Backsliders

Friday, January 8, 2021

These are believers who have turned their back on the Lord Jesus. Muslims who put their faith in Christ often suffer persecution and abuse. The cost of following Christ is indeed high. Many believers persist and endure suffering and remain faithful to the Lord no matter the price. Others, however, give up and fall away when they sin or face persecution, rejection, or some other difficulty or temptation. Backsliders are not happy people: they once saw the light and tasted Christ’s goodness, but they are once again in the pit of miry clay.

Prayer

Loving and compassionate God, we come to you with tears and heavy hearts. We pray for Muslims who once acknowledged Christ as their Lord and Savior but have now turned away from Him. I pray that by your Holy Spirit you will convict them and bring them to repentance.

Dear Savior of all mankind, cause backsliders to realize the seriousness of rejecting Christ. May they never be satisfied with the “pods” that pigs feed on. Help them to come back to the Father’s house. Hear their confession, accept their repentance, and forgive their sin.

May they feel Your loving fatherly embrace and kiss as you welcome them back home (Luke 15:20). Empower them with the Holy Spirit and with God’s Word to withstand Satan’s attacks and live victoriously for Christ. Set their feet upon the Rock and put a new song in their mouths. Protect them from turning their back on Jesus ever again.

In his precious name I pray, amen.

Promise

A righteous person will live by faith. But I will have no pleasure in anyone who turns away… I will forgive them for leaving me and will love them freely (Hebrews 10:38, NLT; Hosea 14:4, NCV).