Are You the Prodigal Son?
The prodigal son is a well-known story. Some poke at people who have fallen and been redeemed; however, this story applies to everyone.
Each of us is guilty of wanting, desiring and having our own way. To fulfill dreams without thought to consequences or who you may hurt along the way. In essence, the Prodigal Son is a story of falling. Failure to recognize gratitude in what you have—a loving home, relationships, shelter, food.
Societal trends play a significant part in convincing you need more. A larger house, money to spend lavishly, or a life of financial freedom.
That’s the story of the Prodigal Son, fulfilling selfish desires. He had a loving father, riches, shelter, food, but when he received his inheritance, he didn’t hesitate to embark on his own journey. A journey that led him down a path of self-gratification until the money was spent.
It’s easy to fall into this trap.
You receive your paycheque.Eye candy sweeps you into a spending flurry where you have nothing left for rent, gas, or food, and end up borrowing from family or friends to meet essential needs until the next paycheque. It’s when you pause, take inventory of spending habits, and idiosyncrasies to change—a roadblock, as most don’t want to change.
Like the Prodigal Son, you end up in unknown territory, stunned with an unexpected reality, stooping to take any job you can find. In his case, it was feeding pigs while envying the food he gave them. A fall that shifts perspective into a rise of gratitude, and appreciation. At this point, the Prodigal Son remembered the love of family and was willing to be treated as a slave just to have a nutritious meal.
On his journey close to home, his father saw him in the distance, stopped what he was doing, ran to him with tears of joy at the return of his son.
This poem, written by — Christina Georgina Rossetti, “A Prodigal Son” (1896, published posthumously), describes this parable beautifully.
Does that lamp still burn in my Father’s house,
Which he kindled the night I went away?
I turned once beneath the cedar boughs,
And marked it gleam with a golden ray;
Did he think to light me home some day?
Hungry here with the crunching swine,
Hungry harvest have I to reap
In a dream I count my Father’s kine,
I hear the tinkling bells of his sheep,
I watch his lambs that browse and leap.
There is plenty of bread at home,
His servants have bread enough and to spare;
The purple wine-fat froths with foam,
Oil and spices make sweet the air,
While I perish hungry and bare.
Rich and blessed those servants, rather
Than I who see not my Father’s face!
I will arise and go to my Father:
“Fallen from sonship, beggared of grace,
Grant me, Father, a servant’s place.”
Most people are lost—seeking joy and happiness in the wrong places.
I was lost and believed new age was the answer where me, myself and I could manifest a reality of abundance on my own. To live a life of spirituality without God, or His Son Jesus. I didn’t need them nor did I want to be bound to religious rules where...you can’t do this or act that way. I found the concept ritualistic and confining. With new age, I had oracle cards, crystals, angels, a connection with mother earth, and a relationship with the universe who showed continuous signs and answers to my manifesting requests. I had all I needed. I was the Prodigal Son. Fallen into sin without even realizing it. For God said...
I consulted mediums, had a spiritual coach, used oracle cards for guidance, created a vision board with the belief I could create my own destiny through visualization meditations. For six years, I was saturated in new age. At the time, it meant everything to me. I was gifted with vivid dreams, strong visions when I meditated, which encouraged my daily grounding rituals to mother earth and praises to the universe before I went to bed.
But I felt something was missing. I’d have brief moments of joy, then it’d fade. The challenges in my marriage continued despite manifesting a happy life. There were no doors of opportunities even though I had a vision board with images of success and freedom. Over time, I became distraught. I realized the methodology wasn’t working. Like the Prodigal Son, I knew something was amiss. I couldn’t put my finger on it until I read Doreen Virtue’s book, Deceived No More. She breaks down the meaning of the verse above.
When I realized how God envisioned my actions, I broke. Words in my mind... what have I done, became a symphony of guilt, shame and remorse. Tears flowed as I awakened to the truth.
Each of us falls at some point. Sadly, many find comfort in addictions to block the pain, or a different belief system; however, many find redemption in Christ Jesus. He becomes their rod, staff, foundation as it’s only through Jesus you are redeemed. Like the blind man who said, “I was blind, now I can see.”
When you allow selfishness to rule your life, you live a life without God, in otherwards, you live a life where only your needs matter. However, God is forgiving. As revealed in the Prodigal Son, the father celebrates his son’s return...
This is how God receives you when you ask for forgiveness. For me, when I tossed the last of my new age items in the garbage, the song “Emmanuel” played in my mind, which means “God With Us.”
