Earlier than my kids have been born, I had an idealistic view of what parenting could be like. Nevertheless it didn’t take lengthy for my plans to be upended as the attractive but difficult journey started.
What struck me most was the independence exerted by every of my kids, an independence that generally led them down compromising paths. For causes I nonetheless ponder, I naively believed my youngsters could be proof against compromise, particularly when it got here to issues of religion. I envisioned them navigating their stroll with God with ease and certainty, by no means straying from His rules.
Nonetheless, I’ve come to understand we’re all on our personal journey, and for some, the highway again to the Savior is lengthy and tough. But, I relaxation within the assurance that my household is held within the embrace of God’s sovereign plan. I belief that the Lord is at work, weaving His excellent will by way of our lives, together with the lives of our prodigals.
With every passing day, I’m studying to launch my fears and failures to Him, reminding myself of His guarantees and the hope He presents. I cling to the idea that irrespective of how far they could wander, there’s at all times a path again house.
If you happen to’re questioning what God’s plans is likely to be on your prodigal, take consolation in these promising Scriptures.
He Wishes to Save Them
“Initially, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all individuals, for kings and all who’re in excessive positions, that we could lead a peaceable and quiet life, godly and dignified in each manner. That is good, and it’s pleasing within the sight of God our Savior, who needs all individuals to be saved and to return to the information of the reality. For there’s one God, and there’s one mediator between God and males, the person Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given on the correct time.” 1 Timothy 2:1-6 (ESV)
I in all probability don’t have to ask this, however is your prodigal son or daughter included in your prayers? Are you diligently praying for them with thanksgiving in your coronary heart?
I understand how tough it’s to maintain interceding once you don’t see the fruit of your petitions. However don’t develop weary! Galatians 6:9 spurs us on, saying, “Allow us to not turn into weary in doing good, for on the correct time we are going to reap a harvest if we don’t surrender.” Think about the attractive harvest of your youngster’s coronary heart able to obtain Christ. What an exquisite day that might be!
I like the parable of the persistent widow when Jesus emphasised the significance of praying and by no means giving up. He stated, “And won’t God result in justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and evening? Will he maintain placing them off? I let you know he’ll see that they get justice, and rapidly” (Luke 18:7-8).
My associates, we’re free to name upon the Lord, day and evening. He needs to listen to our prayers and petitions. Jesus eliminated the veil so we might enter into God’s presence and inform Him the whole lot.
Draw close to to God in the present day, and let your needs be made identified. Be persistent in prayer, believing in religion on your prodigal’s return.
He Needs Their Eyes to Be Open
“I’m sending you to them to open their eyes and switch them from darkness to gentle, and from the ability of Devil to God, in order that they could obtain forgiveness of sins and a spot amongst those that are sanctified by religion in me.” Acts 26:17-18
Paul’s miraculous conversion on the highway to Damascus is without doubt one of the most comforting passages for folks of prodigals. From assassin to martyr, Paul’s life was remodeled immediately by a wonderful encounter with Jesus.
As we learn Paul’s story, we see the nice fee Jesus positioned on his life. He was despatched to open the eyes of the Gentiles, flip them from darkness to gentle, and ship them from the ability of Devil to God. Paul’s testimony is a strong reminder that nobody is simply too far gone to be captured by God’s love and redemption.
All alongside, God’s plan has been to open individuals’s eyes to His free reward of salvation. We will belief Him to fulfill our prodigals proper the place they’re, providing them new life in Christ. Let’s bear in mind Paul’s Damascus journey with renewed hope for our family members. The Lord nonetheless speaks in the present day, drawing individuals out of darkness and into His wonderful gentle.
He Seeks Them
“For the Son of Man got here to hunt and to save lots of the misplaced.” Luke 19:10
Does God maintain pursuing us even after we run away? It is a severe query that requires a severe reply. For folks of prodigals, it’s tempting to imagine our kids have gone too far, pushed too onerous, or run too quick. However bear in mind Isaiah 59:1, which says, “Absolutely the arm of the Lord isn’t too quick to save lots of, nor his ear too boring to listen to.”
In this post by Debbie McDaniel, she says, “Some days, we simply want a reminder, that God is intimately concerned in all that issues us. Possibly we have been praying for one thing and nonetheless do not see the reply. Possibly a door closed that we have been actually hoping would open. Possibly we’re battling discouragement and defeat, or we’re burdened for the lives of these we love…He is aware of. He cares.”
My associates, we are able to completely belief God to maintain pursuing our prodigals with His limitless love. The phrase of His mouth has the ability to vary even essentially the most wayward coronary heart. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the phrase of God resides and energetic, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the ideas and intentions of the center. And no creature is hidden from his sight, however all are bare and uncovered to the eyes of him to whom we should give account.”
As you wait on your prodigal to return, pray the Scriptures aloud. Communicate life and reality over them, believing God for better issues. Resist ideas that they’ve run too far and bear in mind no creature beneath heaven is hidden from God’s sight. He nonetheless seeks. He nonetheless saves.
He Makes the Approach Clear
“If you happen to declare together with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and imagine in your coronary heart that God raised him from the useless, you’ll be saved. For it’s together with your coronary heart that you just imagine and are justified, and it’s together with your mouth that you just profess your religion and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10
In one among my earlier posts, Why Is There Only One Way to Heaven?, I share, “Jesus is the Approach, the Reality and the Life. His manner is bound, and His path is open to all. What a divine blessing to be given the precise instructions to eternity! There isn’t a guesswork. There isn’t a re-calculating the journey. Jesus paved the best way as soon as and for all.”
Sadly, many prodigals really feel they’re unworthy of salvation. If we have been to take a ballot, we’d possible hear solutions corresponding to:
“I’m too misplaced.”
“I’ll by no means be adequate.”
“I can’t reside as much as God’s requirements.”
“It’s hopeless.”
In distinction, Jesus made the best way of salvation as clear as attainable. God’s best plan on your prodigal is to save lots of them. He loves them with an eternal love and needs nothing greater than for them to repent, imagine, and be saved. You possibly can belief Him each step of the best way. Do you imagine this in the present day?
Extra Assets for Your Journey:
10 Affirmations for the Guardian of a Prodigal Little one
7 Prayers for Your Prodigal Little one
10 Causes to Belief God with Your Prodigal Little one
Photograph Credit score: ©Halfpoint
