“When [Jesus] had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.’ And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats” (Luke 5:4-7 NKJV).

When you feel like you have “toiled all night and caught nothing,” when you have prayed and seen little results in the life of your prodigal, get ready; practice listening and obeying; expect. That way you will be ready for the call to “let down your nets for a catch.”

A prodigal brother called his sister to tell her that the worst possible scenario had happened to him: his wife had left him. The Holy Spirit prompted her to remind him that only God could fix his situation, that he needed to give his life to the Lord. This was not the only time she had told him this nor the only time he had heard it in is 30+ years away from God. But this time, the Holy Spirit had prepared her brother’s heart to receive the invitation. In his home, he knelt and prayed. God saved him and his wife and restored their marriage!

Recently, a mom was directed by the Holy Spirit to ask her prodigal daughter to get an app to receive a Bible verse of the day. If she had suggested this at any other time than when the Holy Spirit directed, the daughter may not have been receptive, but by being ready to listen and obeying, the daughter is reading a verse every day, and God’s word will do the work it is sent to do!

A prodigal son called from across the country, and in the process told his dad how bad things were. The Holy Spirit directed the dad to review the story of the prodigal son over the phone, so the dad told him that he was waiting for him just like the Bible dad, that he could come home just like the prodigal son; his room was ready and waiting for him. The son came home out of that horrible situation!

Never stop praying! Practice listening and obeying, because you never know when the Holy Spirit will say, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch!”

Holy Spirit, open the hearts of our prodigals to receive salvation, and prompt me or someone to be a witness at that critical point. You alone also know the ones around me whose hearts You have prepared to receive the words of life and are receptive to the invitation to salvation. Use me to witness to that person. In Jesus’ name I pray.