a praying mama
October 23, 2009 | family
If you came over from Encouragement for Today, welcome!
I interviewed my friend, Mickey, about the time she prayed and it seemed like nothing was happening with her son, Austin.
Suzie: If you knew then what you know now about Austin, how would it have helped?
Mickey: Had I known that Austin was going to end up being the amazing young man he is today I would have probably spent a few less sleepless nights. The powerful thing about God is that He allowed me to see in Austin what He sees in Austin. I saw visions of my son talking and sharing his story with groups of people, sometimes small groups and sometimes large groups.
Mickey loving on a grandchild from her other son, Nick and his wife, Amber.
I heard him in my spirit telling other young people about the love and saving power of Jesus Christ. Seeing my son doing the things I saw in my spirit several years ago makes me realize it is all about walking by faith, not by sight. It is not about the days that emotionally and physically you are so tired that you cried out to God just to allow you to go home to heaven so you would not have to deal with living this nightmare anymore. It is knowing that when you woke up the next morning still on this earth that God must have a plan and those tears and prayers are not going unheard and unanswered.
Suzie: What would you say to a mom whose son or daughter is making destructive choices?
Mickey: If your son or daughter is making destructive choices first make sure that you are not burying your head in the sand. The signs that your child is in trouble are always there and sometimes we do not want to admit it out of pride, fear, you do not have time to deal with it, or any other excuse. You must also make sure you are not enabling your child to continue the downward spiral. You cannot help your child if you want to be their friend instead of their parent.
House rules are house rules and cannot be broken for any reason. If your child is an alcoholic or a drug addict it is the alcohol and drugs speaking to you, not you child. It took me a while to realize these things and when I did I was able to act on my faith. I did not allow Austin to live and do ungodly things in our home. God has been established as the head of our household for many years and I was not allowing Satan to destroy that.
Faith without works is dead so begin speaking life into your son or daughter. Your enemy (Satan) is not going to go quietly so hang on to the horns of the altar and fight in the spirit like you have never fought before. The thoughts and feelings that you are having as mothers are not abnormal. There were times I cried out to God to send someone to love my child because at that moment I was not sure I even loved him. During those moments, God would send someone to intercede and stand the gap for me. Several years went by and I even told God I was mad at Him for not answering my prayers.
God would always rebuke me by sending a mom into our prayer group whose situation was much more severe. I was always in the altar at church sometimes crying and sobbing so hard it took my breath away, but I never left feeling empty. The Holy Spirit was always there comforting me. Remember other people who are new Christians or do not know Jesus as their savior are watching you. They will watch to see if you give up and walk away from God or hang on to your faith. If you give up they will say, “Well God did not work for them, why do I need Him?” If they see your faith in action they will want to know that Jesus inside of you.
Many times I reminded God (as if He needed to be reminded) of His promise in Proverbs 22:6 which says, “Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old (grown) he will not turn from it.” A promise is a promise and God’s promises are irrefutable. Find a scripture that you can hang on to and stand on that word of God. Confess your promise and take authority over doubt and unbelief from the enemy. God is bigger than addiction and Jesus wins!
Suzie: Can you tell me why you started praying with other moms of prodigals?
Mickey: I started praying with other moms of prodigal children because I needed a support group that understood what I was going through. I also understood that I was in spiritual warfare and that God’s blessings would be upon those living in faithfulness to Him. In Deuteronomy 32:30, God’s blessings were on the troops of Israel because of their faithfulness to Him.
That same Old Testament principle could be applied to the group of moms praying as well: One can put a thousand to flight, but two can put ten thousand to flight. The more mothers of prodigals that are praying in agreement against the enemy increases the effectiveness of those prayers 10 fold. That biblical principle excited me and I knew there was power in numbers. Every Tuesday when we met, God had spoken to one of the ladies during the week a word of encouragement that all of us needed to hear. It was incredible and long-lasting friendships grew out of those prayer meetings.
Suzie: Did you really believe you prayers were being heard?
Mickey: I would be lying if I said I felt my prayers were being answered all along. There were moments when I was so low that it felt as if heaven were brass. The power of the women’s prayer group was being honest with each other and ministering to each other. We would not let each other give up. We all realized Satan was not giving and just stepping aside and saying, “Okay, you moms win, here is your children back.”
We understood that prayer involves spiritual warfare and that the violent would take it by force (Matthew 11:12). We had to put our boxing gloves on and believe God would deliver to Satan the final knock-out blow.
Suzie: If someone else wanted to start a prayer group with other moms of prodigals, what do they need to do?
Mickey: If you are a mom of a prodigal and you would like to start a prayer group I would suggest you talk at your local church with the pastor. Most pastors are excited when people want to pray and you want your pastor on board with you. Contact others within your church who have prodigal children or grandchildren and share with them the idea and goal of such a prayer group. It only takes a few to get started, and remember one can put a thousand to flight, two can put ten thousand to flight.
Choose a time that is convenient to the majority of the group. Do not limit the number of people and you may open it up to moms outside the church also. This may open up a whole new ministry to you.
Suzie: How has God answered your prayers?
Mickey: All things changed one evening when I was once again in the altar praying and crying out to God for Austin. My biggest fear was Austin dying and going to hell. God spoke to my spirit very clearly and told me I had not fully given Austin to Him.
As I often do, I argued with God. I said to Him, “What do you mean? I am the parent who has acted with tough love and Donnie (my husband) was the rescuer and the enabler.” He spoke to me again and told me to give Austin completely over to Him. I instantly knew what He meant and began to argue again. After a little while I told God if He promised me that Austin would be in heaven with me some day I would pray that prayer. It was the hardest prayer I ever prayed.
