“The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.” (Psalm 98:2 ESV)

For many years, I could not speak to my mother about Jesus! I really wanted to, but she forbade me from talking about God to her. It broke my heart! All I could do was pray for her, and I did. Then, many years later, she became seriously ill and was admitted to the hospital, where she was told she didn’t have long to live. I then asked her once more to please allow me to share the good news of salvation through Jesus with her, and she finally agreed. She listened intently as I shared the Scriptures with her, and then she prayed with me to receive Christ as her own personal savior. As soon as she finished the prayer, she smiled and said, “I’m so happy! Now we must tell your dad about how to receive Jesus, too." I was happy and surprised! My mother, who wouldn’t even allow me to speak about Jesus to her for so many years, now wanted to share Him with my dad! What a change in her thinking!

Why the difference?

My mother was now a brand-new person inside, changed instantly by Christ’s Holy Spirit! The Bible says, “Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new” (CEV). Before, she was a “natural” person, and things of God were foolishness to her. “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2:14 ESV). Now, as a regenerated person, she finally “got” it. She had received a new understanding; the Bible calls it having the mind of Christ, which is a brand new spiritual way of thinking. “But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor. 2:16 NIV)

Don’t give up!

It’s so easy to feel frustrated when loved ones refuse to let you tell them about Jesus. I have to admit I had almost given up on my mother; so many years had gone by with no change. but God did not give up! He heard my prayers and answered!

Therefore

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (2 Pet. 3:9 NLT)