Not Where You Want to Go

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Southeast Christian Church
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When the prodigal son set off for the distant country, he probably never anticipated having to come home to his father with an empty wallet and empty stomach. His pride has been wounded and he has come to the tough realization that life away from his father is not what he had thought it would be. But for all his poor decision-making, he eventually comes to his senses and decides to return home. We are often just a hard-headed and stubborn; Jesus longs for you to come to your senses and realize that you don’t have things under control, and you being in charge of everything has not gotten you to a great place. Those steps take humility and they can be very difficult. There is going to have to be a turning point in your life though. This is called repentance. Repentance is saying, “I was living under the banner of my life, but now I'm going to put down that banner. That's about me, but I'm going to turn my life around and I want God’s plans for my life.” Repentance is the only way to step into what God has for you. 

Luke 15:20 says, “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.” So, he went to his father, the one person who can save him and the one person he can trust. The father tells his servants to bring the best robe and put it on his son. The father covers his shame. He put a ring on his finger, signifying that this son is not going to come back as a slave in my family, but instead is going to come back with authority immediately. The father starts a celebration and a feast!

This is what your Heavenly Father wants to do for you. But first, you have to stop. You have to come to your senses. You have to get up and move to the Father. And then ultimately, you have to have a posture of humility. You have to receive his heart and his ways. Recognize that you’re his child again, that you’re forgiven again. That's who our God is. You just have to receive his impossible power today.

Discussion/Reflection Question: Do you need to stop trying to do things under your own banner and surrender to God’s ways and heart?

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  • Dena Stewart-Gore

    Dena Stewart-Gore

    Tell me about it! I’m having to turn around and get my stuff together for the rest of the time.

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