Remember the words of Luke 18 to always pray and never give up. So, if you know someone who’s soul needs saving, continue to pray and don’t lose heart.
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Don’t you love how Jesus is always seeking the lost!
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and our loving Lord Jesus is out to redeem things and people who are lost and broken. He opens his heart and displays his compassion in the parable of the lost sheep, in the parable of the lost coin, and finally, in the parable of the lost son, the prodigal son. Right there, three parables about the same thing. So, indeed Christ has come to seek and save that which is lost. And if you are asking Jesus to bring home a wayward son or daughter, you have a heart for the lost, as well. But when children decide to rebel and go their own way; you know that Christian parents can experience two kinds of hurt: one hurt keeps resonating – it’s the hurt you felt when your son or daughter slowly became “someone else,” someone you didn’t recognize, someone who chose a path down into a dark culture and its enticements. The other hurt you experience concerns the eternal consequences facing that child who continues in rebellion. And that is a hurt that’s far worse.
I know this because I have been praying for the teenaged daughter of a dear Christian friend. My friend raised her [I’ll call the daughter Janice] – she raised Janice well. Sunday school, Christian camp, Christian friends. But when Janice entered high school, things changed. My friend said, “Joni, it seems overnight that Janice started failing. Failing at grades, failing to show up for meals, failing her Christian friends.” To make a long story short, Janice just left a note one night and left the house. The last time I saw Janice, she had changed her dress, hairstyle, and decided she wanted to become a boy. And my friend is anguishing over those two hurts that I mentioned – the first one, that Janice left home, and the other hurt, that she’ll be lost for eternity. But! My friend and I continue to pray for the soul of my friend’s daughter whom she loves dearly.
And that’s the key, isn’t it? Jesus says in Luke 18, “You should always pray and never give up.” Do not lose heart, he says. Always pray and never give up. In fact, listen to this prayer for prodigals. And please, if you have a prodigal, pray along with me, would you [and Janice’s mother]? Pray with us, saying, “Oh, our infinitely wise and good Father, we come into your throne room to lay our requests humbly before you. We ask for our loved one who is rebelling against you and against us right now. Keep them safe from evil in this world; guard their hearts from hurting others or themselves; and let them know that you are close and ready to hear their cries. And Father, when the time is right, we ask that you take them back into your fold; bring them home to us. We ask for the wisdom to recognize your timing; and when that time arrives, may our hearts be ready to run down the path to them and embrace them and celebrate their return with great joy, just as you described in your parable. Oh, Father, we ask these things trusting in your compassion and knowing that you are a good and merciful God. We also asked because you’ve already shown us your great love by sending your son, Jesus to rescue us out of our own rebellion. And it’s in his name we pray, Amen.”
Finally, do not forget Luke 18 where Jesus tells us to pray at all times and not lose heart. And there are more words of hope in my gift to you today, a resource called “The Parable of the Prodigal Son.” Go to joniradio.org right now and get your free copy. And if you know a parent who is praying for a prodigal, order a gift for them. It’s free. “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” at joniradio.org.
© Joni and Friends