For Parents of Prodigals

Here are the three resources I referenced in today’s message about the Father of the Prodigal.

Praying Your Prodigal Home
This gripping book of hope and encouragement provides sound biblical principles on how to pray effectively for your lost friend or loved one. As one who has both lived as a prodigal and experienced the pain of loving and pursuing a prodigal, Richard A. Burr has gathered much wisdom on the subject. This book is a call to action.

The Hope of a Homecoming: Entrusting Your Prodigal to a Sovereign God
Fight for the life of your prodigal child by using the most powerful weapon of all––prayer. If your son or daughter has headed down the prodigal path, you’ve probably experienced many episodes of anger, fear, and despair. But there is reason for hope, even during the worst of times. In The Hope of a Homecoming , authors O’Rourke and Sauer share their personal experiences about dealing with their own prodigals. They also offer empowering and professional advice on going deep beneath the surface to enlist and direct God’s sovereign power toward the children of our hearts. You’ll find key Scriptures, written prayers, coping strategies, and practical advice on such topics as: · Conquering fear · Recognizing anger and using it constructively · Praying for protection · Waiting when He’s silent · Gaining a new perspective Tune out Satan’s lies of hopelessness. Learn to look at life and your prodigal’s situation through God’s eyes and respond to it with calm confidence. The Hope of a Homecoming gives insightful help and encourages parents to pray their prodigals home. It’s a time filled with heartache, but there are ways to make it easier. “Living by faith means not giving up” Luke 18:1.

Prodigals and Those Who Love Them
Ruth Bell Graham knew about prodigals–two of her five children were spiritual wanderers. This is not a “how to” book that dispenses easy advice on ways to win back a prodigal. Instead, it is a collection of readings one woman turned to for comfort when her children wandered from God. It shows how Graham’s faith persevered and grew regardless of the outcome of her prodigals’ stories. Part One introduces readers to five prodigals who “returned to the father.” Part Two offers comfort and encouragement through Scripture, poems, hymns, prayers, and more. Readers will be touched by the honest feelings of pain, frustration, and uncertainty Graham expresses so eloquently. And they will share in the lessons she learned about God’s sovereignty and ultimate peace. Now beautifully repackaged, Prodigals and Those Who Love Them brings peace and hope to all parents of “wayward” children.