Rest in Repentance: Worldwide Day of Prayer for Prodigals 3

This is another in a series of letters to those who have prodigals in their lives.  This is part 3 of the REST theme for this year's Worldwide Day of Prayer for Prodigals on June 2.Dear Lover of Prodigals,Sin is exhausting.Yes, your prodigal is probably exhausted from all his/her sinning.  But I’m talking about my sin, your sin.As we struggle through this journey, almost anyone would grant us grace for occasionally raising our voices, responding in anger, saying stupid things, making wussy decisions or coming down too hard.Sometimes we sin in those responses, and that can weary us. And yes, God gives grace.Other potential sins go deeper:Fear.  Fear for the safety, future, life of our loved one.  Fear that nothing will work, he will never change.  Fear that we will have to live with this pain for the rest of our lives.Anger. Anger at her for making these terrible choices and not thinking.  Anger at ourselves for not doing a better of job of influencing, teaching, loving (at least, that's what we think).  Anger at God for letting this happen to us.Not trusting God. How can I believe He is in control.  That He loves me and my prodigal when He allows all this pain.  That He can bring good from this mess.God says it is sin when we continue to live this way day after day, and this sin will truly exhaust us.  It will drain the energy right out of us.But God also says we don’t have to live this way.  He offers mercy, grace and REST.David wrote in Psalm 32 some wonderful words of hope and rest:Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no   deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. And God tells us that there is rest in repentance:“In repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength… (Isaiah 30:15)I strongly encourage each of us to spend some time meditating on all of Psalms 32 and 51.  We can let God speak to our hearts, point out any sin we need to deal with, repent and receive, not only mercy and forgiveness, but REST. Then we can enter with strength into the prayer battle ahead of us.And our loved prodigals.  Pray the same things for them.  Their sins may be different—more blatant--but they are equally exhausting.  The possibilities of their returning to their senses, to you and most of all to God are much better when they find rest.__________Already new people are coming into our community, seeking prayer for their loved ones as we prepare for the June 2 Worldwide Day of Prayer for Prodigals.  Come to Prayer for Prodigals and pray for them, and let us know how God is working in your situation.If you know of others who would want to join us, please have them write to us at Prayer for Prodigals for an invitation into our community and to participate in the June 2 Day of Prayer for Prodigals.Peace and rest,  JudyFirst <<     Prev <    > Next