Prayer for the Prodigal: Psalm 53-Supplication through the Scriptures

Prayer for the Prodigal

Psalm 53

But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever.
Daniel 4:34

Psalm 53 is very similar to Psalm 14 with slight variations. Charles Spurgeon says, “Holy Writ never repeats itself needlessly, there is good cause for the second copy of this Psalm; let us read it with more profound attention than before.” The subject of these two similar psalms is the total depravity of man. It is not that all men are as evil and wicked as they could possibly be, but it means that all of our being has been corrupted by the Fall so that, “there is none who does good, not even one” (Psalm 53:3). 

Paul quotes these verses in Romans 3 demonstrating that there are none who seek after God, none who understand, none who do good. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But God. These 2 wonderful words rescued us from our ignorance and separation from God. God is the One who sought us. God is the One who drew us to Himself (John 6:44). God is the One who justified us freely by His grace through the redemption that is found in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24). This is undeserved and unearned mercy and grace toward us at a time when we were living recklessly and denying God’s existence. 

Let the truth of what we were before God redeemed us from the kingdom of Satan and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love soften our hearts to again come before His throne pleading for our loved one who is being a fool, acting as if there is no God, and not understanding the reality of his own soul. Just as this Psalm is repeated, let us again and again kneel before the Lord that He would grant that our loved one would come to the knowledge of the truth, and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:25-26).

Fallen Away

53:1-3 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. 
Let’s pray for our prodigal, the one living apart from the Lord:
▫️That while currently they are blinded by Satan and held captive by him to do his will, they would come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil (2 Timothy 2:26).
▫️That God, by His great love and mercy, would make them alive who are still dead in their trespasses and sins.
▫️The Lord would grant repentance and forgiveness to our unbelieving loved ones.
▫️The Lord would move in the hearts of our prodigal so that they would set their heart and soul to seek the Lord (1 Chronicles 22:19).
▫️Our loved ones would fear the Lord and tremble in His presence (Jeremiah 5:22).
▫️That in God’s sight, they would be found righteous through faith in Christ.
▫️That Christ would be their wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).
▫️The ones who have fallen away would be restored to the Lord (Lamentations 5:21).

Salvation

53:4-6 Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God? There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them. Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
Let’s pray:
▫️Our unbelieving loved ones would call upon the name of the Lord and be saved.
▫️They would confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead and they would be saved (Romans 10:9-13).
▫️They would fear the Lord and greatly delight in His commandments (Psalm 112:1-2).
▫️When great terror comes upon them, they would flee to the Lord for refuge.
▫️Instead of trusting in their own achievements and treasures, they would seek refuge in the Lord.
▫️Our unbelieving loved ones would not delay, but they would realize Christ is coming quickly.
▫️The Lord would turn their hearts to Him and restore them to Himself.
▫️They would turn their eyes toward heaven and bless the Most High and praise and honor Him forever (Daniel 4:34).

May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, for His glory and our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 53 is quoted from the ESV.
Photo credit to serhatbeyazkaya

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