For some reason, the story of the prodigal son, or as I like to say in reference to the ladies; prodigal daughter, has come up a few times this week as I have been ministering to a few people. The prodigal son is such a great example of the love of the father when it comes to his children. Sometimes we can get so caught up in what we have done wrong that we completely forget about the love of the father.
The story of the prodigal son is found in the book of Luke chapter 15. This story is about a son who came from a wealthy family. He asked his father for his portion of inheritance so that he can go and do what he wanted to do with it. The father agrees to give him his portion, and as soon as he gives it to him, the son leaves the country to go and party like a rock star.
Well, his party like a rock star days came to an end when he spent all of his inheritance. Now he is left with nothing. In desperation what does he do? He goes and links up with a citizen of the country and gets sent to the fields to go and feed the pigs. Now there is a famine in the land, he has no money, and he is starving, and people won’t give him any food, not even the pig’s food!
This catches the son’s attention and now he is missing his father. He is realizing how good he had it when he was with his father. All he wants to do now is go and be with his father.
Scripture says: “He got right up and went home to his father. When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him and kissed him.” MSG
This is a true example of how God looks at us. Yes, we may mess up, go party like rock stars, but guess what?! No matter what you have done, God still loves you, and He is still waiting for you with open arms ready to hug on you and kiss on you. The scripture says that the father ran to the son.
When God sees that you are searching for him, He will run to you, but He is waiting on you. Don’t get down on yourself about the bad things you have done or still continue to do because either way, God will welcome you right back into his open arms.
This was a hard pill for me to swallow when I was living my party like a rock star days. I thought to myself “God doesn’t want me, I’m not his daughter right now, and I’m not good enough.” I had it all wrong; I was still his daughter… even in my mess. You are still his child… even in the middle of your mess.
He doesn’t disown you, just because you decided to go and party like a rock star. He WAITS on you!!!!!
The son had to hit hard times in order to see how good he had it at home. You may have to hit hard times so that you can see how good you have it at home. Things happen for a reason and some way somehow everything will work out in the end.
Don’t live in your shame, or your guilt, or think you are not good enough. The son was put back in his rightful place. He was put back in his royal family. Don’t let your mess steal your royal right. Your mess could be the very thing that births your calling.
Use me as an example, I grew up in church, and when I got older I started to party like a rock star, and one thing led to the other, and I was the lost daughter trying to search for all the wrong things in all the wrong places. I had to hit rock bottom for me to go back to my father.
When my parents divorced, I blamed my father for breaking up our family, and I had so much anger towards him because I was so hurt. I didn’t know how to channel my emotions back then and sometimes I still need help channeling them now!
I wasn’t living at home, and I hadn’t talked to my father in months because I was angry with him. But, I remember one day waking up, and missing my father! I missed my dad. In that moment I needed my dad. I picked up the phone and called him and guess what?! He answered! I said “Hi dad. He said, hi mija.” There were tears in my eyes as I spoke to him and told him I missed him. He didn’t ask me why I haven’t called; he wasn’t mad at me for not calling. All he did was reassure me that he was still my dad, he still loved me, and he was still there for me and made sure I didn’t need anything.
Now I know many may not have this same experience with their biological father, but my hopes for you in this blog is that you would begin to understand the love that your father in heaven has for you. There is nothing you can do to make him love you more or less. He will love you the same regardless of your present or your past circumstances. HE LOVES YOU!!!!! And, that will NEVER change.
Amen ?