Our Prodigals

Our Prodigals Are Coming Home!
By Larissa Havens
    
In a well-known story in Luke 15, the prodigal son took his inheritance and spent it on temporary pleasures. When he realized all his money was gone, he found a job feeding pigs. The pleasures and friends were gone. He was SO hungry, the pig’s food began to look good. Then the Bible reveals a key moment in Luke 15:17: “But when he came to himself . . .” All these events led him to this awakening moment. This is the kind of moment we ask God to give every prodigal.

We read about a severe famine in the book of Ruth. When these hardships tested their faith, a Jewish family decided to move from the promise land to Moab. The husband died leaving his wife, Naomi, and their two sons in Moab. The sons married Moabite women and also died. Naomi was distraught. THEN, Naomi had an awakening moment and decided it was time to return to the promise land. Ruth 1:6 says, “. . . for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread.”

In both stories, there was an awakening moment when they realized life away from God was not as good as life with Him, and they knew where they needed to go. God had not left them; they left God. The father hoped his son would come home. He did not pressure him to return but continued watching for him. When the father saw his son walking home, he ran to meet him with open arms of love and forgiveness. This is our example of how to respond when we see prodigals coming home.

Naomi told her daughters-in-law about her plans to return home and told them to stay in Moab, because she didn’t have anything left to give them. Orpah left, but Ruth said, “Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16-17). Ruth began serving God, remarried, and became the great grandmother of King David. Later Jesus came through her lineage. This testimony came from Naomi’s decision to return home.

Our prodigals ARE coming home! We speak life and hope over them. Their ears are listening like Naomi; and when they hear the sound of rejoicing, they will return home. They will awaken like the prodigal son and find only Jesus can fill the emptiness. May God give you hope for the prodigals in your life. May He give you love and forgiveness for them when they return, and wisdom in how to help them. They are coming home!

Info from: Ladies Prayer International Newsletter - UPCI Ladies Ministries - ladiesprayerinternational-aol.com@shared1.ccsend.com 

Let not your heart be troubled

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Scriptures from: John 14:1-21 KJV