Hope2HOPE15

Day 86

Strength To Love

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans‬ ‭8:35‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God is love, therefore if His Spirit lives in us, we should be free to love. That is how it would seem to be however the human element in us must be dealt with daily, especially when we are being tested.

If we are honest, at times we don’t feel the love we want to feel for our beloved prodigals. We need the strength of Jesus to love. To love the way Jesus loves requires His grace. We set aside our feelings and agendas, and take on the character of Christ.

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬

Perfectness .. (Greek) .. teleiótēs .. the state of completeness mentally or morally .. the state of the more intelligent, moral and spiritual perfection or maturity

In our situations, through prayer, Jesus will give us the Spirit of Perfectness when we seek Him for strength to love perfectly or maturely. This is overcoming, His way.

Week 13: God’s Timing

Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Mark 5:36

When the very thing you’re praying won’t
happen does, it’s easy to become discouraged. Dr. James Banks
Prayers For Prodigals

Praying for a prodigal stretches our faith. The difficult times challenge us to remember that God’s timing is rarely our own. Things may go from bad to worse, but He is still God and He still reigns.

We know of situations where hope seems to be lost at this time however we know it only means God isn’t finished yet. We will keep praying and believe for miracles. In these times, we remember the heartless and laughing voice of doubt NEVER has the last word. That Word belongs to God!

Jesus moves His way and He is NEVER late. His advice to a worried parent long ago still speaks today, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

God is faithful. His Word reminds us that His ways and thoughts are “higher” than ours. Isaiah 55:9 He is never flustered nor delayed, and nothing can stop Him from carrying out His purpose. Though we may not be able to see Him coming, that doesn’t mean that He isn’t about to show up in a life-changing way. Just around the corner, we may bump into the grace God intended all along.

This joyful discovery can be ours. Hope isn’t lost. It is only taking another way.

Day 85

Those Who Are With Us

And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.” And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 2 Kings‬ ‭6:16,17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We thank our God for the special reinforcements He sends when we pray. NOTHING escapes Him. We must leave our beloved prodigals with Him for the burden is too great for us to carry. Leaving everything to Him in prayer takes the burden from our shoulders and places it on Him.

God is God over every challenge we face though some situations seem bigger than others. When we can’t see, He sees everything. He IS enough according to our faith! Matthew 9:29

Today’s scripture increases faith, much faith, to the hearts of those praying for prodigals. In these times, when things are so out of control, remember there are angelic forces fighting with us. We are in a spiritual war for our loved ones and we are not alone.

HOPE PRODIGAL PRAYER

Sunday, June 28, completes 90 Days of United Focused Prayer and Fasting for our beloved prodigals. If your health permits, we ask that you unite with us on this day in prayer and fasting. If you are unable to fast physically, we ask that you sacrifice as you are able and set aside a time of sacrifice in prayer.

Thank you to ALL who have faithfully committed to these 90 days for those with prodigals. We stand united, strong, and secure, believing for the manifested power of God in our situations.

Thank YOU, Jesus, for answered prayers. Thank You for those we do not yet see fulfilled. We BELIEVE!

And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border. Jeremiah 31:17

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. Hosea 14:4

Day 84

River of Delights

How priceless is Your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house; You give them drink from Your river of delights. Psalm 36:8

That “River of The Water of Life” (Rev. 22:1) refreshes like none other. We want our beloved prodigals, the covenant sons and daughters of God brought back to 'The River!’ Let them dive in headfirst and discover ”how wide and long and high and deep” is the love of God again! Ephesians 3:18. Let them swim in sweet hope as they are washed clean.

God’s unfailing love is priceless. There is a River of Delight that will satisfy any thirsty soul. Diving into that river washes away everything meant to block the mind, body, soul, and spirit from the Glory of God’s Amazing Love and Truth.

Reveal to them in Your lovingkindness, Lord, who You intend them to be, filled with Your Spirit and with Your love once again. We pray the cleansing stream of Calvary’s blood will wash them whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7 Amen

Day 83

In All Things God

And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

We thank God for the promise of good days ahead. Jesus promised, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬ We thank Him for the difficult days for they teach us to appreciate the good days. We speak life, not death into our situations. We grow in our relationship with Jesus through trusting and believing for our beloved prodigals.

Our Sovereign God wastes nothing. He is God over all; in every detail and in ALL things. He uses it all; the happy times and the heartbreaking ones — to bring good as only He can. We thank Him for His mercy and grace.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10 Jesus alone brings us safely through every fearful situation, through every lonely night, every raging storm to the other side. He’s faithful to His promises. He’s, “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

In all these things we are more than conquerors through God! Be cause He loved us. Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭37‬ ‭

You're a good, good Father
It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are.
And I’m loved by You.
Chris Tomlin

Day 82

Everything They Ever Wanted

The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. Isaiah 32:17

Searching for love, inner happiness, peace, and confidence, in the wrong places happens. Why prodigals leave is a question we may never have an answer to. Some who have returned say they had a nearly perfect life and everything they wanted while others have painful memories and valid reasons for leaving.

