Family of God: Re: [FamilyofGod] prayer for everyone/Tony

Good message Tony. The Lord is faithful.

Judy L <><

Tony wrote:

PRAYER

For our prayer we will use the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32.

Become aware of the presence of Jesus with you. Jesus we thank you for this beautiful parable and the richness of your teaching. As we compare ourselves to the characters in the parable we can indeed see ourselves. We ask your pardon that sometimes we are like the younger son. We are unwilling to be led. We want to control our own destiny. We are not humble. We want the high life, dolce vita, foolishly thinking that we can find happiness in the temptations of this world. But after tasting the temptations we are still unhappy, still hungry for happiness. During a divinely inspired moment we suddenly realize that we had been running from you instead of running towards you. It was you we really needed but we were too young to know this. We come to our senses and decide to repent and return to you. You welcome us with open arms and throw a party for us. Thank you, Lord, for your ever welcoming love rejoicing in our return to you. We feel foolish before you but you do not treat us foolishly but honorably, as daughters and sons of the Father since our baptism. Thank you for your hesed, your constant and faithful love which throws a party for us every time we repent and return to you. (Pray silently in thanksgiving now)….Sometimes, Lord, we are like the elder son. We ask your pardon. We are like goody goodies but yet our hearts are far from you because we are too busy being good to come close to you and listen to you. If we did draw near to you how you would set our hearts on fire! We grumble and complain instead of being happy and joining in the party of life. We keep our distance from others instead of being friendly and approachable. Then, Lord, you come out of the house to invite us to live life to the full, to let our stubbornness give way to your transforming love and forgiveness. We do not like change, we prefer the status quo so it is difficult to submit and say 'yes' to your offer of life. When we do submit and look back afterwards, how glad we are that we made a leap in faith consigning our future into your hands. (Pray silently in thanksgiving now)….Jesus, we thank you that you bring out the best robe, put a ring on our finger, sandals on our feet and kill the fatted calf when we turn to you in repentance. We live so often at the surface of life without thinking of the deeper implications of what we do and the beautiful offer of happiness you extend to us. We thank you for those moments when your word penetrates deeply into our hearts and we suddenly realize that you have a party ready for us. (Pray silently in thanksgiving now) ….Father in heaven, all you have is ours. We could not ask for more because you have already given us everything, all you have. We do well always and everywhere to give you thanks and praise.