In addition to wonderful, thoughtful and well written prayers, there is much more to this book. Mr Banks breaks the book up into weeks, as well as days, so at the beginning of every week, he offers an insightful chapter that helps us understand the challenges a parent with a prodigal child may face. While every child needs prayer, as you might have guessed from the name of the book, this one tends to focus on the child that has gone astray from his or her walk with God. This book gives much Hope to parents whose children have made some decisions that have brought pain or suffering into their lives and into the relationship between them and their parents. While I can see us using these prayers in general for our youth, they are more focused on the prodigal.
I think we are all familiar with the Parable of the Prodigal Son…if not please check out Luke 15:11-32. Here Jesus gives an account of a father whose child wants to go out and live life on his own, without the father’s supervision. Like too many humans, this son wants to do whatever he wants to do, whenever he wants to do it, with whoever he wants to do it with…we get the idea, right? He asks his father for his inheritance, which is only given at the father’s death, by the way. So in essence, this prodigal son is saying he couldn’t care less if the father was alive or dead. Talk about heart breaking! This is what happens every time we humans dismiss God and His rightful position over us as our Lord. When we choose to go our own way, we break the Father’s heart…and disrespect His Son’s sacrifice, as well as grieve the Holy Spirit. (see Eph 4:30) Praise God we have Jesus who prays a prodigal prayer on our behalf. (see Ro 8:34) So we must do the same for our prodigals too.
2023’s Got A Minute? Book Club
January: The First & Best Book Ever: The Bible
February: Love Is In the Air: “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts” by Gary Chapman
March: Spring Growth: “Secrets of the Vine” by Bruce Wilkinson
April: Living the Resurrected Life: “The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life” by Dr Charles Stanley
May: My Spiritual Mom: “Making Good Habits Breaking Bad Habits” by Joyce Meyer
June: Spiritual Dad: “It’s Not About Me- Rescue from the Life We Thought Would Make Us Happy” by Max Lucado
July: Financial Freedom “Complete Guide to Money” by Dave Ramsey
August: Summer’s Soul Restorer “A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23” by W Phillip Keller
September: Covering Our Children: “Prayers for the Prodigals” by James Banks
<>< Peace, Diane
