Welcome to the prayers of rest podcast. I'm your host, Asherita Chuchu, and today we are praying for children who have strayed.

We've heard from so many listeners of the podcast who have adult children, and they're in a season where they can no longer tell their child what to do.

So if that's you today, I invite you to personalize this prayer for yourself. And if it's not you,

then consider praying for someone else, adult children in your church, in your faith community, in your neighborhood.

Pray that God would get a hold of their heart and would bring them back home to himself.

And consider texting that friend or family, letting them know that they're on your heart today, that you're praying for them today.

Sometimes a little note like that makes all the difference.

As we begin, take a deep breath as we become aware of God's loving presence around us and within us.

Today's passage comes from Matthew chapter 18, verse 12. What do you think? If a man owns

a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the 99 on the hills and go to

look for the one that had wandered off? Let's begin by

reciting God's goodness. Oh Lord, you are ever present. You see all things. You know each one of us.

And you know this child's comings and goings. Even if they are

an adult and on their own, they remain a child to the parent who loved and raised them. And God,

we praise you that nothing is hidden from your sight. one is too far from you and you do not judge

harshly as our sins deserve but you are loving and patient going out to seek the one who has

wandered from the fold how How good you are. Oh, gentle shepherd, that you would

seek and save the lost. Thank you that you have shown that love toward us, and thank you that you

will continue to love and seek even this adult child who has wandered away.

So take a moment now to bring to your mind to the face of this person who has wandered

and reflect on God's goodness in your own life, how He has been the good shepherd who has sought you out and brought you home,

and praise him for his never-changing character and his love toward all his sheep. So let's continue now by expressing our neediness.

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