May 26

Posted on 05/26/202305/20/2023 by schromom

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

Posted on 05/25/202305/20/2023 by schromom

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

Posted on 05/24/202305/20/2023 by schromom

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

Posted on 05/23/202305/20/2023 by schromom

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

Posted on 05/22/202305/15/2023 by schromom

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.

May 21

Posted on 05/21/202305/15/2023 by schromom

2 Samuel 22:2-4 NLT

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection, He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety; He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise and He saved me from my enemies.

In this song, David is singing God’s praises for literally sparing his life. Savior, safety, fortress, protection…. my prayer is that someday, the prodigal will be using all of these as they look back over their life recalling what God has done for them. May their greatest memories be of His faithfulness.

2 Samuel 22:2-4

The Lord is ______’s rock, his/her fortress, and his/her savior; ______’s God is his/her rock, in whom he/she finds protection, He is ______’s shield, the power that saves him/her, and his/her place of safety; He is ______’s refuge, his/her savior, the one who saves him/her from violence. ______ called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise and He saved him/her from his/her enemies.

May 20

Posted on 05/20/202305/10/2023 by schromom

Psalm 119:145-149

I call with all my heart; answer me, O Lord, and I will obey your decrees. I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night that I may meditate on your promises. Hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, O Lord, according to your laws.

This call to the Lord is spoken with not only the mouth but with an “all my heart,” indicating some distress. I love the picture of a prodigal approaching the Lord first thing upon rising and throughout the night, crying out with all their heart to Him.

Up until now the prodigal has probably put their hope and trust in their own ability or what the world offers them. This desperate cry and placing hope in God’s Word would indicate a shift in their desire for help. Once the answer comes and their hope is founded and established in what God says, I pray they will continue to meditate on those promises early and late, even throughout the day, all the days of their life.

Psalm 119:145-149

______ calls with all his/her heart; answer him/her, O Lord, and he/she will obey your decrees. ______ calls out to you; save him/her and he/she will keep your statutes. ______ rises before dawn and cries for help; ______ has put his/her hope in your word. _______’s eyes stay open through the watches of the night that he/she may meditate on your promises. Hear _______’s voice in accordance with your love; preserve ______’s life, O Lord, according to your laws.

May 19

Posted on 05/19/202305/10/2023 by schromom

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.

A high price was paid for us because we are of great value to the Father. If the prodigal would live like the prince/princess they are, people would be drawn to them!

The Holy Spirit will draw men to the Father, even through prodigals, as they begin to live like children of God… Royalty! What a joy it will be to see the prodigal give a declaration of praise to Him who is calling them out of darkness.

1 Peter 2:9

But _________ is part of a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that he/she may declare the praises of Him who called ______ out of darkness into His wonderful light.

May 18

Posted on 05/18/202305/10/2023 by schromom

Galatians 5:1

It is for freedom that Christ has set you free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Christ didn’t die for our freedom so we could continue to walk around in bondage. What a burden to be yoked to resentment, bitterness, guilt, etc. It takes a certain amount of energy just to carry all of that. The enemy wants a prodigal to stay bound, Christ wants to set them free.

I pray the prodigal will be able to break free from that yoke of slavery; may they learn to stand firm and free in Christ…

Galatians 5:1

It is for freedom that Christ has set _______ free. Stand firm, then _______, and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

May 17

Posted on 05/17/202305/10/2023 by schromom

Isaiah 45:5-6

I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.

In this chapter, Cyrus is called “His anointed one” (vs.1). It’s the only time in the Bible a Gentile is said to be “anointed.” Cyrus’ empire spread over 2,000 miles (the largest of any known at that time). God would use Cyrus in the rebuilding of Jerusalem and setting the exiles free.

I think it’s amazing that God used a Gentile, one who didn’t worship Him, to set His people free. It would be for God’s glory and His Kingdom’s increase. Our God can choose to use whatever, and whomever to accomplish His purpose because, He is the Lord and there is NO other!

It gives me great hope to know, even though my prodigal may not acknowledge God right now, He is certainly capable of using them for His purpose; to His glory.