This is the second time today, I have heard this plea. The first person to ask for help was a Pastor’s son who was being honest about how messed up he was. He told me how he had seen the price that his father had to pay because he decided to steer down his own path but that way had him entangled and now he wanted to get back and didn’t know how. Another girl contacted me, by email, who had grown up in a Christian family. She didn’t know where her life was headed and felt messed up. She wrote to me asking why she could not figure out what God wanted in her life.
When the first boy asked me this question, I felt his pain. We’ve all been there in our own ways. You feel like you’ve messed everything up and now, what next? So, instead of answering a traditionally right but clichéd answer, I decided to pray with this young man. Crying with him from the depth of my heart, I asked the Holy Spirit as if my life depended on knowing what the Holy Spirit would reply, “Lord what must he do, please speak to us now.”
I generally don’t entertain the I’d-like-to-hear-a-prophesy attitude but his situation was something that many youngsters or probably even older ones face. As I shut my eyes desperately seeking an answer from God for that young man, I saw a vision. In that vision was a young man with messed up clothes. Immediately, I interpreted it in my Spirit as the prodigal son. Now, in the vision I seen that young man was hugging the Father or the Father was hugging the son, I could not really say exactly.
Then the Holy Spirit began to speak to me and answered my question “I’ve messed up now, what next?”
Here’s what happened when the prodigal son returned. Luke 15:20,“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.”
1. The first step was that he repented his ways in his heart.
He decided to go back. His heart was to cry out to his father, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ True repentance means that we leave the ways of the old, being transformed by the word of God. Your repentance must be done in all earnestness.
God says in Rev 3:19, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.” So, if you are convicted and feel the need for repentance, it is because you are being wrapped by the love of God. God is drawing you closer to Him! Don’t hold back, it’s time to go all out!
2. Even before the prodigal son could receive any of the fathers blessings, what he did was receive the hug of the Father.
Maybe, you are messed up but when you find yourself in face of a love so strong, the Father’s love, then you ought to forget yourself in those arms.
The second step is to then get back into that relationship with Him with prayer and the bible. It may sound simple but, my friend, but that is the step that sets you free. It is through prayer that you communicate with God and through the Bible that the Holy Spirit talks to you. The word of God is God.
The enemy will try his best to keep you away from talking to God and from meditating on the Word, so fix that first and NOW! I am blessed by the recent song I heard by Chris Tomlin that says, “If you know you’re loved by the King, and then live for him, sing for him!” So, knowing that Christ loves you the way you are in whatever the mess might be, why don’t you shut the door behind you, lift your hands in gratitude and worship Him beyond your mess! There, thats another big leap!
3. The third step was the Father’s initiative out of love towards His son!
The Bible says, “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him.” God is interested to see your messiness replaced by His righteousness. Delete everything that has to be deleted. From the wrong numbers on your phone to that questionable file on your laptop. Everything must go! Throw away the messed up attire!
Proverbs 21:21 says, “He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honour.” But you can only pursue righteousness by fleeing evil. “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Tim 2: 22. You can’t hold on to your past and then try to hold on to what God is about to begin anew in your life. Let go completely without turning back! JESUS WILL BE YOUR STRENGTH!
4. Now then, with this relationship with God, with the gratitude and worship begins to flow the rivers of God from within you.
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.” Ring in the word signifies relationship, gifts of the Holy Spirit, authority and more. Sandals on the feet depict purpose. The ones that are washed by the blood and forgiven cannot waste time sitting around and do nothing. We must pursue the call of God in our life. If you are ready to go, God is ready to equip you for that purpose of God.
There are places for you to go. There are people that need to know the love that you have felt. Tell them about it, too. The Samaritan lady brought a whole village to Jesus when she found the love of Jesus. Change your status. Tweet it, if you have to. Let the whole world know what Jesus has done for you. That’s a good way to start out serving God in this technologically-advanced world. The rest will follow as you continue to thirst after righteousness. Mathew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Now, I believe this should get you started. Go on and find other articles on this blog that would strengthen your faith in God. Find people who pursue God. (Note: the word is pursue, not stagger!) If you find people who are more passionate about God than you, it will keep you encouraged to seek more of God.
My sincere prayers for you from my prayer time!