However, not everyone will rejoice in your repentance. Look at how the brother responded to his father’s celebrations.
Luke 15:28-32
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
This reaction is typical of many in the world today. You get angry when someone gets what you feel is deserved. Moreover, you may interpret it as being unappreciated, after all, he was the son who worked beside his father while the younger son squandered his wealth. But Jesus didn’t come for the righteous, He came for you.
It’s the ones who are lost that Jesus seeks. When He walked the earth, He didn’t seek the righteous, He sought the lost, the ones who drifted, seeking answers in all the wrong places.
In response to his son’s dismay, he said:
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
This parable is a strong example of God’s forgiveness and love, as no matter what you’ve done in this life, when you fall before God, you rise in His grace, forgiven, and made new. The old is gone and the new is born, like spring. Perennials lay dormant in winter and appear dead. Then the breath of spring awakens them, and everything is reborn, stronger, richer, and more beautiful than the year prior. It’s the hand of the maker that renews, refreshes, and rises you up from the ashes. Like a well that flows, providing sustenance—God is that well. An everlasting breath that will never cease in loving you. His main desire is to make you alive in Him. He wants to walk with you in every step of your life. Your joy, happiness, sadness, pain, tears—His desire is to be with you and for you to lean on Him.
To be your rod, staff, forever Lord, forever light, and forever love.
It’s sin that separates you from Him.
Holds you in darkness.
Renews selfish impulses and self-gratification.
Main components to new age are to seek yourself, become your own god by visualizing and manifesting your own destiny. It’s exactly where the enemy wants you. In his hands, manipulating to believe you have control over your life. However, you miss the truth—God created you in His image. He breathed life into you. He knitted you in your mother’s womb.
Your life is in the psalm of God’s hand. However, He gave you the gift of free will so you can choose to live with Him, or without.
For me, I know I belong to Him. I’m His forever. Nothing will separate me from Him.
I will drift.
I will fail.
I will sin.
However, in God, I will rise. For His love is endless and unconditional.
He’ll never fail you.
He’ll never walk away.
He’ll never abandon you.
He always has a purpose. You may not understand, especially, in periods of waiting. However, it’s in those moments, your faith and trust grow, as you know, in time, there will be a deliverance—a change in your heart, as He gently molds you. Like a tapestry, one stitch at a time, He will change the confines of your heart and set you free.
Free in His grace.
Free in His peace.
Free in His salvation.
Part of this process is identifying idiosyncrasies that don’t align with God’s purpose for your life. John 3:30, “He Must Increase, I Must Decrease,” are words spoken by John the Baptist. Words related to decreasing behaviours to allow Jesus to increase His presence and guidance in your life. Specifically, daily behaviours that pull you away from spending time in prayer, reading the word, or spending quiet time with the Lord. To aid in this process, I created a Prayer Journal that gently guides you in identifying these behaviours and surrendering them to the Lord. The more you surrender, the more room He has to make changes in your life.
The journal also includes...
This Journal is an essential tool in strengthening your relationship with the Lord.
I pray your journey is filled with His grace, love, and peace.
God Bless,
The Journal is available as a digital download at my ETSY Shop, Archway Designs by CFC Studios.
Grab your copy today.
Hi, I’m Cathy.
A creative professional passionately driven to pointing people away from new age indoctrination to find redemption in Jesus Christ and encouraging others in their walk with the Lord.
I’m a mixed blend, excited to share all I offer...
Blog-Twisted Roots
Do you find yourself asking questions about new age, whether the practices and beliefs are leading your soul to redemption?
As a reformed new ager, I was saturated in the belief I could co-create with the universe and manifest a life of abundance. But I was deceived. This blog is to point you to the truth of the word of God and how He perceives new age indoctrination.
Moreover, it’s written to inspire and encourage Christians in their walk of faith.
Prayer Journals
To help you in your faith journey, I created Prayer Journals, to build a closer bond with Christ Jesus.
As you grow, it’s important to dedicate time to be with God in prayer, a quiet space to meet with Him, and invite Him into your daily thoughts. In doing so, you will experience His peace and presence in every aspect of your life.
Nature and Fine Art Photography
I always dreamed of being a professional photographer when I grew up. It was a journey to reach this goal. When the opportunity presented itself, I knew it was time to fulfill my dream.
I owned a home-based studio for over a decade but have been shooting images for two decades. Now, semi-retired, I have a collection of my most cherished images of landscape or fine art available for wall décor.
