Persistence in Prayer ! Testimony Part 2

Last week I shared the testimony of how I came to know Jesus as my personal Savior through the persistent prayers of my mother. Today, I want to share another testimony of prayer for salvation. This time it is me praying for the salvation of my dear father-in-law.

My husband and I met and married before I came to know Jesus therefore, my in laws knew the “before and after” Barbara. We didn’t live in the same state but saw each other often and I was never shy about sharing gospel with my father-in-law.  The conversations were usually short, and it was clear he wasn’t interested in pursuing the dialog, but I persisted in small ways, sending him a Bible and often sharing my heart, an occasional letter (yes, we did that in the olden days!) and reading material.

And then the cancer diagnosis came. You can be sure that I ramped up the prayer, called in the troops and persisted with the Lord to soften Mike’s heart. My Father had died the year before and goodness I just loved this man and so wanted peace and assurance of salvation and eternity for my father-in-law.

And there it was on August 13, 2015. I will never-ever forget the tenderness and simplicity of the conversation. I have chills now just writing about it. He was ready. The heart was softened, and we prayed together, and he grabbed the brass ring and said Yes to Jesus. 12 days later he took his final breath on earth, but we knew he was now present with the Lord! GLORY!!

There is more! At his funeral my husband gave the eulogy and in that shared that his dear father gave his life to Jesus. Minutes after the funeral ended a woman came barreling across the church, grabbed and hugged me. I had NO IDEA who she was.  Well, it was my father in law’s cousin who all these years was praying for his salvation, she wrote him letters and sent him Bibles too. It was truly one of the most stunning moments of my life.

And so today mamas we testify and tell of HIS mighty deeds and wonders. Let us enter this new year clinging to His word which will never ever return void. Imagine in heaven all the people  we’ve never met, running into our arms to share the glory of answered prayers!  How amazing that someone I never met was also praying and interceding for this beloved man. It is a glimpse of what we do here as we pray for students and mamas we will likely never meet. BUT WE KNOW the prayers avail much. We know where two or more are gathered he is in the midst. We know God is the ONE true promise keeper. And He tells us to persist. It was almost 20 years of prayer for my father-in-law, just about the same number of years my mama persisted for me. I love you all, Barbara Jackson – PFTNG Executive Director.

Psalm 78:4, Matthew 18:20, James 5:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Isaiah 55:11

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