Wait on the Lord

So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.  Luke 15:20 (NIV)

The Israelite watchmen of old stood in towers or upon city walls, peering out across the land while protecting Jerusalem. These Hebrew guards kept watch and waited out their allotted time on the wall, observing everything and everyone around them. Watchmen on the walls first detected any approaching enemy or advancing army outside their borders, and then warned the people inside the city.

Several years ago, I stood on my imaginary wall, watching and waiting for the return of my daughter to her senses. Her poor life choices had affected our family. She had broken my heart and filled me with anguish. But I prayed. 

Each day I struggled and prayed. Eventually God answered me with a mission. He prompted me to notice mothers living with the same pain. He inspired a vision of military policemen standing guard, wearing armbands with the letters MP on it. Military police protect the lives and property of those in service to one’s country. For me that image symbolized mothers praying for their prodigals. Praying while waiting for God’s work to be accepted into the lives of their children and watching for their return to God and family. Mothers for prodigals was born. 

This labor of love—this watching with purpose based on the promises of God—requires faith and trust in the God who loves us! It demands constant vigilance (with wailing, if necessary) in humble prayer, giving up any personal dictates and whims while placing our children in the very capable hands of God. This hopeful waiting requires us to daily give our doubts to God and peacefully watch what He is doing, even if it looks messy!

Squandered his wealth in wild living describes the actions of the prodigal son in the book of Luke as told by Jesus. The son chose to ask his father for his inheritance. Can you imagine how the father must have felt? It’s almost as if the son wished him dead. What a crushing blow, but the father conceded. The son then left to pursue his selfish dreams. He made a choice as so many prodigals do, choosing from selfish gain and breaking his parents’ hearts. 

When he lost everything and came to the end of himself, he turned back and headed home. He knew he had sinned against his father. He desired forgiveness. While he was a long way off, his father saw him and ran to him, heaping hugs and kisses on him. The father had been watching and waiting, and I dare say praying for the return of his son. 

What joy for this watchman, this father who daily had waited patiently at his border for any sign of an answer to his many prayers. After experiencing a tremendous heart ache, can you imagine the joyful healing from a reunion with the very one who had caused anguish? 

You may be in a situation right now that feels nothing like triumph. Misery surrounds you as you wait and watch. I understand such feelings and so does God. He sees your hurting heart. He hears your agonizing cries. Don’t give up your position! Stand firm on His promises and trust in His perfect timing for your loved ones. Rely on His Word to strengthen and preserve you in peace. He is a faithful God! Keep watch with Him and wait.                                              

If your circumstances have turned around like the one in the story of the prodigal son, give God the glory but don’t stop praying. There are many prodigals and families who need prayers of intercession for protection and peace while God works within their lives. Continue the labor of watching for the return of God’s children to His loving truth. And praise Him while waiting!

Let’s lift up Scriptural battle cries to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we watch and wait for His fulfilled promises.

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me.  Micah 7:7 (NIV)

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
    to my cry for mercy.

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
    and in his word I put my hope.

I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
    for with the Lord is unfailing love
    and with him is full redemption.

He himself will redeem Israel
    from all their sins.  Psalm 130 (NIV)

I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest......  Isaiah 62:6 (NIV)

“Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer. 
Romans 12:12 (CEB)”

When Clouds Gather, Watch and Pray

“Taken by surprise” triggers a mental picture of shock and alarm. This idiom means to be unprepared or not ready. Being unsure or unaware of circumstances leads to vulnerability, resulting in uncontrolled reactions. Nobody wants to be caught off guard, but most likely it’s happened to all of us.

Peter encountered such a moment in the Garden of Gethsemane. From a distance he had followed the soldiers who had arrested Jesus. As they led Jesus away into the house of the high priest, Peter positioned himself close to a fire in the courtyard. The people nearby recognized him, promptly questioning him about his relationship to Jesus. After several inquiries, his temper flared and he denied even knowing Him. The tension surrounding Jesus’ arrest definitely exposed Peter’s weakness. 

Earlier Peter had been with Jesus, James, and John in the garden. Clearly Jesus was troubled and had asked His disciples to keep watch with Him. Moving a short distance away from them, Jesus had fallen to the ground and prayed. He later returned to them and found them sleeping. Three times He prayed. Three times they slept. “Could you not keep watch with me for one hour, watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation? The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” said Jesus (Matthew 26:36-41).

Jesus knew what was about to take place. He longed for his disciples to be vigilant in prayer and strengthened by their Heavenly Father. Having failed to watch and pray, they were surprised by an army of people who arrested Jesus. They were completely unprepared for the difficulties that they eventually encountered.

People of ancient cultures knew the importance of being watchful. Many of them, including Israel, had enemies. Watchmen were to stand vigilant at their posts on Jerusalem’s border walls to prevent the townspeople from being caught unaware by unwelcome outsiders. If they got distracted or fell asleep, the inhabitants within the walls were in danger of attack. If they devoutly kept watch, the townsfolk inside were shielded from harm.

As Israel began assimilating with other cultures, they began putting less faith in the One True God. Did a decease in faith cause a decline in watchful prayer? Israel’s indifference for the faith of their fathers left them vulnerable to outsiders, leading to an invasion by the Babylonians. The invaders attacked and assaulted Jerusalem, breaking down walls and taking Israelites captive. Where were the watchman? Had they fallen asleep? 

After years of captivity, the Israelites returned to Jerusalem, led by Nehemiah, to rebuild the walls and the temple. As they began working, they were threatened by people attempting to prevent the rebuilding. The laborers were so afraid that they wanted to quit. But Nehemiah prayed and posted a guard day and night to keep a look out, especially over the exposed lowest places of the wall. Nehemiah said to the laborers……

““Don’t be afraid of them,” he urged. “Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome,
and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes”
(Nehemiah 4:14).”

The image of watchmen or military police is what I envisioned when God birthed in me the idea of mothers gathering together to pray for prodigals. Living with the agony of a broken relationship with my daughter, I yearned for her return. While I agonized over our estrangement, God opened my eyes to other families dealing with relationship woes. I realized we needed to support one another through our struggles and together fight for our families. I could hear Jesus saying, “Watch and pray.” 

These Biblical accounts of watching and praying inspired me to form a prayer group—Mothers for Prodigals—to take our concerns to Almighty God. We believed God would strengthen us while we encouraged one another. Our bond of fellowship grew as we prayed for each other and our children. We watched for God to work within our families. 

Nehemiah understood the importance of cautiously confronting circumstances. Jesus knew the seriousness of being awake and alert. And Peter learned the significance of being watchful.

“Peter later writes,
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.
Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world”
(1 Peter 5:8-9).”

We live in a world full of people who need our prayers. Distractions, drowsiness, and delusions draw them away from our Creator, the God of Truth. Those of us who believe in the name of Jesus are called to be the watchmen on the walls, to pray for them. We must be eagle-eyed watchmen, not heavy-eyed guards. 

So watch and pray. Don’t be taken by surprise or fall into temptation. Protect any exposed areas over your families with the covering of prayer. And trust God to take care of you and your children as He works to bring His people back to Him.