A Prayer for Celebration
By Gwen Smith
There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. - Luke 15:10
Jesus told parables to expose the depth of love that God has for humanity. The Pharisees showed blatant disregard for people who they didn't perceive to be as religious as they were and who didn’t act like them. What a contrast.
I’m reminded as I read this that I need to be careful about how I respond to people who don't share my faith in Christ. I need to value all of humanity and take a sincere interest in their lives regardless of what they believe. It can be easy to dismiss people who don't look like us or act like us or believe like us. But that's not what Jesus did.
Jesus showed us His heart for the lost. He went out of His way to teach and love them. He spoke life and shared the hope of salvation through the repentance of sins. He treasured those that society considered to be throw-away people and reached out to them in love. “For the Son of Man,” He said, “came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
To seek and save … and savor and celebrate!
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You for seeking and saving me by Your grace. Thank You for loving me when I was hard to love. (And for the times when I still am!) Help me to see others as You see them. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Please use me to point others to Your hope.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Give thanks to God for your salvation and for at least 3 loved ones who have been found by grace. Pray for the salvation of 3 lost people who are yet to be found by grace.
Editor’s Note: Content taken from the Girlfriends in God devotional, Celebrate Good Times, written by Gwen Smith. You can read that piece in full here. All rights reserved.
Related Resource: When Life Unravels: Biblical Strategies for Hard Seasons
Few challenges stretch a parent’s faith and emotional reserves more than life’s unexpected curveball seasons—the plot twists that leave you wondering, “God, what are you doing?” How do you remain anchored in truth when the bottom drops out?
This week on Christian Parent/Crazy World, Catherine welcomes back her very first guest and trusted friend, Dr. Erin Barry, to help parents not only survive, but find hope and stability in life’s most turbulent moments. Dr. Barry is a clinical Christian counselor, author, homeschool expert, and co-founder of inseparableLives.com. Her biblically grounded wisdom comes from over 30 years of walking families through the storms of life.
In this transparent and practical episode, Catherine gets real about her own season of loss, uncertainty, and a series of shocking life upheavals—from parenting a prodigal, to family moves, to sudden job loss. Using these stories as a backdrop, Dr. Barry unpacks essential biblical strategies for clinging to faith and finding stability when life feels out of control. If this episode helps you be a more thoughtful parent, be sure to follow Christian Parent, Crazy World on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Thursday, 26 March 2020.
SHARE
