Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day Was Special

The centerpiece of every June 2 Prayer for Prodigals Day is prayer for people as requested by someone who loves them. All we know about them is a first name. But, of course, God knows each one intimately.

My team and I prayed on our own part of the day, then came together for a zoom call with more than 100 participating from all over the U.S. and at least four other nations. We divided into small groups, in which attendees shared a little of their stories and prayed for their loved prodigals.

Then we came back together and prayed along with different ones as they read the list of names in each alphabet letter. (In case you are interested, the letter J has the most names.) That evening a small group of us met in person Altogether we lifted up every person on the list—more than 8000, with more than 500 just added.

Does this work?

Is this effective? Many of us believe so. Coming together to pray helps us feel not alone on this journey, and Scripture assures us that He is there when His children come together to pray. It also encourages each one to hear the stories of others, and especially to hear stories of answered prayer and changed lives.

Of course, we do not know what God is doing in response. We have His promise that He is always working, and He loves to answer prayer and to rescue the wandering lost sheep.

Some stories of God working

Here are a couple of stories we have received already:

I heard from a mom this morning who is in our online support group. She was shocked when her son showed up unexpectedly on her doorstep, having been released from jail (unknown to her). She sent me a video of him singing Amazing Grace to her. He told her he is supposed to go into a rehab program soon! She praises God for this answer to prayer! 

She wrote: "Thank you so much for calling out his name before the Father! All our prodigals are continually before him."

Another mom mentioned today that she got an “I love you note” from her prodigal this morning.  Praise. 

This story is not from this prayer time, but I received it received on June 2:

Today is June 2nd. Today is the 37th anniversary of my prodigal return home. I was raised in a wonderful Christian home, but in my early 20s I chose a path of death and destruction. I spent 10 years caught up in a world of drug and alcohol abuse, multiple abortions, promiscuity, and insanity. All the while, I was diverting drugs from my workplace, as I was an RN working in a trauma center.

In June 1986 God pulled me out of the pit of my wicked choices and destruction. I returned home to the Lord, and in his merciful grace, he saved me and changed me. Today, I have been married for 30 years to a wonderful Christian man. We have a beautiful 28-year-old Christian daughter, who loves the Lord with all her heart. God has been so faithful and so good to me, and I am so thankful for his loving forgiveness and merciful grace.

Thank you so much for your ministry!

And I love to tell a story about our son, Josh, who is really the founder of Prodigal Prayer Day, as we asked others to pray with us during his prodigal wilderness:

A few days after June 2, Josh came running into the house with terror in his eyes. He was not in a good place then, and the gang he was a part of had gotten into a disagreement with another gang, who had decided Josh was the instigator. He thought his life was in danger and he needed to get out of town. It so happened our ministry was having 6 weeks of conferences in Colorado and were looking for more teens to be workers. In two days Josh was on his way to a job among a lot of loving believers. Not a coincidence.

Joy in the Hard Journey

Our theme this year has been Joy in the Hard Journey, based on James 1:2: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…

Most often the evidence of answered prayer takes time, or comes in small increments. We give thanks for those steps in the right direction. And we find it easy to rejoice when there are quick answers, even miraculous ones.

Our responsibility is to keep going to God. The Prayer for Prodigals website is always available, if you are a member, to post requests and pray with others. Anyone can post requests. And we can keep praying for the list of names, representing very loved prodigals. Prayer for Prodigals

May God fill you with His joy.

C2023 Judy Douglass

You can read “The Mystery of Prayer” —mentioned in the art work—here.