I began to pray, “Jesus, take Austin to his last breath but let him breathe the name Jesus and be eternally with You.” The minute I spoke that out of my mouth a warmth and peace started at my head and continued down my toes. All fear left me and I knew Austin was going to be alright. Within two weeks, police called our house in the middle of the night and told us our store had been broken into. I told my husband that my spirit instantly poke to me and said it was Austin who did it.
A day went by and my husband began to get phone calls from our son. Austin had come down off of his Xanax and Ecstasy high and realized what he had done. This was finally Austin’s low and he was remorseful. He called my cell phone and asked me for a ride. I told him I could give him a ride but no money, food or a place to clean up. I made him wait four hours before I picked him up because he had lied to me before. When he got in the car he asked me to take him to the church and that he needed help and to get saved. Hallelujah! That was the beginning of his deliverance and his new life with Christ Jesus.
I took Austin to a crisis center as far away from Oklahoma as we could find. I knew he needed to be away from his familiar. Austin spent sixteen months at Teen Challenge and graduated in the fall of 2005. He was saved and delivered from every drug except alcohol. We went through one more arrest and DUI before Austin totally sold out to Jesus. He has been totally clean since July of 2006. God had answered my prayers. It is worth every tear and every amount of time spent on my knees.
Austin and Alyson, his fiance.
Today Austin ministers to young people every time he gets the chance and works with the youth group at our church. He is engaged to be married in December to a beautiful woman of God. That is another prayer answered, to God be the glory!
Suzie: Last, can you share a short prayer for a hurting mama who is reading this today?
Mickey: Dear God, touch hurting moms of prodigal children everywhere. Let them see what you see in their children, and let that vision be stamped into their hearts and minds. Father you did not give them the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound minds. I speak healing and rest into their weary bodies and minds in the name of Jesus. Give them revelation knowledge that the enemy has no authority over their children or themselves. In Jesus name, loosen the angels of heaven to come and do warfare over these moms and children. In Jesus name, bind the enemy in every direction and no weapon formed against them will prosper. Father, thank you for never leaving or forsaking them and remind them daily that Jesus wins!
Amen.
From Suzie: Today we are giving away two copies of Real Issues, Real Teens: What Every Parent Needs to Know. Simply leave your comment below and I’ll picke a winner on Sunday. Blessings! And thank you to Mickey for her honesty and vulnerable story.
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Thank you both for your willingness to share. I have a dear friend that I am sending this to right now so that your words can lift up her and her dear husband’s heart as they too pray for their son to return. It is so hard to watch them struggle and feel helpless to know what to do. Your words touched my heart and I know will be a renewing balm to them in their pain. Thank you so much.
Leigh
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:17 amI need some direction. Not sure what to do.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:19 amSuzie, Thanks for sharing your story about Mickey and the perseverance she had to never give up praying for her son. I know your devotional will touch the hearts of so many moms today. Moms that need to hear that there is hope for their children also.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:23 amHugs,
Leah
Thank you so much for sharing this article. My husband and I are in the midst of a Prodical son at this moment. He has been giving a loving, home, raised in the church 9 months before he was born, he accepted Christ at a young age and was even a leader in his youth group. My theme song at this moment and I listen to it almost every day is I Will Praise You While I Wait. He left home and has been envolved with drugs, alcohol and the life that comes with that. My son has had a start of brokeness but not complete brokeness yet. He has come home and has started cleaning up. He is at this moment wanting to get in to the military. It gives me encouragement to her Mickey’s story and is why my husband and I will never give up being praying parents. Again thanks for sharing this.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:42 amThank you so much for sharing Mickey’s story with us.It does give comfort and strength to other christian mom’s who are going through situations like hers.I to pray Prov 22;6 over my son and continue to believe that he will change his ways.There have been so many days that I feel so helpless and all alone. I know our Father has his arms around me. It does amaze me how people can judge you and totally walk away from you because your child has made wrong choices.Thank you
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:49 amThank you so much for this message today, and your faithfullness to the LORD. I live in a house of unbelief and sometimes, I can’t see with my “faith eyes” the things that God wants to do with my family. Sometimes I just want to give up praying for them. Thank you for this encouragement to continue on.
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:02 amI also am in the midst of a “prodigal”. He is clean now, but not back into God yet. I know it will come, I watched 2 of my brothers do the same thing. I also watched my Mom and Dad pray for them. I did too, but with skepticism at times. I remember asking Mommy how she could be so positive. She has such strong faith. It took 26 years for one of them. That is a long time to pray, but he is now a youth minister, and is the ministers right hand man. It is amazing. I think of my brothers while I pray for my son. I KNOW God will do it, in HIS time.
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:11 amI am so overwhelmed!!! I am agonizing over the decision to send my 16 year old son to a wilderness program for at-risk-youth. It’s the kind where you simply ask your son to get in the car, lock the doors and then drop them off! He takes nothing with him but the clothes on his back.
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:17 amIt is hard to function during the day if I think about him. Al Anon helps. I think though that I will go talk to our pastor and ask him if I can help start a prayer group for parents of prodigals. That’s what I need.
Thanks so much for this article.
I know that this happens to so many people, but when you are in the middle of it it sometimes feels like you are all alone. I know in my heart that our FATHER is with us but my human side sometimes takes over. Thank you for sharing so that I know that my husband and I are not alone in our journey. I try and pray for my son every day, but I falter and my strenght seems sapped. I like the idea of a “prodigal prayer group” and I am now in the process of getting something started.
