all, for our children, siblings, and parents who don’t know you, Father, we ask you to bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Make the gospel so beautiful and believable, it will be irresistible to them. Above anything else we could ask of you, we want our loved ones to be able to say with great assurance, “I belong to the Lord.”
Holy Spirit, for our family members and friends who are living as though they are allergic to your grace—lives of chasing after the wind, trying to make their lives work apart from you and your goodness, seeking to fill the void and medicate their pain any way possible—do whatever it takes to rescue them from darkness and bring them into the family of God. Into the meadows of their madness, bring the grandeur of your goodness. And give us supernatural kindness towards them. They don’t need our self-righteousness; they need your saving grace.
Lord Jesus, for friends and family members who truly love you, but are living in difficult stories of failing health, financial stress, emotional and mental illness, marital meltdown, and spiritual disconnect, pour forth your life-giving Spirit. Renew, refresh, restore. Where there is floundering, bring flourishing; where there is despair, bring delight; where there is hopelessness, bring heart-encouragement—all for your glory. We abandon ourselves to your promises and your faithfulness. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ matchless and merciful name.