Jesus promised that we can trust that wherever we are, in any situation, we can have peace. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 With Him, there is, “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17 It is promised to those who call on Him, (Psalm 145:18) whether near or far.

Everything anyone ever needs or wants is relationship with Jesus. That is the plan from the beginning of time. Our prayer is that the Spirit of God draws our beloved prodigals close. The life He has planned for them is peace complete only in Him. John 16:33a

Day 81

Should Have, Would Have, Could Have

If only you had paid attention to My commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. Isaiah 48:18

God’s heart of grace covers our beloved prodigals as well as their families. Many feelings and regrets are tangled up in the pain of prodigal years.

I remember the day I heard the voice of God speak these words to me in prayer, “When your son comes home.” I latched onto them with everything within me.

Our prodigal came home months later, broken with much healing needed. This process took several years. He had to learn to firmly leave the past in the past in order to not keep repeating it. We lovingly committed to participate 100% in his healing together. We trusted the Word of God to faithfully lead and guide. We had to stay in prayer and in The Word.

True peace comes from God alone. What should have, would have, could have been was behind. What was before was what we had to embrace. With God, all things are possible. Matthew 19:26

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past.” Isaiah 43:18-20

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Day 80

Sitting In The Courtroom

If You, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O LORD, who could stand? But with You, there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared. Psalm 130:3-4

Our wonderful God looks down with compassion, praying our beloved prodigals make the right choices; hoping they will consider the consequences of the right or wrong choice. “Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.” Isaiah 55:7.

The mercy of the Lord endures even to death. He is God, who forgives our trespasses and sin. He never stops reaching. He never quits loving. His covenant children, though they wander, are covered by our faithfulness in prayer. He will never stop working to bring them to a crossroads of decision.

“You are good and Your mercy endures forever!” Psalms 136:1

One day, “We will all stand before Your judgement seat.” Romans 14:10. At that most important moment, in the courtroom of all courtrooms, may they hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!” Matthew 25:21 In Jesus Name!

A prison inmate on death row was asked his last wish before he would be electrocuted in the chair,he asked for a pen and paper, then wrote ;
Dear mom, if the the law was fair today you would be here seated next to me waiting to be electrocuted in the electric chair, but since the law is blind, I have been convicted for the crimes we committed together.

Mom remember how it started, do you remember when I was 3 years old when I stole my brothers sweets? You didn’t correct me, remember very well when I was five the day I stole my neighbors toys and hid it at home, you said nothing, mum remember when I was 12 when I hid my cousins ball in the garage, when he had come to play with us at home and you said you didn’t see it, yet you did.

Do you remember the day I was expelled from school at 15 years? Dad wanted to punish me but you refused and that very day you had a bitter argument with dad because you were defending me. You said I was still young, you said the teachers where wrong to say that I was not attending class.

You defended me, you said I was right yet you knew I was wrong. Mum remember very well, you saw me steal our neighbors bicycle when I was 17, but you didn’t report I sold it, but, you were silent mum? You loved me so much, yes, you loved me but you didn’t correct me, instead you spoiled me. That is how it started and it graduated slowly until today when I will be executed for bank robbery and murder.

I was very young, I just needed your guidance mom. By the time you will be reading this I will be gone.

Yours truly, your loving son.

To all parents out there the Bible says, Proverbs 13:24

Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.Those who love their children care enough to discipline them...
love your children don’t forget to discipline them..

Day 79

Long In The Land

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. Ephesians‬ ‭6:1-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We cannot imagine parenting without Jesus. With Him, we have all that we need not only to meet the challenges of parenting wayward children, but grace when our wills collide.

Often, our beloved prodigals have difficulty with honoring their parents in the Lord, and their natural parents as the Bible instructs. They feel that obedience will lead to lack of life, instead of one that promises long life. This destruction is intended from the enemy.

Our Heavenly Father is the perfect father and yet His children recklessly dishonor Him daily and have for thousands of years. He understands a broke heart. His Spirit is perfectly named The Comforter.

We pray for honor and respect to be restored in hearts today. We pray for Godly Leadership, especially in our homes to treat our beloved prodigals with the love and kindness God would have us to. We pray to always walk circumspectly (akribōs .. cautiously, exactly, accurately, diligently, maturely) before the Lord. Ephesians 5:15-17

There is going to be another day, and it will be a better day! Keep trusting and believing!