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:32 amThank you so much for your story. I have a son who is beginning to lash out and struggle with those teenage issues. At 15 he thinks he knows everything. My concern is what to do so that he doesn’t spiral out of control. I’m the softy and I sometimes fear my husband (his dad) is too hard. I see now that I very well could be enabling and need to figure out where I need to be, and how I need to be stronger (pull my head out of the sand). Josh was baptized just 4 years ago; I just hope he hasn’t turned completely away from Jesus… he still is attending church with us and we have a wonderful youth leader who was a prodigal son himself. God is great, and has put wonderful people into Josh’s life. I just need to figure out how to be the mom that I am suppose to be. Reading your story has been very inspirational. God lead me to your blog this morning to read exactly what I needed to read. Thank you, Lord, and thank you Suzie.
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:36 amDear Friend,
Your sharing was such a blessing to me this morning. I too have cried my heart out to our Heavenly Father. Our daughter, like many others has been raised in a Chirstian Home, accepted Christ at a young age, but as she entered college, she got in with a group whose morals and values are not in line with Gods. It is so difficult but I am learning patience as I continue to pray for her. My pray is not only for Ashleigh, our daughter, but for all the other prodicals, that God will keep them safe and that he will bring them back to Him.
Love you much,
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:47 amnatalie
This would be a WONDERFUL thing for me to read right now… I am in tears as I type!
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:57 amThank you so much for sharing the story of Mickey and her prayers offered in faith for her son. What an encouragement it is to me today. My young teen son is really struggling right now, wrestling with some very weighty and heavy things. He has had many hard things happen to him in his short life and has had to bear much pain.
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:59 amSometimes I wonder why him, Lord? Why must he bear such a heavy load when others, including his younger brother, have such carefree and happy lives?
There are days when it becomes discouraging and seems so hard to continue to reach out to him, or to watch what he often endures at the hands of other boys his age.
Mickey’s story of hope, faith and commitment to prayer, believing God would answer encourage me to keep on–one day at a time, believing and praying for my son. So today I will keep asking God to bless my son and put a love for Him inside his heart and keep him close and bring him to a deep faith in the One Who can reach him and make all things new.
May God be praised in his life and may God make him into a mighty man of Faith.
Thank you for sharing this story of faith and hope in the One Who does hear and answers these Mamas prayers.
“For You have armed me with strength for the battle!” (Psalm 18:37-39) What a blessing!! As a mother of 2 prodigal daughters, I am learning that being a Praying Momma can be a blessing of faith! My experience of “letting go” began with pain, confusion, anger, and fear. I do, however, believe that God is good, All the time; and it is the adversary that comes to Kill, Steal, and Destroy. Quickly, I found the need to take accountability to the Cross, and it was there that I found this strength. I knew it would be a long road for our beautiful girls, but felt confident that we were not alone. I am finding a peace and joy in this surrender. It has not been easy for me many days, however, God is faithful to meet me wherever I am! I trust Him who is the author and finisher of my faith to guard and protect our daughters while carrying them on their journey! I find great joy in knowing that His mightly hand reached me, and will reach them as well!! May we all continue to find strength as we stand for our children, I pray in Jesus’ name!! Thank you, Suzie for being a woman of faith and strengh! I am encouraged to trust the process. Abundant Blessings!
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 pmI’ve been praying about starting a ministry at our church to pray for our prodigals. Seeing and reading this devotion this morning has been encouraging. Thank you! Could someone let me know the format or structure of a weekly prayer meeting?
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:02 pmThank you for giving me hope. Your words have encouraged me to continue in prayer and believe!
In His Grace,
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:03 pmTammy
Thank you so much Suzie and Mickey. I am going through a similar situation with my oldest son, and this was such a tremendous comfort to me. I was emailing a dear praying friend last night, and said many of the same things the two of you wrote. It was such confirmation to me to keep praying, fighting the enemy, and to put all of my faith, hope, and trust in God to hold onto my son and rescue him. Thanks for the blessing through the tears today.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:20 pmThank you for sharing Mickey’s story. I am encouraged to give it to the Lord, pray fervently and trust Him completely.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:48 pmIn His Grip,
Michelle
Thank you for the story you shared about Mickey and Austin. We have a very different situation where our sons have been taken from us based on false accusations and so we are in the fight of our lives…our boys are being hurt in all that is happening to them and we are deeply hurt for our boys and our family. We pray daily several times and wake at night unable to sleep and we pray. This story helps clarify ways we can pray differently and try to make it through this very hard time.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:52 pmOH! THANK YOU!!!! Did this hit home today or what? I also have a prodigal child, well three of them actually, and one is addicted to drugs and alcohol. Nearly three years ago that child joined a sobriety group called Cornerstone here in Denver and now has 2.5 years clean and sober. He’s doing what AA calls for, sharing his story with others and helping others to have a life of sobriety…including his Mom. I too have walked the path of sobriety hand-in-hand with my prodigal son.
I also meet with other Cornerstone moms on Tuesday nights and we pray for our children, the program, the counselors, the other parents, etc etc…it is a wonderful, uplifting experience and I cannot imagine my life without my prayer moms. I am attempting to start a similar prayer group at my church. I am not sure how to do this, what to say, who to talk to but I sent an email to our pastor and I am just hoping that God will lead me. I so want to share my experience with others and give them hope.
You see, I was a prodigal long ago. In 1974 I was busted for selling a jar of speed (that’s a bunch!) to an undercover federal narcotics agent, convited of a felony, given 2.5 years of probation and a wonderful caring probation office who saved my life. I know my mom never stopped praying for me, same with my step-mom, dad, and a bunch of relatives. I turned out okay after all even with such a rocky, bad start…have hope moms everywhere! Keep praying!!!
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:58 pmThank you all for sharing this story today. It is so encouraging to hear How God is working through believers and especially the continually praying moms. I am just approaching the teen years with my kids. I will definitely keep on praying!
Blessings to you,
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:03 pmGreta
Oh Praise God that He ALWAYS Wins!!!!!!!!
