I’m sure there are times when we worry about our unsaved loved ones; our family and friends. If ever there was a gift we would love to give them, if it were possible, it is their eternal life in Christ. How many mothers have prayed for their children’s salvation? And indeed, many of those prayers have been answered. This is a thread to encourage those who are praying for the salvation of loved ones and have yet to see their prayers answered.

Here is a wonderful example taken from one of the many amazing miracles that took place during the 9/11 twin towers tragedy. I have shared it a number of times in public and to be honest, every time I do, I have a lump in my throat like I’ve swallowed a golf ball! So, have your tissues handy!


A Christian couple were in a hurry to catch a plane to New York. They were making the trip to visit his dad who lived there. They had shared the gospel message with him numerous times but he would have none of it. He was a very independent, practical man. And in spite of the fact that he had faced death many times when he had been a New York fire fighter, he refused to have anything to do with Christianity.


On the way to the airport their car had a puncture. The Christian couple couldn’t understand why God would let this happen when He knew they were already running late. By the time they reached the airport their scheduled flight had left. And so, they returned home.


A couple of hours after arriving home they received a phone call from his dad. The substance of what they were told left them in awe of God’s amazing love for them. It turned out that the plane they missed was one of those that were flown into the twin towers. His dad ended the call by saying he was going down to the twin towers to see what help he could give. As a former fire fighter he knew his training would be invaluable and it looked like they could use all the help they could get.


The next day the couple received a call from the New York Fire department to tell them the sad news that his dad had gone back into one of the towers and never made it out. This couple’s grief was made all the worse knowing their dad’s attitude to the gospel message which they had tried to share with him so many times.

Several months went by and a young couple with a baby in their arms arrived on their doorstep. After confirming that their dad was the New York fire fighter of the same name, the young lady wished to share something with them from that fateful day.


She told them that she was trapped several floors up in one of the towers and being heavily pregnant she was finding it difficult to escape from the turmoil. She then went on to describe how their dad had carried her down all the stairs to safety. However, as he was carrying her she felt led to share the gospel message with him and implored him to give his life to Jesus. She told him how much God loved him and she never let up all the way down the stairs. When they got outside of the building to safety, she described how their dad knelt there and then in the dust and committed his life to Christ. Immediately after receiving the Lord Jesus as his saviour he went back into the building. Of course they knew the rest of the outcome. The young couple said “We hope you don’t mind but we have named our baby boy after your dad . . .


So, you see, it may be the eleventh hour, but God is able reach those we love in ways we may never imagine. Sometimes, it may seem they are totally lost as they appear to sink ever deeper into their sinfulness. However, we know from scriptural examples how God uses such circumstances to get their attention and to draw them unto Himself. Never give up hope for your loved one’s salvation and continue to pray for them and God will reward your faithfulness.

'Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts . . .”(Isa 55:7-9).

Hi Mike!That is a good word of encouragement. God is so faithful how could we ever give up? I have seen my dad and a brother get saved at death's door, the rest of the family is coming in by faith.

Well I wrote a whole testimony on here too but then it didnt go thru,my computer decided to go crazy!!But I want to ty Mike for this wonderful testimony!!Yes and never give up as He is Faithful.Stand on his word and his promises..You and your Household shall be saved!!I did nursing home mins for yrs and seen so many miracle salvations!!And also my husband before he died the Lord got him back as he was backslidden but the Lord told me to stand in the gap for him and pray and he was Faithful to bring him safely Home!!So yes I always encourage others never,never give up praying for their loved ones!!In fact once youve prayed just start Thanking Him!!Cause he will do it!!GBU for this testimony it blessed me and I shared it with others!!Love,Sister!!

Unfortunately sometimes we do give up but God never gives up, because God is Love.

1Cr 13:7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Thank you Servant Mike! This is an encouraging thread....and it's the first thing I've read since just coming from a prayer time of pleading with the Lord for my family!!!!

Again, God has a wonderful sense of timing!!!

Mark.

Hey Mark, God's timing is always perfect and as long as we remain faithful He will realise the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4) Hang on in there brother and has been said here, start thanking God for your family's salvation.

Thankyou all for your responses. And if any of you have any testimonies of loved ones coming through to the Lord, then let us know about them and be an encouragement to those who are still waiting patiently for God's timing.

Thank you Mike, what a wonderful way to encourage people to continue to pray.

When my daughter was little, she and I made a box just to put prayer request in it. We would pray over what we wrote and then put it in the green box. One of the prayers we request was for the salvation of my husband. Just about 6 years ago my husband gave his heart to the Lord.

She still got this green box today with the prayer request in it. It sure is a reminder that God does answer prayers.

Never give up praying for every ones salvation. We see in (2 Pet 3:9) that we are to wish with God that none should perish, but rather that they all would come to repentance.

A wonderful story! I was moved to tears (almost anything about 9-11 does that). This gives me even more encouragement for my 17 yr. old grandson, who had told his mother he and his girlfriend didn't believe in God or the devil! That hasn't stopped me from praying for him, and I'm planning to give him a bible for Christmas! I plan on telling him "You may not believe in God, but HE believes in you! And so do I!"

My daughter had replied to him that he knew better than that, and she and I don't think he really believes God doesn't exist, but just going along with his peers.

Praise God!!!

Thank you Mike for sharing your testimony and giving us the encouragement to never give up on praying for the salvation of our family and friends!!!!!!!!!!