Hello and welcome to Meditation Time.
My name is James Whitaker.
Today we will spend some time learning the story of the prodigal son and then have a time of meditation,
Contemplation,
And prayer.
The story or parable of the prodigal son is located in the book of Luke chapter 15 verses 11 to 32.
Then Jesus said,
Once there was a father with two sons.
The younger son came to his father and said,
Father don't you think it's time to give me my share of your estate?
So the father went ahead and distributed between the two sons their inheritance.
Shortly afterward the younger son packed up all his belongings and traveled off to see the world.
He journeyed to a far-off land where he soon wasted all he had been given in a binge of extravagant and reckless living.
With everything spent and nothing left he grew hungry because there was a severe famine in that land.
So he begged a farmer in the country to hire him.
The farmer hired him and sent him out to feed the pigs.
The son was so famished he was willing even to eat the slop given to the pigs because no one would feed him a thing.
Humiliated the son finally realized what he was doing and he thought,
There are many workers at my father's house who of all have food they want with plenty to spare.
They lack nothing.
Why am I here dying of hunger?
Feeding these pigs and eating their slop.
I want to go back to my father's house and I'll say to him,
Father I was wrong.
I have sinned against you.
I'll never again be worthy to be called your son.
Please father just treat me like one of your employees.
So the young son set off for home.
From a long distance away his father saw him coming dressed as a beggar and great compassion swelled up in his heart for his son who was returning home.
The father raced out to meet him,
Swept him up in his arms,
Hugged him dearly and kissed him over and over with tender love.
Then the son said,
Father I was wrong.
I have sinned against you.
I could never deserve to be called your son.
Just let me be.
The father interrupted and said,
Son you're home now.
Turning to his servants the father said,
Quick bring me the best robe,
My very own robe and I will place it on his shoulders.
Bring the ring,
The seal of sonship and I will put it on his finger and bring out the best shoes you can find for my son.
Let's prepare a great feast and celebrate for my beloved son was once dead but now he's alive.
Once he was lost but now he's found and everyone celebrated with overflowing joy.
Now the older son was out working in the field when his brother returned and as he approached the house he heard the music of celebration and dancing.
He called over one of the servants and asked,
What's going on?
The servant replied,
It's your younger brother.
He's returned home and your father is throwing a party to celebrate his homecoming.
The older son became angry and refused to go in and celebrate.
So his father came out and pleaded with him,
Come and enjoy the feast with us.
The son said,
Father listen how many years have I worked like a slave for you,
Performing every duty you have asked as a faithful son and I've never once disobeyed you but you've never thrown a party for me because of my faithfulness.
Never once have you given me a goat that I could feast on and celebrate with my friends as this son of yours is doing now.
Look at him,
He comes back after wasting your wealth on prostitutes and reckless living and here you are throwing a great feast to celebrate for him.
The father said,
My son you are always with me by my side.
Everything I have is yours to enjoy.
It's only right to rejoice and celebrate like this because your brother was once dead and gone but now he is alive and back with us again.
He was lost but now he is found.
Sometimes our lives are like this.
We are given our inheritance from God which is eternal life and we end up drifting and we let the same full things of this world draw us in.
We become prodigal children of God,
Lost to the good things God offers.
Thankfully God is just like the father in the story of the prodigal son.
He wants us.
He wants us to come home.
He is waiting.
He wants to throw a party and shower us in blessings and love.
He misses us.
All you have to do is turn around and come back.
Let's do some breathing as we transition into a time of meditation and prayer.
In through your nose long and deep.
Out through your mouth long and slow.
In through your nose long and deep.
Out through your mouth long and slow.
Gently close your eyes.
In through your nose long and deep.
Out through your mouth long and slow.
In through your nose long and deep.
Out through your mouth long and slow.
Let your breathing return to its normal rhythm.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We pray right now as we enter a time of meditation and focus wholly on you that you will reveal to us the places in our lives where we have strayed.
Remind us that you are waiting with open and loving arms.
Thank you Father.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
Now as the music plays please take a moment to think about the story we just read.
Think about your current situation with God and just take some time to really meditate on it and see where you are.
You you you you you you you you you you you you you you thank you for the time we were able to spend with God today I hope that you have an amazing day God bless