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:03 pmThank you for your words of encouragement. I feel so alone right now dealing with my youngest son. I needed to hear these words and it gives me hope to continue to pray one more day….
deb
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:27 pmThank you so much for your words of encouragement. My son is not a teen…but a very mixed up young man of 36..I don’t know if he is on drugs at this time but I do know that he has a huge alcohol problem as well as thinking money can buy you out of anything. Money has been a stronghold all his life. But now he is running out of money do to lawyer fees as well as other things from what I have been told.
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:00 pmHis grandma (his dad’s mother) has always told them that money was more important that love. My son never believed it over the years but something happened to where money got a hold of him…and has such a stronghold on him…which I know is from the enemy.
He has a little girl eight yrs.old as well….
I know God has a plan for all of the things he is going through..
he has not as of yet come to the end of himself…but I know only because God is in charge of his life and allowing this to happen,that in the end God’s name will be glorified and my son will
belong to Him. I just know it…and will continue to wait…
Thank you again for writing this article today I needed so much to hear about your ministry and the encouragement it gave me and to others.
The only reason I am holding up through this ordeal is because I know God’s in control and and in His time He makes all things beautiful. God is my strength. I also know that I am defintly in a spiritual battle…I rebuke satan every day in my prayers. He will NOT destroy my son through these strongholds…in the name of Jesus! JESUS WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When our prodigal daughter was living in Michigan and we lived in Iowa we had friends who kept us informed as to her walk. I kept saying “this isn’t the way she was raised”. What helped me the most was the visualization I would have while I prayed. I envisioned her as a lost sheep on a small piece of rock jutting out from the side of a cliff with thorny bushes all around her. Then I would see Jesus walking over to her and lifting this small, defenseless, scared sheep out of the danger and placing her around his neck to carry her back to the rest of the flock. I constantly asked Jesus to go and find this lost sheep and bring her back to his flock. He answered my prayer and today she is a wonderful mother and wife who is involved in her church and trusts the Lord more than I do. Isn’t our Shepherd wonderful!!!
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:28 pmHow encouraging to read all the comments of mom’s who are faithful to their children. I do not have a prodigal child but am a mom of a pre-teen who doesn’t want to know about God. I am so encouraged by the story and the comments. May the Lord bless each and every one of you and give you his strength to endure whatever lies ahead.
What a mighty God we serve. Who is in total control of any and all situations!!!!
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:54 pmWhat a beautiful and inspiring post.
Blessings! Nancy J Locke
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:56 pmThank you for sharing your story. My husband and I went through a very similar situation with our eldest son Nathan. Nathan was raised in a Christian home. His daddy is a pastor. Nathan was always active in all of the children’s and youth ministries at our church. He surrendered to the Ministry his sophomore year in High School. Then Nathan’s life changed drastically. He was arrested for possession of controlled substances. This because he was speeding and the police officer smelled the drugs. Thinking things couldn’t get any worse; Nathan began to stay away from home. He would be gone for days. We discovered his drug use had increased. My husband couldn’t sleep at night so from 10:30 until 3 am he would pray for Nathan. I would awaken at 3 am and couldn’t go back to sleep, so I would pray from 3am until I had to get out of bed at 7 to get ready for work. My husband and I would read and pray for our Prodigal child. One thing we would pray was, like the prodigal son in verse 17, that Nathan “would come to his senses’. We thank the Lord because Nathan indeed came to his senses. He has
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:59 pmworked on Nathan and continues to make him into the vessel He intended Nathan to be. Let’s continue to pray for all of our children. God is great!
I have read your whole story and I can identyfy with every thing,but I am still trusting G for my miricle. I have been pressured on every side but I am not giving up.Please put me on your prayer list.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:24 pmTears filled my eyes as I read the devotional today and then the blog post above. My son has been struggling since age thirteen, he just turned twenty-four this week. He is still far from God and has also fathered an amazing little boy, my first grandson. Unfortunately he can’t deal with this event in his life either and his son doesn’t really know him. I have thanked Heavenly Father many times that my little grandson at least has a mother who loves and cares about him. She was encouraged by her family to get an abortion, I’m so glad she didn’t.
I’ve cried endless tears, and prayed countless prayers over my son, as well as asked God to bring him back to Him. It has not happened yet, but my faith tells me it will someday. That is what I hold on to through the dark days that keep coming. For those of you who are also hurting, don’t ever give up. God is in charge and he has a plan for your child,he loves him/her even more than you. This I know with all my heart. God Bless!
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:27 pmI thank you for devotional today. I am another mother with a prodigal son. He called me week before last and told me he didn’t believe in God. My son made a profession of faith when he was 7, I remember it like yesterday. I told God that I would read him the Bible everyday, so course I broke that promise 2 days later. I feel like I have not just failed my son but also my God. The story of the prodigal son has given me comfort, and reading this devotional has been a blessing.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:22 pmAs my struggles start to compound, this reading came when I uttered the very words………..downward spiral to my son only hours before I read this. Thank you so much for the timing, I am going to talk to the pastor at my church this weekend. My prayers to all the other mothers who are struggling this very moment.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:27 pmThank you for your story. It’s encouraging to me as my oldest is now 13 almost 14 and this is all new to me. I have cried and prayed and wondered what to do as he is rebelling against home rules and boundaries. I’m trying to be the mom but I miss the sweet friendship we used to have. God is faithful and he provided this encouragement from you I really needed today. Thank you.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:34 pmThank you for sharing your story. My sister has been an alcoholic for about 10 years and has recently started abusing prescription medicines. My mom is about to give up. I’m going to send her this story; I think it will uplift her, and help her know that God hasn’t given up on my sister/her daughter yet.
