Day 16
Week 3, Day 16: Breakthrough in Salvations
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
More than anything else, God desires for His children to be in relationship with Him. Beyond healings or miracle stories, He desires “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”(1 Timothy 2:3-4).
One of my favorite things we do at the “Call To Prayer and Fasting” at the commencement of the fast is the “Salvation Station.” Attendees are invited to write the names of people they are praying for who have yet to proclaim Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Each name is a miracle waiting to happen, each a person made in the image of God who does not yet know their Maker. They are someone God created, deeply loves, and desires for them to come into relationship with him. During our fast, we are contending for God to move on their behalf personally, that this might be the time and the season they choose to follow Him. We can be confident that right now God is at work and is drawing people to Himself. The greatest miracle is when a person decides to follow Jesus for the first time.
Have you noticed in the gospels, that oftentimes when someone is seeking a physical healing from an illness or ailment, Jesus responds with, “your sins have been forgiven?” While he heals the physical body, he addresses the deeper need as well. When Jesus healed people, it pointed to the Father and they believed. Healing is an act of intimacy that shows God sees you, he knows you, he loves you, and he is real. In John 9, Jesus heals a blind man who had been blind since birth. Not only were his physical eyes opened, but his spiritual eyes as well. In response to his healing, he said to Jesus, ‘“Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.”(Jn 9:38) When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in John 11, many believed. And in Acts 9:34-35 after Peter healed the paralytic, Aeneas, “all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.”(Acts 9:35)
Physical healing might seem to be the immediate need, but God sees the greater need, to the heart. He knows that we may need healing even deeper than our physical bodies. He may not heal us in the ways we’re asking for, but he may heal our broken heart, our despair, our distrust, our anger, our fears. One touch from Him and relationships can be restored. It starts with acknowledging Him as Savior and Lord. He loves you! He loves your neighbor, your friend, even your enemy. He longs to be in relationship with each of us.
Let’s pray that this week, people would be healed not just on a surface level, but on a soul level. May those who have never experienced salvation, be saved in the name of Jesus. May the lost be found, and the spiritually blind have their eyes opened. May the spiritually deaf hear the One who loves them most declare, “this is my [child], of whom I am well pleased.” May those who are lost come to WPHG and encounter the God who passionately loves them. May many have the courage to turn their lives to Christ and confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in their hearts that He raised him from the dead” and be saved.
Listening Prayer - Father, remind me of your desire for all people to come to know you. Spirit, who do you have in my life that does not yet know you? How do you want me to pray for them? Give us courage to unashamedly share your truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer - Thank you for being my Savior. You have saved me from sin that has dirtied my life. Thank you for taking the penalty upon your son, Jesus so that I did not have to. Thank you that in you, I am washed clean and have new life - abundant life. I pray for loved ones by name who do not know you. As we anticipate the event, help us listen with supernatural hearing and be sensitive to those who may not know you. Lord, we call the lost to you. Bring people to WPHG that are ready to make a decision for you. Prepare their hearts to be ready to invite you in. Connect them with people who will pray with them to receive you as their Lord and Savior. Please give them courage to open their hearts to you. May the lost find LIFE in you at WPHG and beyond. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Resource: Bible Verses on Capturing God’s Heart For the Lost
Acts 4:12
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Acts 2:38
“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Isaiah 12:2
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
Song: