Joy 4: Joy to the World-Prodigal Prayer Day
Last we talked about walking in the Spirit and giving thanks. So, hopefully, you have practiced these and are finding increasing joy in your life.
So what do you do with this abundance of joy? You give it away! Huh? But I just got it. The funny thing is, the more joy you give to others, the more your joy will multiply.
So I titled this episode Joy to the World. I really have only two recommendations for giving joy away. First to your prodigal, and also to everyone. Well, everyone you know, encounter, influence, wherever you go.
You can do this.
Have you noticed that our emotions are often contagious. If you are around someone sad or complaining or angry, it rubs off on you. You often feel down or annoyed, or even angry.
It’s like that with joy too. A truly happy, joyful person spreads it around without realizing it.
So practice giving joy to your prodigal. Just be joyful. Let them know they give you great joy, that you love them, and value them, even treasure them. Speak it, show it, sometimes even overdo it.
It may take a while, but as they realize this new you isn’t going to yell at them, accuse them, condemn them, they just might begin to like you again, to believe you really do love them and are on their side. Maybe their behavior will begin to change, and they even find joy!!
I would start with your prodigal, but don’t wait till you see the change to begin to let your growing joy bubble over to the people in your life.
Certainly to the rest of your family and extended family. Your neighbors—even the one who lets their dog use your yard. People at work, at church, where you shop, that homeless person you pass.
I assure you, everyone of them can use more joy in their lives. Ask God to let His unquenchable joy flow through you and touch a life in a beautiful way.
And if God challenges you to be more intentional, to tell people where your joy comes from –Jesus—you might be like a happy virus, infecting people with the love of God.
All You Need to About Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day
It was June 2 several years ago.
Eighteen of us made a large circle in our Florida room. We each shared why we had come—a brief overview of our journey with a prodigal.
What did we have in common? We each loved a prodigal. Some were just taking their first shaky steps in this wilderness. Others were feeling their way in the shadowy darkness. A few had stories of light and new life and great hope.
We had all come to the only place we thought offered any answers: on our knees. At first our prayers were tentative—were these people safe? But then honesty, vulnerability, tears opened our hearts and we connected at that throne of grace, petitioning our God for each other, for the many who requested prayer, for our own loved ones, for ourselves.
In the end we recognized that our prayers were as much for ourselves as for our loved wanderers. And we acknowledged that loving a prodigal was indeed a wilderness journey, but that each beloved prodigal was a gift, a true treasure to make us more and more like Jesus. And gratitude filled us even as tears flowed.
And now it is almost June 2 again: time for the Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day.
Let’s look at how it happens each year—how you can be a part of it, as much or as little as you desire. And then I will tell you about our wonderful year-round virtual, safe and private prayer community.
Perhaps you have submitted a name or several to be prayed for on June 2. Then what? You might be asking, “Who prays for them?” or “How do I participate?”
Let me answer the questions we often get asked:
Who may pray for prodigals on June 2? Anyone and everyone can pray—from all over the world. Most often people who love an at-risk or rebellious family member are eager to pray.
What is Prayer for Prodigals? Do I have to be a member? Prayer for Prodigals (P4P) is a community of people who have joined on our password protected website for resources, encouragement and a safe place to request prayer and to pray for others. It is free and all online. We sponsor the Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day, but you don’t have to be a member to pray with us on June 2. Some information, resources and personal requests are available to members only because it is a password-protected site. You are welcome to join, and I will explain how at the end of this.
How do we pray on June 2? You may pray in any way that works for you: You may pray as long or as little as you like. Most people try to join with others—friends, neighbors, church—in small groups, or on zoom or google calls, at some point in the day. Or you can pray by yourself. I usually pray on and off throughout the day, and usually end with a group praying in my home.
This year we will again pray via zoom. If you don’t have a group to pray with, and prefer to have people to pray with, you are welcome to join us. Register in advance here.
I mean, how do we “pray”? Again, in any way you are comfortable. We have a booklet, Prayers for Your Wilderness Journey, that offers a variety of ways to pray and helpful Scriptures. Here are some other helps for prayer:
15 Prayers for Children and Grandchildren .
What is The List? This list is the centerpiece of the Prodigal Prayer Day. At this time we have more than 8000 names for whom prayer has been requested. It is only first names, but God knows each one.
Some of us will pray through the entire list, lifting names up to God, asking for Him to keep on loving and pursuing them, drawing them back to those who love them and to Himself. Many will pray for a section of the list (it’s alphabetical) or get as far as they can. We ask that everyone try to spend some time praying for people on The List.
If you are a member of P4P, you can access the list there on the welcome page. If you are not a member (you are welcome to join us) you can access the list here.
I don’t always get through the entire list on June 2, so I keep praying through the list. You can use it all year. Some of us zoom several times in the following year to keep praying.
How do we put names on the list? You can write to prayerforprodigals@gmail.com. You may continue to add names through June 2..
Anything else? To bless and encourage you as you pray, you might enjoy this prodigal playlist on Spotify:
Then some of you might want to join the Prayer for Prodigals virtual community. We have intentionally required a password so you feel safe and comfortable to post specific requests for your loved one and related challenges. And others will feel safe also as they post requests.
Most of us with prodigals know of others who love a prodigal. Please let them know about the June 2 Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day and the Prayer for Prodigals Community. Encourage them write us at PrayerforProdigals@gmail.com.
May June 2 be the beginning of transformation!