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:07 pmMy story is like a lot of other people. My husband was in the ministry and we raised out sons in the church. Our sons accepted Christ at the age of 7 and loved Jesus. In middle school they were leading their friends to Christ. In high school they met friends whom they followed into drugs and that began the spiral into a life of constant trouble with the law. Our eldest son (at agee 19) was arrested for attempted robbery with a “pretend weapon” and stolen property of checks from neighbors and from us. He was sentenced to 5 to 7 years in a minumum security prison and served 3 years. This broke our hearts and our church family and friends gathered together and we prayed every week for him until he got out. While he was there he “did” the prison Christianity. When he came out it was not long before he was back doing the same drugs he did before and in fact was dealing them too. He also fathered three children and never married any of the women. His younger brother meantime was also doing drugs and was caught stealing a large amount of money from a friends home and because he was still a juvenile (at age 16) the judge sentenced him to a rehab. The younger boy played the rehab game and got out… but again has never completely stopped drugs or alcohol. Then our oldest boy was arrested again (at age 31)…this time for a horrible crime. He was accused of the attempted murder of his own child. The prosecutor said that he shook his child and deliberately threw him into a bathtub. Our son said he did not shake him and the baby (2 months old) slipped out of his soapy hands and fell. Because he had a public defender who advised him to plead and not take a chance on a jury who might sentence him to 20 to life–he took a 5 to 10 sentence and served 5 years. This time in prison he seemed to really reach out for the Lord and got involved with a Christian based ministry and started teaching Bible Studies. But everytime things got rough for him he would slide back into the same situation of his lies and get caught in something that would get him thrown into solitary. When he finally got out of prison he did start to go to church with us and was making an effort but old friends and girlfriends came into his life and the Lord took a back seat once again. He got married last April but he is currently seperated from her. He does not see any of his out-of-wedlock children. He does not attend Church. He is a heavy drinker but does work every day. He is now 39 years old. His brother is 36, an alcoholic, is divorced, severly depressed and never goes to church. We have continued to pray for our sons and so have our families and friends for many years and will continue to do so. God knew them when they were knit in my womb. He knows the plans he has for them. I have to trust the Lord even in the very darkest times(and believe me I have had some very dark times) even when I don’t see Him at work that He is working and providing them with unfailing love and will never leave them nor forsake them. We as parents want to help the Lord do his work especially when we see our children struggling, hurting, messing up really badly, but God says, you have to let go, and let me do the refining work in them. Sometimes the Prodigal may take a lot longer to come back to the Lord than we think it ought to take. BUT GOD IS AT WORK IN THEM!
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:10 pmI needed this today at the exact moment I read it. It was a message I desperately needed to hear. Thank you.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:46 pmI have faith that my prodigal and his wife will one day not only be saved but will be workers in the church. Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement your message gives. My faith has just received a mighty boost from God. I will keep on keeping on because God reigns and Jesus wins!
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:24 pmThank you so much for sharing your experiences honestly and openly. I felt so much similar feelings as I read through your story. I am currently mother of four boys three of them are teens,my husband died of brain cancer this past June. Our oldest began his destructive path of addiction two years ago about the time his dad was diagnosed. He has currently been clean for two months +or- some days. His attitude this time is different and I pray for his heart to be changed. I prayed for his dad to be healed and didn’t get that. This is lonely without my best friend and the man who helped so many others not here for his own boys.
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:36 pmAfter reading others comments, I hesitate to write. I have not shared the pain I’ve been going through with anyone yet and the thought of putting it in print is frightening! Almost 6 years ago, I had two daughters which were raised in church all their lives. Today, I have one daughter diagnosed as schizophrenic and you’d never know she knew Jesus, and one daughter who has refused to talk to me these past 6 years because she doesn’t like the pastor I am in ministry with. Both daughters have kept my grandkids from me for 5 years now. I was a single mom and sacrificed much to give my kids what I believed they needed spiritually and every other area. Their addictions are not drugs and alcohol, but those of control, greed, self centeredness, and self righteousness. I pray every day that they will have a spiritual breakthrough from these addictions that hold them captive as much or more than any drug. With drugs and alcohol, everyone knows the problem but with playing church, you deceive the very ones that think that you are already serving God. Please pray for me. My “well” daughter hasn’t spoken to me for 6 yrs. I have a 3 year old granddaughter I’ve never seen even a picture of, and I don’t know where either of them live or a phone number. There’s more but this is plenty for now. Thanks for listening. I will just keep praying and hoping that one day they will truly know the Lord personally and I’ll get my family back.
October 24th, 2009 at 6:54 amIt’s amazing how God led me to this at the very moment I needed it. Thank you for sharing your story. It reminds me that God answers prayers in His perfect timing not mine.(Seems I need constant reminder of that). May be God continue to bless you and your ministery. In Jesus name….Amen!!!
October 24th, 2009 at 8:36 amI am a mother of a 12 year old. As he is entering into the teenage years, I can see him pulling away from me. We were always buddies and he confided in me with his most darkest secrets. Now, as more and more house rules are being broken and unacceptable behavior is more frequent, I find myself scared to see what the future has in store for my child. This story gives me courage and strength to not give up but to put all my faith and trust into God and know that his thoughts and ways are higher than mine. I will continue to lift my son up in prayer daily and allow God and his will to work in his life. Thanks so much for the story and encouragement. I will not give up!! I will not let doubt, fear or discouragement come between me and God and my prayers for my son.
October 24th, 2009 at 10:14 ama friend sent this to me and I am once again encouraged about my 28 year old prodigal. We live in another country now, and he is in the USA. I am haunted by the fact that he is not walking with the Lord, and probably is using again. Thanks for the encouragment to begin a prayer group where I am HERE. I know other women who have older prodigals that I could ask to pray with me. The life of the mother of a prodigal always continues to hope and trust in the Lord’s timing and deliverance.
October 24th, 2009 at 10:41 amThanks.
