May 31

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Psalm 20:1, 5-8

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He answers him from His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

Over the centuries, empires and nations have risen to power and subsequently fallen. The true might of a nation comes from God alone. It is in our worship and not our weapons that we stand firm against our enemies.

Our nation seems to be falling into a pit right now and we need God’s saving power more than ever. May His spirit be in and all around us as we courageously love and stand with our brothers and sisters. May we trust in God alone for a victory in changing men’s hearts.

I pray the prodigal will have victory in their life because they have called on the Lord in times of distress; that they will learn to depend on the Holy Spirit to come along side, giving them strength to stand firm in the battle.

As we see victories in our nation and in our prodigals, we will be the ones waving a banner in the name of our God and shouting for joy!

Psalm 20: 1, 5-8

May the Lord answer ______ when he/she is in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect him/her. We will shout for joy when ______ is victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all ______’s requests. Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He answers ______ from His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but _______ trusts in the name of the Lord his/her God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but ______ rises up and stands firm.

May 30

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Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I find it interesting that in this passage, the Greek word demonstrates means, “to stand firm, continue, establish.” So, my interpretation of this verse is — when God demonstrates His love toward us, He has established His love, is standing firm in that love and it won’t change. When Christ died for us, God made a decision to provide righteousness and He’s not changing His mind. He will continue to provide that righteousness until the end of time and on into eternity.

I love the words “while we were still”… we didn’t have to clean up our act before Christ would die for us,  He did it so we could be clean in spite of our sin!

I pray the prodigal will realize God’s love was poured out at the cross while they were still sinning and that His love stands firm for them day after day!

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love for _________ in this; while ________ was still a sinner, Christ died for him/her.

May 29

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Hebrews 4:16

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

If not for God’s grace we couldn’t approach Him at all. Thankfully, the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross takes all guilt away and we can stand with confidence before Him. But, if we never approach the throne, He doesn’t have the opportunity to show mercy.

My prayer for the prodigal is that soon, with confidence, they’ll make their way to the throne room and find grace and mercy waiting for them.

Hebrews 4:16

Let ________ then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that he/she may receive mercy and find grace to help him/her in his/her time of need.

May 28

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Psalm 116:2 NLT

Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!

I’m praying the prodigal will find great comfort and strength in the discipline of prayer! May they be very aware of the Lord’s bending down to listen…

Psalm 116:2 NLT

Because He bends down to listen, _______ will pray as long as he/she has breath!

May 27

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John 15:5

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.

God wants all of us to be a productive branch producing fruit. It’s easy to get discouraged when you see a prodigal turning their back on the things of God, rendering them fruitless in the spiritual sense.

In the book “Secrets of the Vine,” Bruce Wilkinson talks about his conversation with the owner of a vineyard. This explanation gave me such hope when my prodigal was pretty far away from God –

“New branches have a natural tendency to trail down and grow along the ground…But they don’t bear fruit down there. When branches grow along the ground, the leaves get coated in dust. When it rains, they get muddy and mildewed. The branch becomes sick and useless.” “What do you do? I asked. “Cut it off and throw it away?” “Oh, no!” he exclaimed. “The branch is much too valuable for that. We go through the vineyard with a bucket of water looking for those branches. We lift them up and wash them off…then we wrap them around the trellis or tie them up. Pretty soon they’re thriving.”

When I read these words, I had a beautiful picture of God gently reaching down and lifting up my prodigal, washing him off and anchoring him in a place where he could be productive, because he was of value. And, over time, God did just that! May you have the same assurance today as you put your prodigal’s name into this verse. That He is in control, lifting, washing, securing, pruning…all for His glory.

John 15:5

I am the vine; ________ is the branch. If _________ remains in me and I in him/her, he/she will bear much fruit; apart from Me _________ can do nothing.

May 26

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Jeremiah 31:18-20

“I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the Lord my God. After I strayed, I repented; after I came to understand, I beat my breast. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’  Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the Lord.

I love this picture of an “unruly calf” that has strayed and returned… a prodigal who has recognized the Lord’s discipline, understood why it was necessary and has come to full repentance.

I’m praying that it will happen for each of our prodigals. Some might take a little longer than others, but be patient, believing confidently that they will get there.

The thought of God yearning for and having compassion on this “unruly” one makes me smile. My faith grows as I think of the value my prodigal has to the Father. Just as we parents discipline our children in love, God does the same with His children.

Jeremiah 31:18-20

“I have surely heard ______’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the Lord my God. After I strayed, I repented; after I came to understand, I beat my breast. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’ Is not ______ my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against _______, I still remember him/her. Therefore my heart yearns for ______; I have great compassion for him/her”, declares the Lord.

May 25

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Proverbs 19:23

The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

“Fear of the Lord”  has to do with an awe of Him and respect for His Word. When we have this kind of awe and respect for God, we will hear His voice and walk according to what He desires.

One commentary says – “Those who fear the Lord are “untouched by trouble” because of their healthy habits, their beneficial life-style, and sometimes through God’s direct intervention.”  It continues on to say, “This verse doesn’t mean we will be free from any trouble in this life. Evil things still happen to those who love God. This verse is not a universal promise but a general guideline.”

I like to think of it as — fear of the Lord leads to contentment in life no matter what the circumstance; trouble may be all around me but I am at peace and resting in the Lord.

Pray today for the prodigal to fear the Lord, to be in awe of Him and respect His Word. The benefit for them will be peace, filling their hearts and minds, no matter what they are walking through…

Proverbs 19:23

The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then ________ rests content, untouched by trouble.

May 24

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Ephesians 5:8

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

I love how The Message translates this verse  —  “You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.”

I believe the “light” of Christ is in the prodigal but it is being covered in a shadow of darkness that they’ve allowed to engulf them. The enemy will be sly and relentless in preventing them from seeing that they are truly light; and allowing that light to shine. Jesus addressed this in Matthew (5:14-15) when He spoke about us being the “light of the world, ” a light set on a hill, not as one covered up by a basket.

I pray the prodigal will rediscover the light of Christ within them; it’s been there since conversion. May they live as children of light!

Ephesians 5:8

For ________ was once darkness, but now he/she is light in the Lord. Live, ________, as a child of light.

May 23

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Psalm 17:8

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.

We, as moms and dads, think our kids are pretty great, yet, how much more the Father loves our children, even the prodigal!

David had to have some confidence in his position before the Father to speak of himself as the “apple of your eye”. We should have the same confidence and know our prodigal is positioned the same as David; special in the eyes of God and worthy of a spot tucked in the shadow of His wings…

Psalm 17:8

Keep _______ as the apple of your eye; hide ________ in the shadow of your wings.

May 22

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2 Thessalonians 3:13

And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.

right — morally good, justified, acceptable

I pray for my prodigal to always think …”is this the right thing to do,” before they act. May their actions come as a result of their walk with God and their love for Him influence every decision they make.

2 Thessalonians 3:13

And as for you, ________, never tire of doing what is right.