You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

This is the first song I ever wrote. I had been asking God what He wanted me to do that day. I was surprised when I thought He said, “Write a song.”

Having never written one before, I wasn’t exactly sure what to do! I had played the piano most of my life, but I had only played songs that were written down by others. This time God wanted me to write a new song. The Bible says, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:3).

On my heart that day was a friend who needed to put his trust in the Lord. He was about to make a decision to leave his wife, but I had pleaded with him that there was another way, the way of Christ.

I had seen God breathe life back into several other marriages as I spoke to them from God’s Word, so I knew the words I was speaking to him were trustworthy. Even though he didn’t know Christ for himself, I prayed that he would at least trust the words I was speaking to him, for I trust in Christ.

Unfortunately, he chose not to trust Christ nor me. He left his wife, and he left a trail of destruction behind him. But I haven’t stopped praying for him, because I know that God answers prayer. Jesus told His disciples that they should “always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1).

A man named George Mueller prayed for many people during his lifetime who gave their hearts to Christ. His journal records that at the time of his death, there were still three people for whom he had prayed daily, but had not yet accepted Christ. But, on the day of George’s funeral, one of them accepted Christ, and the other two did the same shortly thereafter.

We may not always see how God ties up the loose ends of our hopes and prayers for people. But I believe there was a reason that Jesus told his disciples that they should always pray and not give up. One day we’ll see why.

Let Me Pray for You

Lord, I pray for those who need encouragement to always pray and not give up. Lord, help them to trust that you do indeed have a plan, and that their prayers are not in vain. Lord, give them favor with those they speak to about You, and let the words they speak come out as if they came straight from You. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Take Time in His Word

“Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1).

• Read Luke 18:1-8. What encouragement can you take from this parable?
• Read Luke 15:4-10. What happens in heaven when someone who was lost is found?
• Read James 5:20. What benefits can come from our influence on others?

Take Time in Prayer

Listen to the song Trust Me. Pray for someone who needs to know Christ.

After You Pray

God’s Word has power not only when we read it, but also when we speak it. The Bible says, “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God” (1 Peter 4:11). When we carefully pray about what to say to others, and then ensure that what we say lines up with God’s Word, God can use our words powerfully. In one instance, I talked to a man who was separated from his wife. His family and friends told him to divorce her, and he was on the verge of doing just that. When I spoke to him from the Bible, he said, “You’re the first person who has told me the Truth!” Within a few months he and his wife were back together again. Your words may be the only the Bible some people will ever hear.

Lord, I am going to pray and not give up.