Suzie, Thanks for sharing Mickey’s story. The story give us the encouragment to continue praying for our son our daughters. I believed the praying it is the only powerful tool that we can used as a mothers.
October 24th, 2009 at 12:27 pmIt is such a blessing to know the Lord knows our needs!! Always in His Perfect Time!! Reading the devotional about Mickey and her son Austin, then this blog came at a perfect time …. I can relate to almost every post; a word here, a scripture there; all speaking to my heart, bringing tears to my eyes… My 19 year old son left our home on July 22, 2009. It was one of the hardest days of our lives…We had been struggling with him when he started high school 4 years ago….He was raised in a Christian home, at 5 years old accepted the Lord at a Harvest Crusade where our whole family commited our lives to the Lord. I think about that moment every time I think about my son. Especially when I am discouraged and wondering. I truly believe the Lord has a wonderful plan for my son, His Word does not come back void…Though we only talk with our son on various occasions, the Lord is so faithful to keep me in the loop of his life…through ways; like “bumping into” various friends who knew him from church,I may have not seen them for awhile and will tell me they’ve talked to my son at the grocery store where he works or somewhere else or encouragement from fellow believers who may not even know what we are going through or sharing with other moms of prodigals or even reading this devotional that brings so much encouragement and confirmation. I recently started praying with another mom of a prodigal son. I will share this devotional with her. We plan to meet on “Tuesday” afternoons like Mickey’s ministry. What a confirmation that is! I must continue to trust and believe… At times I do have to confess and ask myself; have I totally surrendered my son to the Lord? My son recently called me to help him because he had dislocated his shoulder …he will be needing surgery on his shoulder. Through this ordeal, I wonder if by helping my son this time would it be enabling him? I think about his future and what would happen if we didn’t help him out with his shoulder…. would we be in the way of what the Lord may want to work in my son’s life ?? or through this surgery/recovery/rehab would it show him that the Lord has His hand upon my son’s life?? Please pray for clarity and confirmation from the Lord as far as what we should do or not do. Thank you!
October 24th, 2009 at 1:13 pmGod bless this ministry!
THANK YOU!!
October 24th, 2009 at 3:13 pmI needed to hear this!!!
GOD Bless each of you and all the MOMs who pray for their prodigal Son or Daughter!!
I would also encourage anyone that struggling with how to handle these issues to get involved in a support group like Celebrate Recovery, Nar-Anon, or Al-anon. Seeing how others handle questions of enabling or boundaries really gives you some tools to partner with your developing prayer life. Seeing this many responses to such a positive story give me great comfort and a reminder that I am not in this alone. Great ministry, thanks Suzi..
October 24th, 2009 at 4:13 pmI am reading these prayerfully, friends. I have also sent a note to mickey to check in to read your comments. I can promise she will pray!
October 24th, 2009 at 6:28 pmSuzanne and Mickey thank you for your post today. I write an encouragement blog.My ministry is to encourage others, but there are so many days when my own heart needs to be encouraged. My son has been diagnosed as bipolar. He’s 35 years old now. He has left his wife and darling twin daughters. We do not know where he is living. His father and I have been faithful to the Lord our entire lives (actually met in church). It’s hard when our children walk away from what we teach, especially when what we teach is of the Lord. Even though we are in much emotional pain over the decisions our son has made, there is something deep inside of me that says that my son will escape the hold Satan now has on him. God is good all the time, not just on the days life is going our way.
Father in heaven, reading these posts tells me that so many other parents are going through what my husband and I are going through. We know you are all knowing and that you know our thoughts even before we speak them to you. Father, hear the prayers of all of the parents who’ve posted here. Give them strength for their days and courage to call out to you when they are in need. For you alone are worthy…in Jesus name I pray.
October 24th, 2009 at 8:45 pmThis post is timely. I put a poem by Ruth Bell Graham on my site this week about trusting the Lord for our prodigals.
October 24th, 2009 at 10:43 pmThanks for the encouraging words for us moms with prodigals that we continue to love and pray for constantly.
October 24th, 2009 at 11:44 pmMy mouth dropped open as I read this. We are going through the exact same things with our son. Drugs, stealing and the greatest lies. I’ve never stopped praying, but had some doubts if God was listening. I will continue to pray because of your encouragement. Now I know I am not alone.
October 25th, 2009 at 12:01 amI thank the Lord for your story and the experiences shared by
all. I have 3 sons and I am really challenged today to continue to pray for them each day and also to remember all other families who are going through a tough time in life because of satan’s attack on them – especially to the children.
I will certainly see that the idea of the “prodigal ministry” be part of our fellowship.
Peace.
October 25th, 2009 at 2:52 amthank you so much for not only Mickey’s story but also all of your stories. each one has made me realize again, that I am not alone, that God is in control, and that there is always hope when your hope is in the Lord. My daughter had begun to hate me last year and started pitting her father and I against each other. When I made house rules it made her so very angry. Her father does not have as many rules and let her run free. so last March she moved to live with him. she then refused to see me or stay with me or even talk to me. she is failing her senior year at school, has a boyfriend that abuses her, and has ruined her relationships with all her friends and family. she used to be so close to her brother but they no longer talk due to her anger and how she uses people. she now dresses like a prositute and is drinking. she has a bad eye disease but it is kept under control with meds but she has decided to not take her meds anymore. she will loose her sight if she does not start taking her medications.but I have been praying my heart out that God would save her. She actually talked to me last week and so I am hoping this is a beginning of God’s miracle in her.
