11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring[a] out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:11-32)
We all take a journey to the end of ourselves. For some, it’s a fairly short journey, and for others, it’s a long hard road and some even die before they find the end of their self. What is this journey? It is the journey of “doing it my way.” The prodigal son, took his inheritance and went off to a far country to party hard. When you’ve got the money, there are so many “friends” around you. Like the prodigal found out, they disappear when the gravy train stops.
Living like the prodigal is a shallow, meaningless existence. There are no real friendships. There is no real peace. There is no real love. For a season it is so much fun to get drunk and get high and have wild, crazy sex with whoever. But it is only for a season. Sooner or later it begins to taste like sawdust in your mouth. Your soul aches and because it aches, you may drown it out in more liquor or sex. But the ache remains. For a person who once knew the joy of a personal relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ, this is especially true.
I was a prodigal, who just went off and threw off all restraints. I partied and drank and drank and drank myself almost to an early grave. Then I came to the end of myself. I finally hit bottom and realized I was up to my neck in pigs. I was filthy stained with sin. I knew it was way better in my Father’s house and I began the journey back to Him. I repented of my sins and asked for forgiveness. He was faithful to cleanse me head to toe, inside and out with the precious Blood of Jesus. The Lamb of God was slain for me, the robe of righteousness was placed on me…when I repented.
I found a wonderful scripture in Judges 10:14-16 that jumped out at me. It says “Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen, let them deliver you in your time of distress.” And the children of Israel said to the LORD, “We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray.” So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD. AND HIS SOUL COULD NO LONGER ENDURE THE MISERY OF ISRAEL.”
I love this! Israel didn’t just say “I’m sorry LORD;” rather they went a step further and forsook their foreign gods and turned wholeheartedly back to the LORD. They were still being oppressed by their enemies. The LORD could not stand to see their misery when they began to serve HIM. What a picture of repentance, mercy and grace. God longs to show mercy to people. That is always His first choice. How many of us know all-too-well how much people can push the envelope into judgment?
Are you at the end of yourself? Today can be the day your world changes forever. It takes a decision in your heart. It takes a prayer of repentance and it takes the decision to forsake your “foreign gods.” Return to the LORD if you are a prodigal son or daughter. Come to the LORD if you have never met Him personally. You can today. He is that near to even a whisper of “I repent, save me Jesus.”
Go to this link to meet or return to Jesus today. Get out of the pig pen today. Let God give you a completely new start. Don’t you just love new beginnings? God has the ability and the want to, to make all things new in your life…
https://fromtheheartogod.wordpress.com/meet-jesus-here/
Blessings everyone…
From the Heart of God... 
Reblogged this on Stones of Fire Ministries and commented:
At the end of yourself…look up!
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