Tuning in to hear God’s voice can be challenging sometimes,
especially in those moments when life seems extra noisy. Concerns, deadlines,
distractions, and our own racing thoughts may battle for our attention.
That’s exactly what
happened to me this morning.
I have a beloved prodigal. She’s a testimony in the making.
I know this. I believe it. I am holding onto that with all I’ve got.
But this season we’re going through is really tough. And I
need an encouraging word from God every now and then – a reminder that He has
got this thing.
This morning, I was driving to a local appointment. The
route took me past the house where my beloved prodigal stayed last night at her
friend’s house. I saw her car parked outside.
I have been praying late into the night for this one for a
while, and I am still waiting for God’s answer to appear. So I was feeling a
little mopey right then.
I believe our Father God cherishes a
mother’s fretful prayers.
I like to picture Him tucking each
heart-wrenching entreaty into a special treasure box.
That’s when God
stepped in. Something curious happened.
My car radio was on. I hit the “scan” button to switch to a
new music station. But it stopped on a number I’d not seen before. I heard a
quick advertising message for a car dealership located in a city located two
hours from here. And the reception was as clear as can be.
I only heard a few minutes of a Christian radio broadcast. I
cannot tell you who the speaker was. But she was recapping a broadcast
interview with an author who had spoken about parents praying for their kids to
return to God.
Here’s the gist.
This author, a mother of a long-time beloved prodigal, said
God started turning things around when she changed the way she prayed. She
began asking Him to build a longing inside her loved one. She pleaded with God
to rekindle a desire for Him – to lead her beloved prodigal to desire something
more in life than his current pursuits.
Isn’t that what the prophet Amos meant, when he spoke of a
famine for God’s Word? Why not personalize that prophecy in a prayer for loved
ones?
“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when
I will send a famine through the land - not a famine of food or a thirst for
water, but
a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.” (Amos 8:11,
NIV)
What a powerful way
for a parent to pray.
God, please stir up a famine in my
loved one’s heart for You,
a hunger for Your presence and a
thirst for Your Word.
I want that for my beloved prodigal. I want that for all my
loved ones. I want that for myself. I want
to want God more.
Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has
nothing I desire besides You. (Psalm 73:25, NIV)
I spread out my hands to You; I thirst for You like a parched land. (Psalm 143:6, NIV)
I spread out my hands to You; I thirst for You like a parched land. (Psalm 143:6, NIV)
It sounds simple. But it may just be the secret we’ve
needed.
Go to it, God.
Fire up that hunger that only You can feed.
Here’s an after-note.
When my appointment ended, I climbed back into my car, which
was still tuned to the same radio station number. But it was only static. I’m
pretty sure God was smiling, right about then.
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