How to Pray for Your Prodigal

This was the title of an article in a prominent Christian publication. The subtitle was, “Use these proven prayer strategies to unleash a miracle.”

I am sure the author was sincere, but I can only imagine how many parents read the title and thought something like this:

“Oh no, have I failed my grown child because I haven’t been praying the right way?
Could I have turned them around if I had prayed correctly?
I didn’t even know there were specific strategies for how I am supposed to pray for my kids!”

Well, I hope I have a bit of good news for you - there isn’t.
If you love your child and your heart has been aching for them to follow Jesus, then you have been praying correctly. If all you have been able to do is say, “Please, Lord,” then you have been praying the right way.

Neither Jesus nor the apostles taught a correct way to pray for your child that will “unleash a miracle.” You haven’t been doing it wrong. If there is a wrong way to pray, it’s probably, “Force them to follow You, Lord!” That prayer won’t work.

Pray for them the way you should pray for anyone else.

“Lord, let Your goodness, Your kindness, Your unending love flood their hearts and minds so they will want to turn around and follow You.”

Why is this a good way to pray? Because it’s the revelation of God’s unending love that causes anyone to choose to turn around (repent) and draw near to Him.

Rom 2:4-5- “…do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”

Eph 3:18-19- “And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”

Linda and I are the parents of a grown child who was a “prodigal” for decades but is now living in the peace and joy of a passionate relationship with Jesus who is living inside her. We understand the heart-crushing pain and overwhelming sense of helplessness that can torment a parent. And we were frequently at a loss for words. Often, our prayer was simply, “Help!”
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Here’s the good news. The Father loves them more than we do, and He is working in ways none of us can see…yet!