Author: schromom

December 16

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Isaiah 55:12-13 The Message

So you’ll go out in joy, you’ll be led into a whole and complete life. The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause. No more thistles, but giant sequoias, no more thornbushes, but stately pines – Monuments to me, to God, living and lasting evidence of God.

What a beautiful word picture of a life that’s led out of thistles and thorn bushes into one of the strength of a giant sequoia or stately pine….oh the processional of singing and applause! This is what I envision for the prodigal. As they are led out in joy to a life of wholeness and completeness, God will get the honor and recognition….they will be a monument to His faithfulness!

My prayer today is that the prodigal will go out with joy and move ahead into a new life of freedom in Christ. May they make Him famous!

Isaiah 55:12-13 The Message

So ________ will go out in joy, he’ll/she’ll be led into a whole and complete life. The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause. No more thistles, but giant sequoias, no more thornbushes, but stately pines – Monuments to me, to God, living and lasting evidence of God.

December 15

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Psalm 119:105, 111-112

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.

I am convinced the enemy spends a lot of time trying to keep us out of the Word. Not only is it a source of light for us on a sometimes dimly lit and rocky path, but it is our sword against him. Of course he doesn’t want us reading, recalling and living by it.

I pray the prodigal will set their hearts on knowing God’s Word; may it be the joy of their heart and a light to their path!

Psalm 119:105, 111-112

Your word is a lamp to ________’s feet and a light for his/her path. Your statutes are ________’s heritage forever; they are the joy of his/her heart. ________’s heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.

December 14

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Genesis 15:1

“Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, your very great reward.”

He is our reward! I believe God rewards those who seek after and obey Him. He says so in His Word. But what if the only reward I received was God himself; would He be enough? I’d have to say, YES!

If God is my reward, I have access to a rich and full life, things I can’t imagine. In the following verses God has Abram look up at the stars and tells him that his offspring will be like the number of stars in the sky. Abraham thought, “no way, God, I don’t even have any children!” It was something he couldn’t fathom.

Dare to stretch your thinking into the “impossible” in regards to God’s promises. When the prodigal’s circumstances seem impossible, think outside what appears to be, to what God has promised. We don’t have to be afraid; He is our prodigal’s great reward and that is reward enough.

Genesis 15:1

“Do not be afraid, ________, I am your shield, your very great reward.”

December 13

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James 4:3

You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

For all we know, the prodigal has petitioned the Father over and over for things in their life to change. And it’s possible they have become frustrated at not seeing the answer. The key to receiving is not necessarily asking for the right things, but for the right reason; it’s a heart issue.

I pray the prodigal would come to understand the key to having prayers answered; that their motives would be good and God focused.

James 4:3

_________ does not have, because he/she does not ask God. When ________ asks, he/she does not receive, because he/she asks with wrong motives, that he/she might spend what he/she gets on his/her own pleasure.

December 12

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Psalm 17:3

Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.

There’s something about nighttime, especially when you are in bed, lights are out and all is quiet; there’s a certain vulnerability about it. God can get our attention and cause us to examine every motive of the day.

Saul was pursuing David to kill him. David had opportunities to kill Saul and refused to give in to that temptation. When night fell and David was alone with his thoughts, he knew he had been faithful to God by sparing Saul’s life, even if it meant possible death.

I pray that as the prodigal lays down at night and they examine their motives, thoughts, and actions of the day, God will be able to test them all and find nothing. May they have a clean conscience before Him.

Psalm 17:3

Though you probe ________’s heart and examine him/her at night, though you test ________, you will find nothing; ________ resolves that his/her mouth will not sin.

December 11

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2 Chronicles 16:9a

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

God is always searching for those who are fully committed to Him. He’s looking for volunteers to be His hands and feet in the world. For Kingdom purposes, would we lay down our “yes” card and not pick it back up again? His promise is to strengthen those who will.

I pray, as the Lord looks throughout the earth for committed hearts, His gaze will fall on the once prodigal child who has turned their life around and give them new strength as they make big strides back to Him.

2 Chronicles 16:9a

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen ________ whose heart is fully committed to Him.

December 10

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1 Corinthians 2:9-10a

No eye has seen, no ear has heard no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him – but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

I like how this verse speaks about things “prepared” for us, things to come; things revealed to us through the Spirit, yet they are beyond what we could imagine. God is always steps ahead of us, working for our good, preparing amazing things for us.

The word “prepared” in the Greek means — to make ready, as in — sending on before the king persons who would prepare the roads to make the way passable.

There are things we can’t know or understand unless the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to them. Also, what is veiled to the unbeliever, we as believers have opportunity to know and understand because of revelation from the Holy Spirit.

My prayer for the prodigal is that as they move toward home, the Holy Spirit is revealing anew to them the truths of God; things they could not have conceived or understood where they stood on a prodigal path.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10a

No eye has seen, no ear has heard no mind has conceived what God has prepared for ________ who loves Him – but God has revealed it to ________ by his Spirit.

December 9

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Isaiah 58:11

The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

As I think of the prodigal living in a sun-scorched land, I realize they may not even be aware that they are needy and thirsty. Yet, God promises to guide them through and strengthen them. To think of a day when they will be like a beautiful garden or endless spring should bring joy to your heart.

As you envision these pictures for your prodigal, pray that they will recognize their need of a Father who will lead them in truth and strengthen their frame!

Isaiah 58:11

The Lord will guide ________ always; He will satisfy ________’s needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen his/her frame. ________ will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

December 8

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Psalm 109:30-31

With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord; in the great throng I will praise Him. For He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him.

I picture the enemy always spewing condemnation at the prodigal. They may feel they have squandered their life and not lived up to expectations, but the Father is there, standing by their side, always present and ever faithful in their defense.

In the story of the prodigal son, he returned in condemnation seeking only to be his father’s servant, yet, he was received with open arms, forgiveness, a robe and a ring. For one headed down a destructive path, there was salvation at his father’s side.

I pray the prodigal will have their spiritual eyes opened to the reality of a Father who defends them and desires to free them from the one who would constantly condemn. One day they will extol Him with their mouth which will flow from a heart of gratitude.

Psalm 109:30-31

With his/her mouth _________ will greatly extol the Lord; in the great throng _________ will praise Him. For He stands at the right hand of _________, to save his/her life from those who condemn him/her.

December 7

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Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.

God’s peace is different from the world’s peace. True peace is not found in positive thinking or an absence of conflict. It comes from knowing that God is in control. It’s an inner peace in the midst of a storm. We can be at peace just knowing our destiny is set, our place in heaven is secure, and we will have victory over sin.

Thankfulness is key in these verses. We have God’s ear when we make a request of Him and that is something in which to give thanks!

I pray for the prodigal to develop a thankful heart and come to know God’s peace; peace that is beyond understanding. I pray they will feel comfortable going to Him with every question, frustration and need.

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard ________’s heart and __________’s mind in Christ Jesus.