Praying for Prodigals—Listen to the Holy Spirit

One mom shared with us that during her son’s freshman year in college, the Lord woke her early one morning saying, Your son’s life is in danger. She called three prayer partners and they all prayed for James. When she called his room at 7:00 a.m. his roommate first lied about his whereabouts, but then told her James had gone overnight camping with friends. Knowing that meant trouble, she cried out to God to save her son, then she released him into God’s hands and felt peace. She drove to the campus and brought him home, and she and her husband laid hands on him and prayed over him that weekend. He told her while he was at the campsite, he actually heard his mom praying for him. The battle continued over the next year, but finally James came to the end of himself and fully repented before the Lord. (Ruthanne Garlock)1

“And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” (Romans 8:27; NLT)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

  • Ask Holy Spirit to speak to you when your prodigal is in danger and needing prayer.
  • Pray the Scriptures over your prodigal that God quickens to you in your quiet time.
  • Be alert to opportunities to speak hope and encouragement to people you encounter each day—God may use you to reach a prodigal someone is praying for.
  • Determine always to pray the Answer, not the problem!

A prayer you can pray:

Lord, help me to relinquish my loved one completely into Your hands. Forgive me for forgetting that I must surrender every aspect of his/her life to You. I trust You to bring back this prodigal in Your way and in Your time, through whatever circumstances You see fit. Amen.

Today’s decree:

I will partner with God and pray the Answer as I pray my prodigal home!

1 Excerpted from Praying Prodigals Home by Quin Sherrer and Ruthanne Garlock, Regal Books, 2000, pp.67-70.

Ruthanne Garlock has co-authored 19 books with Quin Sherrer on prayer and related topics, plus two missions biographies. With her late husband, John, she has traveled to 35 nations teaching leadership training for churches and seminars. You can reach her at www.garlockministries.org.