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December 22

Posted on by schromom

Psalm 34:18

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

God has an affinity toward brokenhearted people. His compassion for those who are suffering, even if by their own doing, is immeasurable. His justice cannot tip the scales over His mercy.

At times, he chooses to deliver one quickly; at others He chooses to let the heartache do its work in their life. But never forget, He is always compassionate and right by their side.

I pray the prodigal has a sense of God’s compassion towards them and they feel His presence in the midst of the challenges they face.

Psalm 34:18

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves _________ who is crushed in spirit.

December 21

Posted on by schromom

2 Corinthians 4:7-9

But we have this treasure in a jar of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

The “treasure” mentioned here, from the verses above, is the message of salvation and the power this knowledge gives. I love the fact that God sees us as worthy for such a deposit into our hearts. We are just average people, jars of clay if you will. The reason He uses such ordinary people is so it will be evident it is God who is at work, not us. The world desperately needs to see folks who are struck down, perplexed, persecuted and still living for the one true God, still singing HIS praises despite what we go through. We are His testimony.

My prayer for the prodigal today is that they will recognize their fragile, clay-like life can be of use to God. I pray they see, over the days ahead, that being hard pressed won’t crush them, being perplexed won’t cause them to despair, in persecution they are not abandoned and if struck down, they aren’t destroyed!

2 Corinthians 4:7-9

But ________ has this treasure in a jar of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from him/her. ________ is hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

December 20

Posted on by schromom

Deuteronomy 4:29

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

God promises that He’s not hard to find. Our motives need to be right, so an all out heart and soul desire to find Him is important. But, if we seek, we’ll find… it’s as simple as that.

My prayer for the prodigal is that they begin a process of seeking. That they grow tired of seeking to fill the needs of their life with everything but God, and try seeking Him, just Him.

Deuteronomy 4:29

But if from there ________ seeks the Lord his/her God, ________ will find Him if he/she looks for Him with all his/her heart and with all his/her soul.

December 19

Posted on by schromom

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

This is one of my “anchor” verses because of it’s great promise. These few steps are pretty simple…. trust Him with all of your heart, don’t rely on human understanding (which can be faulty), acknowledge Him in every area of life and He will straighten the path ahead. It may be rocky at times, but certainly it will be straight.

I pray the prodigal is learning how to straighten out the messy path they may find themselves on by acknowledging God in every area of life. I also pray they have figured out that their understanding might be flawed and how trusting Him can bring new revelation from the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 3:5-6

_________ trusts in the Lord with all his/her heart and leans not on his/her own understanding; in all his/her ways ________ acknowledges Him; He will make _________’s paths straight.

December 18

Posted on by schromom

Psalm 118:5-7 NLT

In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me; He will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me.

As the prodigal, having squandered his money, found himself working at a job that was considered unclean he longed to be back in his father’s house. So, he picked himself up and was determined to head home, suffering whatever consequences were to be. He was free of his old life, just by the mere fact that he made a move toward home.

My prayer for the prodigal is freedom; that they recognize taking those first steps toward freedom is the only way to start breaking off the chains. I pray they know without a doubt, that God is for them. May fear be broken off and God’s presence felt alongside them as they walk the path toward home.

Psalm 118:5-7 NLT

In ________’s distress he/she prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered him/her and set him/her free. The Lord is for ________, so he/she will have no fear. What can mere people do to him/her? Yes, the Lord is for _________; He will help him/her. _________ will look in triumph at those who hate him/her .

December 17

Posted on by schromom

Luke 6:45b

… For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

The underlying beliefs of the prodigal will surface at some time in conversation and we will hear their brokenness if we listen closely.

As one who loves a prodigal, I pray we are listening and ready to encourage. Also, pray that the prodigal is making changes in their life, their thought patterns and their heart; changes that are reflected in what they say. May the overflow of their heart begin to be good things, reflected in their speech.

Luke 6:45b

… For out of the overflow of ________ heart his/her mouth speaks.

December 16

Posted on by schromom

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

Posted on by schromom

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

Posted on by schromom

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

Posted on by schromom

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.