Sunday, August 23, 2009

God Cares! Part 2

Key Bible Text

“Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: ‘Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.’” Isaiah 1:2

God Cares About … Prodigals (Part 2, originally published, LifeLine, 2007)

Even when you do everything right--things can go wrong.


Personal Story…


Keith grew up in a Christian home, attended Sunday School, went to Vacation Bible School, participated in his Church’s youth group as a teen and went on summer mission trips. Never a problem in school or at home, Keith hardly seemed like one who was in danger of becoming a prodigal.


In his teens, Keith began using drugs. While his family began to notice changes, they never could have imagined that their Christian son was on a wayward journey to his ‘pig pen.’ Attentive to his life, they remained interactive while getting on their knees in prayer for Keith. Still, for Keith, what began as a curiosity soon became a full blown heroin and cocaine addiction leading to arrests, jail time and two near-death drug overdoses.

Pray:
Use God's Word to pray for your prodigal: Praying the Scriptures, J. Cornwell

Serve:
Be Jesus (with skin on) to your prodigal. Remember, we can hate the sin but we must love the sinner. If you know a prodigal, invite them to your home, to a movie, to dinner; engage them in your life. Be an open invitation from Jesus—relentlessly seek them.

Give:
No, surrender your prodigal to the One who understands—He’s had a world full of prodigals!

Challenge: Don't give up! Keep watching and expecting his return. Have the fatted calf in the wings, waiting for the celebration. It's coming. "Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14) No! Nothing!

4 comments:

Sue Hughes said...

My son was on drugs for two years and during this time the change in him was gradual and I am sorry to say because he was there all the time I did not see the weight falling off him, long absences in the bedroom, not being able to sleep - I was in a battle of my own at that time trying to save my marriage. He came to me and asked me to pray for him when he confessed to not wanting to live anymore - I thank the Lord for opening this door into my heart and giving me the strength to pray for him and to do spiritual warfare despite my own battle. The door had been left wide open by my husband's indiscretion for the devil to stroll in attack my son and myself. We are victorious in the Lord - my son is drug free and my marriage has been restored. Hallelujah!

Dawn said...

This sounds incredibly familiar!

groovyoldlady said...

My prodigal is not on drugs, but he is bitter and oh so lost. so. lost. even though he knows the truth.

Thanks, I needed this today.

Michelle (wife, mom, grandma, daughter, sister, friend, co-worker, and striving to be a Proverbs 31 woman) said...

Oh my goodness!!! God is so good. I cannot believe I came back to blogging, and to your site TODAY!
This post met me right where I am.
This is a God-incidence...no coincidence here. Thank you. Praise God. I just posted (before I even read this) about my son. No real details yet, but I have been praying scriptures for him. First on your list.
Thank so much for sharing. What a Divine appointment today...
Blessings.