Pray for Your Prodigal - Crosswalk Couples Devotional - July 30
Pray for Your Prodigal
By: Michelle Lazurek
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” (Luke 15:31-32).
My daughter went to church, loved God, and participated in the worship team and other parts of Sunday service. But at the age of 16, something changed. She struggled to find her identity; she was desperate to fit in. She changed schools to an art school that was a very dark place spiritually.
There were no other Christians in her school, and the ones that were not Christians not only didn't want to hear about God but mocked her for following Jesus. They called her brainwashed because her father was a pastor, and he was feeding her all these lies. Jesus, to them, was just a fairy tale, and she was delusional to believe it.
She was devastated. She attended school during COVID-19, which was done online through Zoom. But she didn't make any friends there because of her beliefs. My husband and I slowly watched as her demeanor began to change. She became withdrawn, solemn, and sad all the time. She wore dark clothing, painted her nails black, and wore black makeup. We had many conversations with her about who she was and who God was. But she didn't want to listen. One of the most devastating things to watch as a parent is to watch your child move away from God.
One day, I entered her room. Her walls were full of anime and other celebrities with music and film that were the opposite of what Christ would want for her. We knew she was slowly slipping away but didn't know what to do. One day, I got anointing oil from our church. I made the sign of the cross on each of her walls. I placed my hand on it and prayed. “God, I don't know what to do. But you do. Bring our daughter back to you. Help her turn away from this entertainment that is turning her away from you.”
Although she didn't turn back that year, we continued to watch as she desperately sought to make friends and fit in. Although her clothing and attitude underwent many changes, God called her to be a camp counselor at a Christian camp the following year. She came back completely transformed. Without us asking, she had ripped all the anime pictures off her wall, and all inappropriate posters were thrown away. She began to always have her Bible with her, bought commentaries, and sought to study the word. Today, she's attending a Christian university and pursuing the calling of ministry.
If you have a prodigal son or daughter, there's hope. In those years between 16 and 17, I was convinced she would permanently walk away from the Lord and never return. But as the passage above states, she came to her senses. She stopped eating the pig pods from the world and returned to her father so they could have a party and celebrate her return.
Never stop praying for your child. Even when it seems hopeless, continue to pray for them. Get on your hands and knees as necessary. Call your local church and ask them to pray as well. Ask the Lord to bring your child back from Satan's lure. Be there for them, but don't condone their lifestyle.
Make it clear that you are a Christian home and that that is how it will stay. Don't stop talking about God, attending church, or praying. Be the example you want them to follow. Even if they never come back, it won't be because you didn't show them what a Christian life looks like.
The father in the prodigal son parable never stopped being the father. He loved and prayed for his son. But he allowed the son to come and return to him. When the son returned, he couldn't help but celebrate. When your son or daughter returns and wants to return to God, celebrate. Take them out to dinner and make a big deal out of their decision. This gesture keeps them on the path toward righteousness.
Father, let us be parents who always pray for our prodigal children. Let us never give up, even when it looks hopeless. When they return from their prodigal lifestyle, celebrate with them. Never stop being their parents. Amen.
Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Alex Jones
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