Praying for a Prodigal Child: Songs of Hope for Parents

The Bible has much to say about music and its use in worshipping the Lord. It’s also used, however, when the psalmist (songwriter) laments, is anxious, and even for a person who is assailed by an evil spirit. King Saul enlisted young David to play the lyre for him when an evil spirit came upon him (1 Samuel 16:23; 18:10). 

Christians often play music to assuage their broken hearts over various trials and circumstances in their lives. Parents bring their prayers for their prodigal children to the Lord, knowing He hears and cares for them. Along with prayer, Christian songwriters have penned and orchestrated many songs of hope that touch our hearts with the lyrics and melodies as we cry out to the Lord.

As you pray for your prodigal child(ren), I pray these songs bring ease to you and refresh your hope in the One who loved us before the world was created—and who loves your prodigal beyond measure—Jesus Christ.

1. Come Ye Sinners is Fernando Ortega’s rendition of an eighteenth-century hymn written by Joseph Hart.

In Ortega’s version, he pairs with Amy Grant for an uplifting look at Jesus’ great grace and mercy.

This portion of the lyrics leads us to look to Christ:

“Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
full of pity, love and power. 
I will arise and go to Jesus;
he will embrace me in his arms;
in the arms of my dear Savior,
O there are ten thousand charms.” 

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, when I turn my gaze from my grief over my prodigal child toward You, all my burdens are lifted. You have said we who are weary and burdened should come to you for rest. Because of who You are, I can rest in You. And because You came to seek and save the lost, I trust You in the life of my child. I humbly ask You to save them and make them kingdom dwellers—all for their good and for Your glory. In Your matchless name I pray. Amen.

2. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (a heartfelt acoustic version of the hymn written by Helen Lemmel in 1922). 

This hymn is full of biblical references we can turn to as we cry out to the Lord for our prodigal child (Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 45:22; Matthew 11:28-30; John 8:12; Acts 16:31; Romans 8:37-39; Hebrews 12:2; 1 John 1:17).

“O soul, are you weary and troubled?
 No light in the darkness you see?
 There’s light for a look at the Savior,
 And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:
 Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
 Look full in His wonderful face,
 And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
 In the light of His glory and grace.”

PRAYER:

Lord God, You sent Your only Son to the earth to save sinners such as I, and while my child has breath, there is hope for them. I trust You and my faith rests in Your sure promises. I have hope because of You.

It’s so true that when I look to You, everything else in this sin-sick world turns dim because Your grace and glory outshines everything and everyone else! Lord Jesus, please turn my child’s eyes to You. I pray this in Your name. Amen.

3. Great is Thy Faithfulness performed by Anthem Lights – [written by Thomas O. Chisholm (1923)]

As we ponder and pray about our fallen nature that makes some run away from the faith, we remember God’s faithfulness. He will never leave us or forsake us. As long as your child is away, they are never forgotten by you or by their Creator. Even when we are faithless, He remains faithful. He is always ready to welcome us with open arms when we turn to Him.

Following is the third stanza of the hymn, which highlights God’s peace, cheer, strength, hope, and guidance He brings

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
 thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
 strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
 blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! 

Refrain:
 Great is thy faithfulness!
 Great is thy faithfulness!
 Morning by morning new mercies I see:
 all I have needed thy hand hath provided--
 Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Scripture to pray as you listen to this uplifting hymn:

• Psalm 91:4
• Psalm 143:8
• 1 Corinthians 1:9
• Hebrews 13:8
• 1 John 1:9
  
  

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, You are forever faithful. Faithful enough for even my stubborn, rebellious child. I pray, in Your faithful name, to call them to Yourself, to save them from destruction. I pray You will give me peace as I pray and cheer me with Your Word and Your promises. In You, we have hope. Amen.

4. O Church Arise – sung by Keith and Kristyn Getty and written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend*

This hymn serves as an anthem, if you will, of who we are in Christ, with all praise to Him. This hymn lifts us by pointing us to Christ and to the blessings of our full armor in Him. As you pray for your prodigal, lean in to Christ and what He provides as we strive “with His strength that works powerfully” in us (Colossians 1:29). 

The main Scripture which undergirds this hymn is Ephesians 6:10-18, and it will serve to guide our prayer.

PRAYER:

Lord, strengthen me by Your vast strength. Fit me with the armor You made especially for me. I know I can stand against anything the devil and his minions throw at me because You have overcome him. You stand in victory, and that means I can, too, as I pray for my prodigal child. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Your Word tells me that and Your Spirit within me testifies to You and Your promises. I can stand in the truth, because You are truth. You are my righteousness and You are the Gospel I carry with me every day. My faith is in You. You have saved me and have given me Your Word. My whole armor is not of my making. My whole armor is You, Lord Jesus. Help me stand as I pray for my child. Save them, I pray. Amen

*Due to copyright laws, lyrics cannot be shared for this hymn. 

5. A Mighty Fortress is Our God by Martin Luther (performed by kickVocal)

The Godtube staff declares, “’A Mighty Fortress Is Our God’ is one of the best-known hymns by the reformer, Martin Luther. This hymn inspires us to find strength in God's love and salvation amid the woes of mortality.”

As we pray for our prodigals, of course we fear for them to face death without Christ. The world assails them with its empty promises, but we know we all face death. This beautiful hymn reminds us not to fear because Christ is victorious. As believers, we stand in the victorious procession He leads. As you pray, He hears you and He has a time planned from eternity past when the evil one will be vanquished to hell along with his lies. 

Stanza three is highlighted for its lyrics about what’s in the world contrasted to Christ’s triumph.

“And though this world, with devils filled,
 should threaten to undo us,
 we will not fear, for God has willed
 his truth to triumph through us.
 The prince of darkness grim,
 we tremble not for him;
 his rage we can endure,
 for lo! his doom is sure;
 one little word shall fell him."

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, You are mightier than anything the evil one or his minions can throw at us. You are victorious. You have defeated death and the devil. We ache for the day when You will set things right. I pray with all my heart that You will save my prodigal child and cause them to worship You in Spirit and truth. You are truth! Lord, calm my heart as I pray. I love You. I trust You. All my hope is in You, blessed Savior. Amen.

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/typhoonski

Lisa Loraine Baker is the multiple award-winning author of Someplace to be Somebody, which is being adapted and brought to the stage by the Karamu House Theater in Cleveland, Ohio (Winter, 2027). Lisa writes fiction (Christmas stories) and is currently writing a novel titled “Refuge.” She also writes non-fiction, including articles for BibleStudyTools.com and Christianity.com. She and her husband, Stephen, live in Lexington, Kentucky with their Kentucky wild cat, Lewis.