Question:  Hello Greg,

        Does the Bible say anything about when we should stop praying for a rebellious person?  This past Sunday the pastor said that a rebellious person gets to the point to where they are not going to change, no matter how much you pray for them, so stop praying for them and let God do his work on that person.  Is this right to do?  I have never of this before!

        Thank you for your answer,

        Edward

Answer:  Dear Edward,

        The Bible says that God makes the rain to fall on the just and unjust, and that Jesus is our advocate.  We pray in Jesus’ name.  Our judgment or righteousness, or our limited understanding of the intents and attitudes of others does not determine the legitimacy of our requests to God.  Rebelliousness is ultimately determined by God--not by humans.

        As for whether humans should stop praying for anyone so that God can do his work on that person— well, there are several issues here:

1.      Prayer is not a way for us to get our way with God.  Whether our prayer be on behalf of someone else or ourselves and whether our prayer is selfish or truly of a godly motivation, prayer is not a way for us to change God.  Prayer is a time when we voluntarily humble ourselves before God so that he can change us.  After all, God is not the one who needs the changing.  Therefore, I would hesitate to determine that I have enough evidence to stop praying for someone I had been praying for, and beyond that, whether or not my act of ceasing to pray means that God will or will not do something.  It is my understanding that the Bible teaches that God works in the lives of humans according to his sovereign will and his good time.

2.      Hypothetically— let us suppose that we are praying for a person who has rejected God.  Is our prayer (again, a time for us to pause, seek God and ask him to work in our life as well as in others) worthless?  Nothing in the Bible leads me to think that any prayer is worthless.

        Hope this helps Edward.  Thanks for allowing PTM to be of spiritual service.  May God bless you.

        In Christ,

        Greg Albrecht