Many believers either know someone or are related to someone who accepted Christ as their Savior, but then they fell away from their faith and stopped living for the Lord. The Bible refers to such folks as “backsliding children.” It’s important that we pray for these brothers and sisters to be restored to the joy of their salvation.
(14) Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” (22) “Return you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.” (Jer 3:14, 22)
I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him. (Hos 14:4)
The Lord says that He will heal their backsliding; and He said that He is married to the backslider! Wow! What a statement of commitment on God’s part. This tells us that He will not give up on anyone, but He will continue to woo them with His love, forgiveness, and mercy.
Hosea 14 says that He loves them freely, and He yearns for them to return to Him. It is a very loving thing for us to pray on behalf of our friends and relatives who are turned away from the Lord for a season.
Pray fervently and with complete faith, for these verses give us assurance of God’s wholehearted cooperation with us. This increases our faith. What a good and sound basis for prayer!
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