The Prodigal Son

"He was still a long way off when his father caught sight of him. His father was so deeply moved with compassion that he ran out to meet him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him." - Luke 15:20

This is a story we all know really well, the story of the prodigal son. I wanted to focus on this verse in the story because it's what stands out the most to me. After squandering all of his money on filth, the son recognized that his father always treated his servants well, and if he was going to be a servant, he should go back and work for his father. I love how this verse describes the reaction of the father upon seeing his son return. The father didn't need an apology, he didn't have the need to lecture the son and say 'I told you so,' or hold any grudge against him. From the moment he saw his boy from afar, he was prepared to give him the best he had to welcome him, no matter how selfish the son was in the past. This is the love of our Father in Heaven.

During the season of Lent, we focus a lot on sacrifices and repentance, but God is so good that after a few weeks, the teachings in the daily readings start reflecting the goodness, forgiveness, and mercy of God! God wants to forgive us. He doesn't even need to hear the apology to welcome us back to Him with open arms! Like the son in the story, you could have wasted all of your life with horrible sins but the moment you turn your eyes to Heaven, God wants to be there for you! Seek His forgiveness today! Let yourself be welcomed into His loving arms.

Today's Prayer:
Lord God, thank You for Your love and mercy. Thank You for being better than my evil. Please cleanse me of all my sins so that I can be worthy of You. In Your Name we pray, amen.

You Are Not a Slave

"Then, no more fear: you did not receive a spirit of slavery, but the Spirit that makes you adopted children and every time we cry, 'Abba! Father!' the Spirit assures our spirit that we are children of God." - Romans 8:15-16

Do you have a weakness right now that you feel you can't overcome? Are you tied to something, someone that's not good for you? Maybe you're in a bad relationship or are fighting an addiction, and you can't let go as much as it's hurting you. You, yourself can't let go because your sin is bringing you down. The devil keeps you down by telling you that you are weak and you can't make it through, but stop letting yourself be lied to. You are much stronger than you could ever imagine if you let the truth of God come into your life. You did not receive a weak spirit. You are not a slave to that circumstance or that addiction because YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH GOD and there is no weakness or evil that your Father in Heaven cannot overcome for you if you ask. Do away with the fear! Do away with the self pity because you were meant for much higher things because with love the Lord Almighty has planned to prosper you, fill you with hope and give you a future. So lift up your trembling hands and lift up your eyes to your Father in Heaven. Be confident in His Word and know that He is much bigger, much more powerful than any weakness, any evil, and any negativity that wants to bring you down.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, I lift my eyes up to You because I am Your beloved child. You did not make me a slave to my weaknesses but gave me power to overcome any obstacle in the Name of Jesus Christ. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Our Mothers and Fathers

"Whoever honors his father atones for his sins; he who gives glory to his mother prepares a treasure for himself." - Sirach 3:3-4

I've been thinking about my parents a lot lately. They're very old school and sometimes treat me like I'm 10 years old instead of in my 20's. Sometimes they frustrate me and I want to explode, but I never really do. What stops me from ever being disrespectful is the fact that they are the parents that God gave me. Our God is a god that honors authority and honors obedience and the best way for me to obey God is to obey my mother and father.

Our relationship with our parents can be very similiar to how we interact with God. God intended for us to be fully obedient children to our parents and to Him. If you want to be a good servant of God, you must be a good son/ daughter. There are of course, parents that don't take care of their children as they should, and when this happens, you still have a parent in Heaven - the Lord Almighty whom you should love, honor, and obey.

Today's Prayer:
Father in Heaven, help me to honor and obey my mother and father just as I should honor and obey you. Please give me the patience and strength to fulfill your commandments as you desire. In Your Name we pray, Amen.