While the word Prodigal cannot be found in the Bible, the dictionary defines prodigal as “rashly or wastefully.” Additionally, one cannot define prodigal without referring to the parable of the lost son. H. Norman Wright, a psychologist and prolific Christian author has defined prodigal in the following manner:

"The word is used to describe someone who is extremely wasteful. In the biblical story of the prodigal son, the son wastes his inheritance and so much more. Prodigal children waste the values their parents have worked to instill in them. They waste their potential, their abilities, their health, their future. In some cases, they waste their lives.” (Loving A Prodigal, H. Norman Wright)

Prodigals are not limited to one’s children or drug use; Christian and non-Christian alike, whether child or adult, spouse, relative, or friend—anyone who walks away from God is lost and in need of prayer!

Do you love a prodigal? Has your life become unmanageable as you have sacrificially tried to protect your prodigal while on his/her journey in the pig pen of life? 

Find out how Partners in Prayer for Our Prodigals and the Prodigal Hope Network can help you stop chasing your prodigals and begin standing in the gap on their behalf. Learn how to stop doing what has not been working and begin effective ways to love your prodigal home.

Do you love someone whose life is out of control? Prodigals are not limited to one’s children or drug use; whether child or adult, spouse, relative, or friend, anyone who walks away from God is lost and in need of prayer! Many of us love a prodigal who is addicted to drugs and/or alcohol; for others it may be a wayward spouse, sibling, parent or best friend. Adultery, addiction, distorted entitlement beliefs—extravagant reckless living.

The journey of loving a prodigal can be isolating for the world wears a mask of perfection and our prodigals journey causes us to feel inadequate and less than perfect. Living in the constant fear that we, or our prodigals will be rejected or judged, we develop a facade (a false self) hoping to not be exposed. We stop living our authentic self and walk through a fog of lies and distortions. At each turn, shame dictates our thoughts and emotions and we soon discover that shame defines us, victimizing us  as much or more than our prodigal’s choices and actions. 

Overcoming shame is essential in stopping this negative cycle of distortion. You can stop the victimization of unresolved shame. Overcoming shame is possible when we:

• What is shame?
• What are the sources of shame?
• The effects of shame (both positive and negative)
• Why address shame?
• Implement steps to conquer shame

Diane Viere, Christian Counselor and Founder of Partners In Prayer For Our Prodigals and The Prodigal Hope Network will share these critical steps to freedom in the interactive webcast, Overcoming Shame. Take your first step out of the shame that binds you; join us for this live online support group session and discover how to Overcome Shame. 

How is it possible that the father in Luke 15 did not chase after his son and enter into the craziness of his prodigal’s journey? He did not make excuses, he did not enable. He did not co-sign for loans, get second mortgages to bail out his son, pay his son’s bills or put his own life at risk to pay the consequences of his son’s choices. No! He stayed at home expectantly awaiting his beloved son’s return. He was a good steward of his time, his money and his hope that one day when his son returned, he would be ready (and able) to welcome him home with open arms. 

How did the father in Luke 15 stay home while waiting for his beloved son’s return?  While Scripture does not tell us specifically, God’s Word does offer the most effective action we can take: Stand in the gap on behalf of the land:

“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” (Ezekiel 22: 30).

In this live online support group session you will discover why Standing in the Gap is the most effective action we can take on behalf of our prodigals. We are in a battle, there is no doubt, but until we arm ourselves with effective tools, we will continue to sabotage the very thing we are so desperately fighting for.

You will discover:

• Why we must stop chasing our prodigals?
• How can we find value in our wait?
• How we can stand firm as we expectantly await their return?
• What is "Standing in the Gap" and how we can do it?
  

Stop chasing your prodigal today. Step out of the destructive struggle that is ineffective for both your prodigal and you. Begin today by standing in the gap on their behalf and trust the One who is calling them home. God loves our prodigals. He does not want to destroy his land—He is looking for just one {some]one who is ready to get up on that wall everyday and stand before Him on behalf of his land! We can be the difference for our prodigals—by standing in the gap on their behalf.