Linda Clare - Prayers for Parents of Prodigals

Table of Contents

Parenting a prodigal is a tough and mostly thankless task. And too often it is lonely. I can attest to that fact that prayer is what sustains meoften at three in the morning when all I can utter is Help! This book of prayers for prodigals isnt just a handy tool; its a reminder we are not alone. Written with transparent honesty and loveand straight from the trenchesits a sincere and much-needed comfort to a parents aching heart.

Melody Carlson, award-winning author of more than 200 books including Lost Boys and the Moms Who Love Them

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Every time you look at your child, you know you have a problem. And everyone seems to have an if I were you answer.

Get tough, one says. Be strict enough to force him to change.

She is no longer a child, another admonishes. Dont baby her.

You know you have a problem. You know you must do something. But what?

In this powerful little book, Linda Clarewho understands your conflict firsthandshares her reason for hope.

Kay Marshall Strom, award-winning author and twenty-first century abolitionist

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Prayers for Parents of Prodigals offers readers honesty, encouragement, and much-needed words to confirm a prodigal parents experience. This devotional is perfect for anyone navigating the often-tumultuous journey of prodigals. This will bring solace and much-needed hope.

Mary DeMuth, author of Healing Every Day

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Prayers for Parents of Prodigals walks through the pain, agony, and heartbreak of loving a child who shatters boundaries designed to protect. Linda Clares transparency and authentic cries to the Lord will inspire and comfort the squeezing of your heart. Her raw authenticity, like balm on an open wound, offers a soft place to land while waiting to celebrate the return of the prodigal child. As you cautiously wait to exhale, her wisdom restores like a rescue breath.

Stop. Rest your soul. Allow each prayer to rebuild your hope.

PJ Vincent, www.pamalajvincent.com, The Modern Womans Life magazine

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Verses marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible, copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Verses marked RSV are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Verses marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Verses marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Verses marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Verses marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Studio Gearbox

Cover photo Joe Tabacca / Shutterstock

Prayers for Parents of Prodigals

Copyright 2019 by Linda Clare

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97408

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-7901-6 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-7902-3 (eBook)

All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The authorized purchaser has been granted a nontransferable, nonexclusive, and noncommercial right to access and view this electronic publication, and purchaser agrees to do so only in accordance with the terms of use under which it was purchased or transmitted. Participation in or encouragement of piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of authors and publishers rights is strictly prohibited.

For my three sons

and for every prodigal

trying to find the way back home.

Contents

P rodigal is one of those words with curious definitions. One of them is recklessly wasteful while a second is profuse in giving or exceedingly abundant! Linda Clares remarkable prayers for parents of prodigals have captured this dichotomy. Parentsand grandparents, aunts, and unclesdeeply love these children, though they are recklessly wasteful of the abundance God has given. Yet in the rhythm of recovery and relapse, prodigals often return to us full of remorse, abundant in their gratitude that we have stood with them, genuine in their hope that this time it will be different. We share that hopeknowing that it may not last, praying that it will.

Ive heard the stories as a therapist and lived the struggle with prodigal children: visited them in jail, cared for grandchildren while they healed, wondered where we went wrong and what we could have done differently. It can be a lonely time. Lindas prayers remind us that we need to tend ourselves extravagantly and seek faith communities to be renewed for that next moment of new beginning with our prodigals. Though my husband and I have celebrated for 15 years with prodigal lives profuse in giving, Lindas prayers are a reminder that life takes twists and turns, and God is always with us, loving us and our prodigals more deeply than we ever could.

I hope you write in the margins of these prayers and let Gods grace come to you in the most personal of ways. May they bless you and your prodigal.

Jane Kirkpatrick, mental health professional, bestselling author of One More River to Cross .

I never thought Id be a parent to one prodigal childmuch less three of them. I grew up middle-class with one sister, and although I was a teensy bit rebellious in my teens, Sis and I were largely compliant. We did our chores, went to school, and excelled in extracurricular activities. I was the brainiac and my sister was the athlete. Perfect.

Maybe thats why God blessed me with one daughter and three stubborn and strong-willed boys. To say I had no clue about raising sons is an understatement. When the boys each veered off into the addiction that runs rampant through both my family and my husbands family, we were flummoxed. Our middle sons meth addiction began, unbeknownst to us, around sixth or seventh grade. The other two boys followed with drug experimentation, finally settling on alcohol as their drug of choice.

Over many years, weve tried everything: keeping our family intact, despite soaring divorce rates; taking our children to church and Scout activities; giving the boys tough love and bringing them to legal venues, treatment centers, and 12-step meetings. Weve cried a lot.

So far, nothing has worked. I have prayed harder, begged God more often, promised and bribed, set boundaries, and even called the police when necessary. But they are still stuck.