The following prayer is from the late Ray Hardin’s new book Here’s My Heart.
I hear your voice in the breeze, Lord. Whispering
Come Home. Come Home. That plea takes me by
surprise. Unnerves me. Makes me wonder how I
got this far away. How I got in this shape. How
things went so wrong. But here I am. Out of
bright ideas. Out of luck. Out of strength. Wondering
if I come home, will I find mercy? Will you
even recognize me? Will you like me any more?
Come Home. Please come home. I feel the pull
of your longing. You are loved. Always. I’ll pay
the price. I’ll bear the shame. You will be
received as my precious child. Your offer of grace
amazes me. I’ve been looking for you. Waiting.
Hoping. My heart hurt every hour you were
away. Come home. Come home. Let me sing
over you. And I see you running to meet me.
Running to meet me? Me? And when I
see you–holy, good, true, forgiving–
only then do I know how ragged I must
look. How beat up I am. How weak. How
hungry. Then, only then, Lord, does my arrogance
melt. And I see how outrageous my plan has been
to save myself. To work my way into your
favor. I feel the power of your Come home.