October 25th, 2009 at 9:34 amGod’s timing is always on time! Amen:) My husband and I were on our way to pick up our son to be released from prison after 15 months and got a call that he was punished 30 days of his good time and we could turn around and come back home. He is located 5 hours away from, Thank the Lord we were only 50 minutes into the ride. Dustin has been addicted to drugs since he was about 15 years old. He is now 24. He has missed many holidays, birthdays, and family gatherings because he has been in jail so many times. We pray all the time for him that the Lord will put people in his path that will influence him on the right road, that he will have the wisdom and will to release Satan’s hold on him. Thank you for all the stories that I have sat here and read tonight. I, too, go to bed many nights crying for our son and want back the young man we know is inside.
October 25th, 2009 at 6:22 pmGod bless all of you!
Paula
Thank you so much for your story. God has layed it on my heart to start a ministry at our church for Mom’s of Prodigal children. I hate to actually call my 17 year old son a prodigal but he is making poor decisons, taking drugs, drinking and having sex with girls. I know my head has been in the sand and I am listening and believing his lies to us. I know there are many other mom’s of teens that need support and prayer. I ordered the book tonight….Real Teens, Real Issues. My pastor has approved starting the Prodigal Prayer group and I will be heading up the group. Praise the Lord. Even reading the blogs tonight have been a huge source of comfort. There is shame that comes from having a rebellious child if you are a Christian and have raised your child in a Christian home. I always think, “what did i do wrong and what could I have done differently?” I can’t wait to get the book and our first Prodigal Prayer group will start the second week of November. Praise God for your website.
October 25th, 2009 at 8:40 pmThank you for your devotional. We have a prodigal daughter. Kristen, she was raised in church her whole life. She was involved in youth at church. She went on mission trips to several places helping other people and sharing Jesus with them. She went to Bible college and graduated. Then she went to live in Honduras to help again in the mission field. When she came home she got a job and got involved with the wrong group of people. Now she is 25 and drinking & partying and involved in a lesbian lifestyle. She has been doing this for 3 years. Our hearts are hurt so bad. We know she belongs to God. we pray for her daily.We love her so much. Please help us pray that God will speak to her heart and that she will listen and come back to him.
October 25th, 2009 at 9:58 pmThis devotion spoke directly to me. My 18 yr old daughter is involved with a boy that doesn’t represent what my husband and I desire for her. She has been secreatly dating him a year now. Just last night has my husband and I were out, we saw her car parked at an apt complex near our home. Our daughter was supposed to be 3 hrs away at college. She finally answers her cell phone only to lie and tell us she’s with a friend, but we finally get the real story. She is at the home of this boy sleeping in his bed. My husband and I are devastated, betrayed, and broken. She is our only child and has so much potential. She’s beautiful, smart, talented, yet she had made some very poor choices for herself. This story touches the depths of my soul, and has given me a glimmer of hope in my darkest hour. Please pray with my husband and me that God will speak to her heart and that her heart is open.
October 25th, 2009 at 11:52 pmThank you so much for this!! I seriously felt that I was reading my life story as a mom of a prodigal son. It is so good to know that I’m not alone and that God is faithful and His promises never fail. My biggest struggle personally has been with fear. Fear that he will die, fear that I will stop loving him, fear that if I continue the “tough love” he will harm himself, etc. Right now I need the eyes of faith because I look at my son and I don’t know who he is and at times I find it very difficult to “feel” love for him (this breaks my heart as a momma)! I get a completely sick feeling in my stomach everytime I get a call from an unknown number or from a number that I know he calls me from. Even though I’ve overcome much of the fear over the past year, I still struggle with it on occassions. During our message at church yesterday our pastor asked us to close our eyes and picture God standing before us and ask Him what we wanted. I asked for Anthony’s salvation, but after thinking more about this…I also need to ask that God allow me to see Anthony through His eyes. I know God created my son for a purpose and his life is not in vain, but sometimes looking at him in his current state…causes my faith to waiver. I’m going to pray the prayer that Mickey prayed ““Jesus, take Anthony to his last breath but let him breathe the name Jesus and be eternally with You”…only then can I know for sure that I’ve completely given him to God. Please pray for my son.
October 26th, 2009 at 9:03 amIn the same situation as other moms ! My only son, a prodigal child involved with drugs and alcohol, broke my rules at home and crossed boundries and out in the world running with the wrong crowd. I dont see him much but I do talk to him over the phone, last night I saw him and my heart just felt shattered,he is not the christian son I raised he is now lost and puzzled. He hugged me as it was time to leave, I sobbed as he departed from me and I cried out to GOD…PLEASE KEEP HIM SAFE AND PROTECT HIM, SURROUND HIM WITH YOUR ANGELS ALWAYS…at that moment I felt helpless to help him and just devasted, my heart as hard as a rock with that heaviness and that feeling of weakness as if I was going to fall to the ground, the battle in the mind began and the voice of the the enemy telling me that :”I was such an awfull mother, unloving, un-understanding etc.etc….” I confess I had a restless night and cried out God to please answer me…HE did answer !!! As I checked my email and ran across this story, I knew so well that God was speaking to me, I knew that I was not alone (even though I felt that way ). I must continue to pray and trust. I will come in agreement with all the mothers who are in the same situation and declare that the king of kings will return our children to us real soon, his mighty hand will deliver them from the sceems of the enemy because no weapon formed against them will prosper, we are children of the most high GOD !! In Jesus name ! AMEN.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:37 amThanks…
Where do I start? When I read Mickey’s story I sat at my computer and cried so hard that I couldn’t hardly read. I shared the story with my husband when he came home. I have been seeking GOD’s intervention for our daughter Katie for some time now. Katie (19), who has had ever opportunity in the world is making poor choices in her life. Dating boys who do not meet our approval, having sex without BC or protection,drinking,drugs and has moved out twice in the past 3 years. Will not stay in college and spends her grandparents money that they give her to pay for a college education on her car. I get that I can’t make her do it, but I can not stand to see her throw away her life. I can’t give up. When I try to talk to other parents, they don’t seem to understand. Oh they say I’ll pray and tell me to stay strong, but they don’t really understand. They mean well. My pastor is always willing to talk to me about Katie, but I don’t want to feel like I am a putting all my needs on him. My friends and family listen, but are really tried of hearing about it. Even my husband tries to understand and we talked about it often and share our feelings. Sometimes we wake up in the middle of the night and talk. I always have it on my mind. On the way to work, at work, on the way home,and when I get home I am looking for guidance in ways to help our family. We also have a 11 yr old son who is affected by all this. He does not get all of me because I am so concerned with Katie. I hang on to the verse in the Bible Proverbs 26:6 that says; “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Please pray with us that our daughter Katie will remember how she was brought up and she will return to it.
