From the Parable of the Lost Sheep – More Thoughts on Those Who Leave

Luke 15:3-7

“Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!”

How do sheep get lost? It’s one step at a time, one tasty morsel just out of reach, one step, one choice, unaware of the increasing danger of the situation.

Have you seen the video clip of the sheep that is stuck in a muddy ditch? Along comes the shepherd, reaches down into the muck, hauls the heavy muddy sheep out, sets it on its four legs on the meadow’s dry ground. What does the sheep do? It jumps right back into the muddy hole.

What is the difference between a sheep that strays into danger and us as sheep-like people? We can learn from our predicaments. We can make wiser choices. Every “hole” is an opportunity to learn and grow.

Are you lost? Are your children lost to you? Don’t give them up or give them over to the enemy. Fight for them in prayer.

A suggested prayer to pray over those estranged from or lost to you:

Dear Heavenly Father, mighty God, please keep calling them.

Let that which drew them away from you become boring and a bitter taste in their mouth. Let their path no longer satisfy them or entice them further away from you.

Turn their eyes back to see who you really are, not the false picture the enemy drew for them.

I believe that at some point in their lives they will repent and return to you, Father. Please

preserve their lives until then.

Hold onto them, Lord. Send your mighty angels to bring your light and protection to their minds.

Let every choice towards the truth make sense to them. Humble their heart before you, Lord.

I believe that at some point there will be much rejoicing in Heaven over their return.

Shine the light of your truth into their darkness and mind. Lead them into your truth.

I pray in the mighty name of Jesus,

Amen

Now pray it over yourself:

Lord, please keep calling me.

Let that which draws me away from you become boring and a bitter taste in my mouth. Draw me ever closer to you.

Turn my eyes back to see who you really are, not any false picture the enemy draws for me.

Help me see where I need to repent and return to you, Father.

Send your mighty angels to bring your light and truth to my mind.

Let every one of my choices towards the truth make sense to me. Humble my heart before you, Lord. Lead me into your truth.

I pray in the mighty name of Jesus,

Amen

Now. A challenge for you from God’s Word:

Stop your thought spiral. You’ll need God’s help for this. Persist in it. Persevere in it. Repeatedly stop the spiraling thoughts and pray about replacing your dark thoughts with trust in our faithful God.

2 Corinthians 10:5b –

“…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

And then, practice this. As in, make time for it every day, many times every day if necessary.

Philippians 4:6&7 –

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”