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Before my kids were born, I had an idealistic view of what parenting would be like. But it didn\u2019t take long for my plans to be upended as the beautiful yet challenging adventure began.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What struck me most was the independence exerted by each of my kids, an independence that sometimes led them down compromising paths. For reasons I still ponder, I naively believed my children would be immune to compromise, especially when it came to matters of faith. I envisioned them navigating their walk with God with ease and certainty, never straying from His principles.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, I\u2019ve come to realize we\u2019re all on our own journey, and for some, the road back to the Savior is long and difficult. Yet, I rest in the assurance that my family is held in the embrace of God\u2019s sovereign plan. I trust that the Lord is at work, weaving His perfect will through our lives, including the lives of our prodigals.<\/p>\n
With each passing day, I\u2019m learning to release my fears and failures to Him, reminding myself of His promises and the hope He offers. I cling to the belief that no matter how far they may wander, there is always a path back home.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re wondering what God\u2019s plans might be for your prodigal, take comfort in these promising Scriptures.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.\u201d 1 Timothy 2:1-6<\/a> (ESV)<\/p>\n I probably don\u2019t need to ask this, but is your prodigal son or daughter included in your prayers? Are you diligently praying for them with thanksgiving in your heart?\u00a0<\/p>\n I know how difficult it is to keep interceding when you don\u2019t see the fruit of your petitions. But don\u2019t grow weary! Galatians 6:9<\/a> spurs us on, saying, \u201cLet us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.\u201d Imagine the beautiful harvest of your child\u2019s heart ready to receive Christ. What a wonderful day that will be!\u00a0<\/p>\n I love the parable of the persistent widow when Jesus emphasized the importance of praying and never giving up. He said, \u201cAnd will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you he will see that they get justice, and quickly\u201d (Luke 18:7-8<\/a>).\u00a0<\/p>\n My friends, we are free to call upon the Lord, day and night. He wants to hear our prayers and petitions. Jesus removed the veil so we could enter into God\u2019s presence and tell Him everything.<\/p>\n Draw near to God today, and let your desires be made known. Be persistent in prayer, believing in faith for your prodigal\u2019s return.<\/p>\n \u201cI am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.\u201d Acts 26:17-18<\/a><\/p>\n Paul\u2019s miraculous conversion on the road to Damascus is one of the most comforting passages for parents of prodigals. From murderer to martyr, Paul’s life was transformed in an instant by a glorious encounter with Jesus.<\/p>\n As we read Paul\u2019s story, we see the great commission Jesus placed on his life. He was sent to open the eyes of the Gentiles, turn them from darkness to light, and deliver them from the power of Satan to God. Paul\u2019s testimony is a powerful reminder that no one is too far gone to be captured by God\u2019s love and redemption.<\/p>\n All along, God\u2019s plan has been to open people\u2019s eyes to His free gift of salvation. We can trust Him to meet our prodigals right where they are, offering them new life in Christ. Let\u2019s remember Paul\u2019s Damascus journey with renewed hope for our loved ones. The Lord still speaks today, drawing people out of darkness and into His glorious light.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.\u201d Luke 19:10<\/a><\/p>\n Does God keep pursuing us even when we run away? This is a serious question that requires a serious answer. For parents of prodigals, it\u2019s tempting to assume our kids have gone too far, pushed too hard, or run too fast. But remember Isaiah 59:1<\/a>, which says, \u201cSurely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n In this post<\/a> by Debbie McDaniel, she says, \u201cSome days, we just need a reminder, that God is intimately involved in all that concerns us. Maybe we’ve been praying for something and still don’t see the answer. Maybe a door closed that we were really hoping would open. Maybe we’re battling discouragement and defeat, or we’re burdened for the lives of those we love…He knows. He cares.\u201d<\/p>\n My friends, we can absolutely trust God to keep pursuing our prodigals with His limitless love. The word of His mouth has the power to change even the most wayward heart. Hebrews 4:12<\/a> says, \u201cFor the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n As you wait for your prodigal to return, pray the Scriptures aloud. Speak life and truth over them, believing God for greater things. Resist thoughts that they\u2019ve run too far and remember no creature under heaven is hidden from God\u2019s sight. He still seeks. He still saves.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you declare with your mouth, \u2018Jesus is Lord,\u2019 and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.\u201d Romans 10:9-10<\/a><\/p>\n In one of my previous posts, Why Is There Only One Way to Heaven?<\/a>, I share, \u201cJesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. His way is sure, and His path is open to all. What a divine blessing to be given the exact directions to eternity! There is no guesswork. There is no re-calculating the journey. Jesus paved the way once and for all.\u201d<\/p>\n Sadly, many prodigals feel they\u2019re unworthy of salvation. If we were to take a poll, we\u2019d likely hear answers such as:<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m too lost.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll never be good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t live up to God\u2019s standards.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hopeless.\u201d<\/p>\n In contrast, Jesus made the way of salvation as clear as possible. God\u2019s greatest plan for your prodigal is to save them. He loves them with an everlasting love and wants nothing more than for them to repent, believe, and be saved. You can trust Him every step of the way. Do you believe this today?\u00a0<\/p>\n More Resources for Your Journey:<\/p>\n 10 Affirmations for the Parent of a Prodigal Child<\/a><\/p>\n 7 Prayers for Your Prodigal Child<\/a><\/p>\n 10 Reasons to Trust God with Your Prodigal Child<\/a><\/p>\n Photo Credit: \u00a9Halfpoint<\/span><\/p>\nHe Wants Their Eyes to Be Open<\/h2>\n
He Seeks Them<\/h2>\n
He Makes the Way Clear<\/h2>\n