As a parent, few things are more heartbreaking than watching a child—raised to know and love the Lord—turn away from Him. Whether it’s a season of rebellion, doubt, or full rejection of Christ, the pain cuts deep. But take heart: God sees your heartbreak, and He understands it intimately.
Scripture calls these children prodigals. Merriam-Webster defines a prodigal as someone who leaves home to pursue a reckless or wasteful lifestyle. But in Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of the prodigal son not just to describe such a child—but to reveal the aching heart of the Father who watches, waits, and runs to embrace His lost one when he returns.
As someone who’s walked this road, I can say: no amount of persuasion, pleading, or parenting can change a heart. Only God can do that.
Our hope is in Him alone. We must pray.
Dwight L. Moody once said:
“Our God is able to break the hardest hearts. Let us make our requests known unto God; and let us expect He will give us an answer. … Don’t let infidelity come in and make us believe that God has got a deaf ear and cannot answer, or that His arm is shortened and cannot deliver. Our God is a prayer-answering God. How many mothers had their sons and daughters saved, not through some sermon, but by the mighty power of God converting them.”
God sees your child. He knows them by name. And He loves them even more than you do.
Below are eight scriptures to help you pray specifically and powerfully for the prodigal in your life. Insert their name into the blanks and pray boldly—trusting in the Word of God as the sword of the Spirit in your spiritual battle.
Scriptures to Pray Over a Prodigal Child
- “May ___ ponder the direction of (his/her) life and turn to follow You.” — Psalm 119:59
- “Lord, You free the prisoner and open the eyes of the blind. Free ___ from the captivity of [unbelief, apathy], and open (his/her) eyes to Truth.” — Psalm 146:7b-8a
- “May ___ return to You with (his/her) whole heart.” — Jeremiah 24:7
- “Give ___ a new heart and put a new spirit within (him/her); remove the heart of stone and give a heart of flesh.” — Ezekiel 36:26
- “You leave the ninety-nine and go after the one that is lost until You find them. Lord, go after ___.” — Luke 15:4
- “May ___ come to (his/her) senses.” — Luke 15:17
- “Bring about godly sorrow in ___’s heart—a sorrow that leads to repentance and salvation without regret.” — 2 Corinthians 7:10
- “You are able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray. Please deal gently with ___.” — Hebrews 5:2
You are doing holy work when you fight for your child on your knees. Even if you don’t see it yet, God is at work behind the scenes—drawing, pursuing, and loving your prodigal. Trust Him.
One of the greatest gifts we can give to our loved one is our PRAYERS!
Our Prayer Made Simple if FULL of prayer prompts.
Next Luncheon!
Loosen Your Grip to Tighten Your Relationship – Enjoying Adult Children
SPEAKERS: Lisa Grimes & Angie Hathaway
SEPTEMBER 11, 2025
11:30am – 1:00pm
Lakeside Dining Room
MacGregor Downs Country Club
430 St Andrews Ln, Cary, NC 27511
Dig Deeper with God
JUMP START YOUR MARRIAGE IN A WEEK: THE 7 DAY CHALLENGE
6-WEEK STUDY LED BY TARA FURMAN
DATE(S): Thursdays starting July 31 – September 4, 2025
TIME: 11:30AM – 1:00PM EST
LOCATION: 1140 Kildaire Farm Rd, Suite 202, Cary, NC 27511
Walk Confidently – The World Needs Who You Were Called to Be!
1-DAY WORKSHOP
Hosted by Angie Hathaway and Melissa Bell
Are you stuck in comfort when God is calling you to courage?
In this powerful and engaging workshop, Melissa will help you challenge the lie that safety is the goal of faith. Instead, you’ll be invited to step out—boldly, fearfully, and faithfully—into the purpose God uniquely designed for you.
DATE: Thursday, July 31, 2025
TIME: 6:30PM – 8:00PM EST
LOCATION: KGM Office, 1140 Kildaire Farm Rd, Suite 202, Cary, NC 27511
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