Pray for Ian
When I pray for Ian, I usually pray for his physical needs and that he would come back to us soon. God laid it on my heart this afternoon to pray for encouragement and faith for Ian. He cannot go to church, cannot pick a worship song to listen to, and cannot even feed himself spiritually through reading the Word. I know how I feel after just one week of missing church or one day of skipping my devotional time. Ian hasn’t been to church in five months. He hasn’t been able to read his Bible in five months. Whenever we are with him, we try to read scripture and sing worship songs to him, but there are many hours that we are not there.
God is still with Ian. I believe that Ian is experiencing God in ways that we cannot understand. But I still want to pray that he would be encouraged. I want to pray that he is able to remember the cross, and remember all that Jesus has done for him. I want to pray that he would be refreshed by thoughts of the gospel. I have no idea where Ian’s mind has been this whole time, but I want to pray that he can meditate on the cross and on God’s goodness. How much more important is Ian’s relationship with God than the condition of his body! I pray that he continues to believe true thoughts about our Lord. And I want to pray for abundant grace for the challenges he will face when he wakes.
Pray that Ian can see the fruit of this trial now. Pray that he can still know that God is good. Pray that he would know that he is still now, even in a coma, a vessel of honor for God.
“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”
2 Timothy 2:21
Larissa
anonymous
November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am
Larissa, When I read this, I said, “What dedication!” My wife and I pray at least daily for Ian and the family. While we have the usual aches and pains for a couple “older than middle age,” it is as nothing compared to the challenges all of you are facing. We pray for a miracle of healing, and if that is delayed, for God’s sustaining grace untl that time. I am reminded of John Piper’s poem (and perhaps you already know it): “Not grace to bar what is not bliss, Nor flight from all distress, but this: The grace that orders our trouble and pain, And then in the darkness, is there to sustain.” God’s blessings. Note; my wife Lois and I are members at CrossWay Church of Lancaster.
anonymous
November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am
Larissa,
Praise God for the faith He has given you!! Yes,I will pray that Ian feels the grace of God!
Jen Marie
March 16, 2007 at 1:45 am
larissa, this is so interesting.
i felt particularly burdened today to pray not only for healing but for spiritual strength and sanctification – we often pray that God would sanctify people in trial – why shouldn’t we pray this for Ian as well?
I pray the Lord brings Ian closer to himself and strengthens Ian’s love for his Savior through this time!
anonymous
March 16, 2007 at 9:15 am
2 Corinthians 4:18 “…as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Well done, Larissa, well done.
anonymous
March 16, 2007 at 6:55 pm
As we cannot know where or what Ian’s thoughts are, so we cannot know the mind of God either! I believe that God himself led you to this request for prayer for Ian’s encouragement. As we pray for Livi, God’s word is shaper than a two edged sword, piercing to both bone and marrow…we will pray for Ian too.
Larissa you have enouraged us again today, GLA
anonymous
March 16, 2007 at 11:53 pm
Larissa – I have been praying John 14:26 for Ian – that the Holy Spirit would continue to teach Ian and bring to Ian remembrance of Christ’s words. I was encouraged recently as I listened to Ian sing on some of the Hide the Word songs by the scriptures that Ian sang. May the Word of Christ dwell in us richly! SDG! -timkurtz
anonymous
March 17, 2007 at 1:37 am
“Hope fills the afflicted soul with such inward joy and consolation, that it can laugh while tears are in the eye, sigh and sing all in a breath; it is called ‘the rejoicing of hope'”(Heb.3:6)–William Gurnall
Larissa,
As soon as I came upon this quote I thougt of you and the hope which is so evidentally sustaining you. Your post reminded me to pray for that same hope to spiritually strengthen Ian as well. May he be remembering the cross! May he be worshiping! We may never know what times of sweet communion Ian is having with his Savior right now…
Thanks for being so awesome and full of faith!~rebekah berger
linda anne
March 17, 2007 at 3:59 am
amen!! i love praying that god would restore ian, and i also love to think about what a wonderful time of communion with God Ian is having. I will pray he would not grow weary or frustrated, but find contentment in this present time, and even joy.