Author: schromom

October 28

Posted on by schromom

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

The context of this verse has to do with a very young church (2 or 3 years old) and baby Christians coming under heavy persecution. I can imagine them questioning the phrases “be joyful always” and “give thanks in all circumstances.” Our joy, prayer, and thankfulness should not fluctuate with our circumstances or feelings. God wants us to learn how to have joy in the midst of trial because it’s the only way to come out of it unscarred and giving Him glory. He doesn’t ask us to have joy about our circumstances but instead find joy in the midst of them. What a tremendous testimony to an unbelieving world to see someone who has joy as they endure a terrible storm in his or her life.

I pray the prodigal will have opportunity to be thankful in the middle of the storm that may surround them. Let’s pray they learn great lessons about the joy of the Father.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

________, be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

October 27

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Psalm 143:9-10 NLT

Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

A teachable spirit will take us far in our ability to walk this life on firm footing. We must allow the great teacher of our souls to speak into our situation and move us to change, to grow, and to trust His will for us regarding it.

I pray the prodigal senses the Lord is rescuing them from the enemy and will choose to run to Him as a hiding place. May they have a teachable heart that’s tender before Him and find themselves on firm footing as they are led along by the Spirit.

Psalm 143:9-10 NLT

Rescue ________ from his/her enemies, Lord; ________ runs to you to hide him/her. Teach ________ to do your will, for you are his/her God. May your gracious Spirit lead ________ forward on a firm footing.

October 26

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Isaiah 9:2

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

We seem to be living in dark times for our world these days. One of my continuous prayers of late has been that light would be shown into the darkness of our Nation and the World; in some regards, this is beginning to happen. I pray God still has much for the church to learn and do in the years ahead but it will take an awakening, a dawning of His “light,” and a desire to walk in that light rather than the darkness.

Nothing encourages me more than imagining the prodigal, being in a place of death and darkness, experiencing the great light of God’s love shining on them, illuminating their situation. His light brings clarity to the prodigal, making the path ahead clear and possible to traverse.

I pray for the prodigal to see clearly what needs to be done, be encouraged that they have the strength to do it and know for certain that it was a loving God who has brought light to their circumstance!

Isaiah 9:2

________, walking in darkness, has seen a great light; on ________, living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.

October 25

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Hebrews 8:12 NLT

“And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

Because of Christ’s death on the cross, there is forgiveness! We may not be living a life considered “wicked” but there are no degrees to sin. In God’s eyes all sin is on an even plain. The truth of His forgetfulness has to encourage the heart of one who has fallen into a pit and wonders how they could ever walk in His grace again.

I pray the prodigal understands the depth of God’s forgiveness toward them and the thought of His never again remembering their sin moves their heart to love and trust Him all the more.

Hebrews 8:12 NLT

“And I will forgive _________’s wickedness, and I will never again remember his/her sins.”

October 24

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Proverbs 15:28a

The heart of the righteous weighs its answers…

I’m afraid things roll off of my tongue without much thought sometimes. But, before I speak, I should always consider the weight of what I am about to say. The tongue has the power of life and death. (Proverbs 18:21)

A righteous one will think before speaking because their heart is bent toward what the Father would want for the person receiving those words.

I pray the prodigal will learn to weigh their words; that relationships won’t be harmed or broken because of unthoughtful words. Even if we are provoked, God would be honored most by a response flavored with love.

Proverbs 15:28a

The heart of _________ weighs its answers…

October 23

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Galatians 2:20-21 NLT

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

Living a Christ-like life on a daily basis is difficult at best. Without crucifying self and allowing Christ to actually live through me, it can’t be accomplished.

Verse 21 stirs up these questions in me… do I treat the grace of God as meaningless? Do I realize the tremendous price paid at the cross?

God’s GRACE – it’s a hard concept to understand; that’s why it’s by faith I must trust that Christ giving His life is enough; it will always be enough.

I pray the prodigal will grasp the concept of grace; that they will not treat it lightly. A huge price was paid for their freedom. As the prodigal steps out in faith, crucifying themselves to live as Christ would, may they walk in the strength of the One who lives within them.

Galatians 2:20-21 NLT

_________’s old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer he/she who lives, but Christ lives in him/her. So __________ lives in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved him/her and gave himself for him/her. __________ does not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make him/her right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

October 22

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Psalm 112:1-2

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

What a powerful promise! I can get excited about the prodigal’s children and future generations benefiting from a parent that finds delight in the commands of the Lord.

I pray the prodigal will become just that – one who fears the Lord and finds great delight in His Word. May they, their children and their children’s children be blessed in return!

Psalm 112:1-2

Blessed is _________ who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands. His/her children will be mighty in the land; the generation of ________ will be blessed.

October 21

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Malachi 4:2-3 NLT

“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

As the Old Testament closes, God has been patient with His chosen people for so many years, rescuing them, disciplining them, strengthening them as a people, yet they still fail to recognize and honor Him as they should. He finally decides to be silent and wait. It will be 400 years before he sends the next one to be His voice (John the Baptist). Generations would go by without seeing Israel’s salvation. But there was a day coming… a day when the sun would rise and they would jump around like a free little calf, a day when they would have power over their enemy. It came in the form of a cross.

Let’s look expectantly to the day our prodigal reveres God’s name and is set free. They might not leap, but you will see a freedom in their demeanor and personality. The sun is about to rise on a new day for the prodigal and it won’t be 400 years down the road! I believe those who have truly been set free from strongholds go out with a power and strength to do battle that others don’t understand. It will be a joy to watch!

Malachi 4:2-3 NLT

“But for ________ who fears my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings. And he/she will go free, leaping with joy like a calf let out to pasture. On the day when I act, ________ will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under his/her feet,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

October 20

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2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Not just some of scripture, but all is useful for keeping us on a path moving toward Christ-like living. We can trust that it is a perfect manual for life.

My prayer for the prodigal today is that they will discover the rich stories, events, characters and instruction for living found in scripture. The Old Testament is a beautiful picture of how God used flawed humans to fulfill His purposes. Jesus’ words in the Gospels are important instructions for life as well. The whole of scripture can be like a mirror showing us how flawed we are, challenge us to be better and train us how to live righteously.

I pray they will be drawn to the Word, to love reading it, be corrected by it and lean on it as a powerful equipper as they walk in the life of freedom ahead!

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that ________ may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

October 19

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Zechariah 10:12

“I will strengthen them in the Lord and in His name they will walk,” declares the Lord.

God is faithful to strengthen those who are His. Walking life out “in His name” many times requires great strength and determination. Most likely we will fail if we don’t have help from one who is much more capable than ourselves.

My prayer for the prodigal is – they will feel His strength; strength that comes from within them by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lets pray that their hearts would be turned toward Him as they walk out this life.

Zechariah 10:12

“I will strengthen ________ in the Lord and in His name he/she will walk,” declares the Lord.