When you love a prodigal, your heart hurts around the clock. I know, because I’ve had several prodigals in my life. Yet I’ve found hope and comfort by clinging to God in those hard times.
If you’re joining me today from Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Encouragement for Today devotion, welcome! I am honored to write about a past season of loving a prodigal there today. I have several more resources to help you if you are heartbroken over your prodigal.
Several resources to help you if you are heartbroken over your prodigal. #prodigal #familycrisis #encouragement Click To Tweet
A Recommended Video for You
In September 2019, I made a video about loving a prodigal when I had healed from that tough journey mentioned in the devotion. Little did I know how perfectly it would expound on the themes I wrote in the devotion. May this video encourage you today.
If you enjoyed this video, please consider subscribing to my new YouTube channel Heart in a Drawer, where I will be posting regular videos for adult children of divorce beginning in mid-September 2020.
My other YouTube channel features guided meditations on God’s Word.
Please consider subscribing to these channels if you want to draw closer to God through his Word.
When You Love a Prodigal: Free resources to help you choose hope. #hope #encouragement #relationshiphelp Click To TweetRecommended Songs for You
In the devotion, I refer to a Christian song set that helped me through that dark time. If you want to check out the song set, it’s the first four songs on Disc Two of the Wow Hits 2019 Deluxe Edition. Song 6 on that CD also helped me immensely. I pray these songs will help you cling to God as your anchor too.
A Recommended Podcast for You
My dear friend Melinda Patrick hosts the Even While podcast, with the theme of waiting in faith. Recently she interviewed me about waiting well when you have a prodigal. Listen in HERE.
Recommended Posts for You
If your prodigal is caught in a trap of addiction, I have an encouraging post for you. It’s called How to Fight Fear When You Love an Addict. I poured my heart and soul into writing that painful, yet hopeful post. It features a free printable for you, plus highly recommended books that have helped me choose hope. You can read it HERE.
Check out a related post I wrote for Devotable, When Addiction Afflicts Your Family, HERE.
Another popular post is called How to Deal with a Living Death. This post can strengthen your faith with a perspective you may have not considered before. Read it HERE.
Recommended Books for You
If you are a parent of a prodigal child struggling with addiction, I can think of no better book for you than God Our Anchor.
The author’s personal stories of struggle and recovery are engaging. Her advice is solidly based on God’s Word, and it has been hard-won through the loss of her daughter. The prayers and thoughtful questions in each brief devotional will serve as anchors for devastated parents who don’t know how to pray or think straight in a crisis. It’s a great resource for parents of addicts. My favorite quote is this one: “This is joy in the midst of heartache. I must remember God is who He is today and forever.”
I’m hosting a giveaway of this book now through Sept. 7, 2020. One U.S. resident will win a copy. Sign up below for your chance to win or click HERE.
God Our Anchor: A 30-day devotional for parents of addicts. #giveaway #christianbook #parentsofaddict Click To Tweet
When You Love a Prodigal
As I mention in the devotion, prayer is key to helping you stay strong while you are on the journey of loving a prodigal. You may benefit from this post, Using Prayer to Fight Spiritual Battles, as well as my past post for Proverbs 31 Ministries, Waiting in Prayer. Here’s a brand-new prayer to lift you up today.
Father in Heaven,
I know you love my prodigal far more than I ever could.
But my heart is breaking today, like it has broken many times before.
I can’t walk this painful journey alone, Lord.
I desperately need your help and hope.
My soul and spirit cry out to you on behalf of my prodigal, Jesus.
Let them find no pleasure in the cheap offerings of the world.
May they hit rock bottom in the pigsty of life so they can turn back home.
I pray they would turn around to you before they come back to me.
May your Word never return void, but place burning coals on their head.
Open my heart and arms to receive them in a warm embrace if they decide to return home.
Guard me from the sins of judgment and contempt.
Deepen my relationship with you as I wait in prayer.
Remind me that you stand beside me as I watch the horizon with hope.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Want a printable version of this prayer? Just download it by clicking on the image below or HERE.
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