In Matthew 17:20 Jesus told his disciples they could pray powerful intercessory prayers if they had enough faith. “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” (Matthew 17:20-21)
Many of us are praying for some type of healing for our child, that might look unlikely in the here and now. So, how can we bolster our faith - such that we see mountain moving miracles? To completely tap into the transformative power of faith, we must fully give ourselves over to God by watering our “seed” through trust, patience, and persistence. In Mark 9: 22-24 The father of the little boy who needed healing asked Jesus: “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” And Jesus completely healed his son.
Prodigal Son Prayer:
How to Water Your Faith
Two things you can do to water your faith:
- Bring to mind the prayers that God has already answered. Although my boys are not yet worshipping God, they have both been delivered from addiction. That is such a huge answered prayer! How can I not have faith that God will also answer my other prayers for them?
- Ask God to “Help your Unbelief.” Just like the father in Mark 9 did, you can ask God’s Holy Spirit to give you more faith. In Galatians 5:22–23, the bible tells us that the gifts that the Holy Spirit stands ready to impart to you are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If your faith feels weak, ask God for more!
With the smallest amount of true, unwavering faith, even the largest things are possible. God's timing is perfect; keep your focus on watering the mustard seed, rather than on the results you seek, and the answer will come.
Blessings
Lily
their generation, there are several places in scripture where it explains that disdain for parents is a first step in separation from God. (See 2 Timothy 3: 1-5).
In Matthew 12:25, Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.”
Separation is Satan’s foundational tool. One of his primary methods is to divide - in order to conquer. We see this from the beginning in Genesis, when the serpent deceived Adam and Eve in order to separate them from God.
As I have written in previous articles on this website and hopefully you noticed as an unwritten theme throughout our book, Unconfined, I believe that family is God’s design. While I respect that my children are adults and I am no longer needed in the role as parent, I believe we are more likely to bless future generations if a cohesive spirit of unity and communion exists, rather than a spirit of separation in our family.
If you are experiencing the estrangement of a dearly loved prodigal child who has rejected you, consider these steps:
- Confess your own part in any separation.
- Recognize that separation of families is a primary goal of Satan, and refuse to accept that the separation is permanent or that his lies about your motives, heart or character will succeed.
- Meditate on the following qualities of God which foster unity and are in opposition to separation:
Consequences of Separation God's Design
Critical/Mocking/Arrogant/Proud Humility
(1 Peter 5:6-7)
Deception/Lies/Vain Imaginations Truth
(John 8:32)
No fear of God Fear of the Lord
(Proverbs 9:10)
Lost/Hopeless/Full of Fear, Anxiety and Despair Filling of the Spirit
(2 Cor. 3:17)
Sins of the Fathers/Cursed Covered by the Blood of Jesus
(1 John 1:7)
Greedy/Seeking after the World Generosity
(1 Tim. 6:18-19)
Death
Life/Blessing
(Deut. 30:19)
Praying the scriptures above for your prodigal, is a powerful spiritual weapon to uproot each of the strongholds of the spirit of separation. Read each of the scriptures while asking the Holy Spirit to firmly establish that God-honoring behavior in your own life and overflowing that quality to and through your children.
Prayer for Prodigals:
God Our Healer
Prayer:
Dear Lord, everything you created was good. However, mankind allowed the spirit of separation to come in to your perfect plan, and it has been trying to destroy the beautiful gift of family since the dawn of creation. The deepest desire of my heart is to see my family restored, and thriving in You! There are many examples in Your word in which You answered an intercessor’s prayer for healing and restoration of families and communities. You are referred to in holy scripture 60 times as Jehovah Rapha (God Our Healer). Thus, I firmly believe that You are able to supernaturally restore things that appear permanently broken. I want my life and family to resemble the vine you describe in John 15:5-8 – firmly connected You and bearing fruit! I pray the following will grow in my life and in my descendants: humility, truth, reverence for your holiness, nearness of the Holy Spirit, generosity and blessing!
Blessings,
Lily
their generation, there are several places in scripture where it explains that disdain for parents is a first step in separation from God. (See 2 Timothy 3: 1-5).
In Matthew 12:25, Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.”
Separation is Satan’s foundational tool. One of his primary methods is to divide - in order to conquer. We see this from the beginning in Genesis, when the serpent deceived Adam and Eve in order to separate them from God.
As I have written in previous articles on this website and hopefully you noticed as an unwritten theme throughout our book, Unconfined, I believe that family is God’s design. While I respect that my children are adults and I am no longer needed in the role as parent, I believe we are more likely to bless future generations if a cohesive spirit of unity and communion exists, rather than a spirit of separation in our family.
If you are experiencing the estrangement of a dearly loved prodigal child who has rejected you, consider these steps:
- Confess your own part in any separation.
- Recognize that separation of families is a primary goal of Satan, and refuse to accept that the separation is permanent or that his lies about your motives, heart or character will succeed.
- Meditate on the following qualities of God which foster unity and are in opposition to separation:
Consequences of Separation
vs. God's Design
Critical/Mocking/Arrogant/Proud vs.
Humility
(1 Peter 5:6-7)
Deception/Lies/Vain Imaginations vs.
Truth
(John 8:32)
No fear of God vs.
Fear of the Lord
(Proverbs 9:10)
Lost/Hopeless/Full of Fear, Anxiety and Despair vs.
Filling of the Spirit
(2 Cor. 3:17)
Sins of the Fathers/Cursed vs.
Covered by the Blood of Jesus
(1 John 1:7)
Greedy/Seeking after the World vs.
Generosity
(1 Tim. 6:18-19)
Death vs.
Life/Blessing
(Deut. 30:19)
Praying the scriptures above for your prodigal, is a powerful spiritual weapon to uproot each of the strongholds of the spirit of separation. Read each of the scriptures while asking the Holy Spirit to firmly establish that God-honoring behavior in your own life and overflowing that quality to and through your children.
Prayer for Prodigals:
God Our Healer
Prayer:
Dear Lord, everything you created was good. However, mankind allowed the spirit of separation to come in to your perfect plan, and it has been trying to destroy the beautiful gift of family since the dawn of creation. The deepest desire of my heart is to see my family restored, and thriving in You! There are many examples in Your word in which You answered an intercessor’s prayer for healing and restoration of families and communities. You are referred to in holy scripture 60 times as Jehovah Rapha (God Our Healer). Thus, I firmly believe that You are able to supernaturally restore things that appear permanently broken. I want my life and family to resemble the vine you describe in John 15:5-8 – firmly connected You and bearing fruit! I pray the following will grow in my life and in my descendants: humility, truth, reverence for your holiness, nearness of the Holy Spirit, generosity and blessing!
Blessings,
Lily