Thank you for sharing,
October 26th, 2009 at 6:53 pmMonica Nance
Thank you for sharing this interview and also for all of the comments that were shared. This has all been a great encouragement to me. I knew in my head that I was not alone, but have had difficulty finding support or encouragement for my situation. Even though my son is not using substances or breaking the law, we have been grieving over the choices he is AND is not making for his life since graduation. We are facing the “breaking point” of having absolutely no idea how to guide him while he is technically still living under our roof. Before we make the final decision for him to remove himself from our home, I was desperately seeking some form of counsel/guidance to give either direction or confirmation. I am thankful that I am not alone, as having others who “get it” is quite an encouragement, although still very sad for all of us who want so much more for our children. I appreciate this and look forward to what God is going to do in my son’s life. I am at the cusp of learning how to love my son with God’s love as my own is so weak. I want the faith that I do not currently have and am praying for God’s eyes to see him as the man he will become. Thank you so much….
October 27th, 2009 at 7:09 amMy husband & I have been praying for our prodical for 8 yrs. He has stopped doing drugs other than marijuana and alcohol. Last week our pastor said during his sermon that Prov 22:6 is not a “promise” but a “proverb” which is a book of the bible giving advice on how to live. I’ve felt devestated with that news coming from our pastor. We continue to cry out to God to bring Josh back to Himself. I do have a friend who does pray with me but have no hopes of a group because most of the people from my church don’t even pray out loud unless it is written prayers. They don’t talk about a prodical son even if they have one. Feeling all alone but know that God is here with us and hears our prayers. Please pray for Joshua and his girlfriend, Danica to come back home to Jesus.
October 27th, 2009 at 2:28 pmThis is exactly what I needed today! For 5 years our lives have been up and down with our son. He’s lost, angry, has health problems, relationship problems, self-esteem problems. We suspect drugs but lately think it might be prescriptions that he’s abusing. He’s 23, living at home but holds a steady job. That has to be a positive sign, doesn’t it? I frequently feel a failure as a parent but the feeling of disappointing God as a parent just about kill me! I’m so ashamed before God when I think of the mistakes I look back and see in my parenting of this boy. At the time, I tried so hard and gave it my all but feel it wasn’t good enough. I pray God will send someone who can lead him back to Him(he accepted God at a young age) and fix what I must have messed up. No one has entered his life yet.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:52 amOh God, this hurts so much to see him suffer and not be able to help him. I want him to move out or disappear or something! And I feel guilty for these feelings. Help!!!
I had a son that we lost to drugs and alcohol. He was killed 8 years ago in an automobile accident. He had been in treatment 10 times and we had him committed 4 times. It was a nightmare, but we prayed through the hard times. We saw answered prayers at times but we did end up losing him. I always tell parents that as long as they are alive, there is hope. We also had a daughter 2 years younger than our son and was involved in every kind of drug and alcohol. She has come back to the Lord in the last couple of years and is raising a daughter of her own by herself. She is in love with Jesus and it is truly a miracle and we know this more than anyone. When you see the entrapment of drugs and alcohol that the devil uses to ruin the lives of kids, parents and entire families, you have to remember that our God is greater and more powerful and loves us more than anything. Yes, at times, our strength gets low, but we always have to look UP from whence cometh our help. Even after Michael died, I wasn’t sure that I needed to pray for other children because my prayers for my own son had apparently not worked, but that is just the devil. I know that because of all that we’ve been through, my heart reaches high to heaven and despite all we SEE, we KNOW that God hears us. I am thankful to God for our daughter and her testimony and pray that others might experience this wonderful blessing!
October 29th, 2009 at 10:19 amThank you for the encouragement. We have been praying for our son, Jared, for 4 years. He lived the life of a chameleon while growing up–as a missionary kid. Even after coming back to the states when he was in 7th grade, he pretended so much. We were shocked when he moved out of our home the morning after he turned 18–he was now old enough to live the way he wanted and was done pretending. I have learned so much about our faithful Heavenly Father as I’ve walked this journey of grief. Four months ago Jared moved back home–he has stopped the drugs and alcohol and tobacco, but his heart has not surrendered to the Lord. He made a profession of faith as a child–I pray daily that God will get hold of his heart. As so many other moms, I have days that are full of faith–and other days that cause me to struggle. Thank you for the reminder that JESUS WINS!!
October 29th, 2009 at 5:27 pmEvery few days I come back to this website and re-read the entire “A Praying Mama”. I can’t tell you how comforting it is to read other mother’s remarks. Thank you for this message and please, keep it on the website as long as possible.
November 11th, 2009 at 12:29 pm[...] A few weeks ago I shared an interview with my friend, Mickey. Her son, Austin, got involved with meth around the age of 20 and he sank deep into addiction and eventually robbed his own parents. Mickey gathered other moms together and began to pray every Tuesday night. The group eventually became known as Moms of Prodigals. It refers to the Bible story of the son who lost his way, and was welcomed back to his father’s home and love. [...]
December 8th, 2009 at 10:11 am