Day 1: Come Home Dirty
Devotional
Have you ever felt too ashamed to come to God? Maybe you’ve made mistakes that feel too big, too embarrassing, or too repetitive. You might think you need to clean yourself up first, get your act together, and then approach Him.
But God’s invitation is radically different from what we expect. He doesn’t want us to fix ourselves before coming home—He wants us to come as we are, with all our mess and brokenness.
The prodigal son didn’t shower, change clothes, or rehearse a perfect apology. He came home dirty, smelly, and broken. And his father ran to meet him. This is the heart of our heavenly Father. He’s not waiting for you to become worthy; He’s waiting for you to come home.
Your shame doesn’t disqualify you—it’s exactly why you need to come. God’s love isn’t based on your performance or your ability to clean up your life. It’s based on His unchanging character and His desire to restore you completely.
Today, whatever condition you’re in, whatever you’ve done, wherever you’ve been—come home. Don’t wait until you feel ready or worthy. Come dirty, come broken, come exactly as you are.
Your Father is waiting with open arms, ready to clothe you with His love and restore what’s been lost.
Bible Verse
‘But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God’ – John 1:12
Reflection Question
What areas of your life do you feel you need to ‘clean up’ before approaching God, and how might He be inviting you to come to Him just as you are instead?
Quote
God said, no. What I want you to do is I want you to come back home, and I want you to come back dirty, and I want you to come back smelly, and I want you to come back with all of your issues. I want you just to come back home. And when you come home, here’s the promise, there’s going to be a robe waiting on you, and I’m going to cover you and I’m going to restore you.
Prayer
Father, thank You that I don’t have to earn my way back to You. Help me to come to You with all my mess and brokenness, trusting that Your love for me isn’t based on my performance but on Your unchanging heart. Give me the courage to come home dirty, knowing You’re waiting to restore me. Amen.
Day 2: Your Identity Restored
Devotional
Identity crisis is real, especially after we’ve made significant mistakes. The prodigal son returned home convinced he was no longer worthy to be called a son—he was ready to settle for being just a servant. But his father had a different perspective entirely. The moment he saw his son, he didn’t see failure or unworthiness; he saw his beloved child who belonged in the family. The ring the father placed on his son’s finger wasn’t just jewelry—it was a declaration of restored identity. It said, ‘You are still my son. You still belong here. You still carry my name.’ Many of us live with a servant mentality when God has called us to sonship and daughtership. We feel like we have to earn our place, prove our worth, or work our way back into good standing. But that’s not how family works. A child doesn’t earn their place in the family—they belong because of who they are, not what they’ve done. Your identity as God’s child isn’t based on your past mistakes or future performance. It’s based on His unchanging love and the fact that you’re created in His image. When shame whispers that you’re not worthy, remember the ring. Remember that God looks at you and declares, ‘You are still my child. You still belong in my house.’
Bible Verse
‘Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household’ – Ephesians 2:19
Reflection Question
In what ways do you struggle with feeling worthy to be called God’s child, and how does understanding your identity as His son or daughter change how you approach Him?
Quote
Is there a part of you that feels unworthy to be called a son or daughter of God? Like, have you done something that makes you feel like you’ve done something so bad that your identity, that your sonship, your daughtership, cannot be restored?
Prayer
Lord, help me to see myself through Your eyes, not through the lens of my failures or shame. Remind me daily that my identity as Your child is secure, not because of what I’ve done, but because of who You are and Your love for me. Help me to live confidently in this identity. Amen.
Day 3: The Ring of Authority
Devotional
The ring the father gave his returning son wasn’t just a symbol of love—it was a signet ring that carried real authority. With this ring, the son could conduct business in his father’s name, make decisions, and access the family’s resources. This wasn’t just restoration; this was empowerment. As God’s children, we don’t just receive forgiveness—we receive authority. We have the right to pray in Jesus’ name, to access
God’s promises, and to make a difference in the world around us. Yet many believers live powerless lives, praying weak prayers and expecting little from God. We act like servants when we’ve been given the authority of sons and daughters. The ring represents our kingdom authority—the power to bind and loose, to pray with confidence, and to advance God’s purposes on earth. But here’s the key: this authority must be used for the Father’s business, not our own selfish ambitions. When we understand that we carry real spiritual authority, it changes everything. We pray differently, we approach challenges differently, and we live with greater purpose and confidence. The question isn’t whether you have authority—if you’re God’s child, you do. The question is: are you using it? Are you living like someone who carries the family ring, or are you settling for a powerless existence when God has given you kingdom authority?
Bible Verse
‘I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ – Matthew 16:19
Reflection Question
How might your prayers and daily decisions change if you truly believed you carry kingdom authority as God’s child?
Quote
You may feel unworthy, but God still gives you a ring. You may not feel like you have any authority, but God’s like, man, will you just put the ring on that I gave you?
Prayer
Father, help me to understand and embrace the authority You’ve given me as Your child. Show me how to use this authority for Your kingdom purposes, not my own agenda. Give me boldness to pray with confidence and live with the power You’ve placed within me. Amen.
Day 4: About the Father's Business
Devotional
Authority without purpose leads to chaos. The prodigal son received his father’s ring, but with it came the responsibility to conduct the father’s business, not his own. This is where many believers get stuck—we want God’s power and provision, but we want to use it for our own plans and purposes.
True kingdom authority is always directed toward advancing God’s purposes, not our personal agendas. Being about the Father’s business means our priorities align with His heart. It means we care about what He cares about—the lost, the broken, the hurting. It means we use our resources, talents, and influence to build His kingdom, not just our own comfort or success. When we take care of His house, He takes care of our needs. This isn’t a transaction; it’s a relationship principle. When our hearts are aligned with His purposes,
He provides what we need to fulfill those purposes. The challenge for every believer is this: Are you using your God-given authority for kingdom purposes or personal gain? Are you praying for His will to be done or just for your own comfort? Are you investing in eternal things or just temporary pleasures?
Living about the Father’s business doesn’t mean neglecting your family or responsibilities—it means approaching everything through the lens of His kingdom purposes. It means asking, ‘How can I honor God and advance His kingdom in this situation?’
Bible Verse
‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ – John 3:16
Reflection Question
What would it look like practically for you to be more intentionally ‘about the Father’s business’ in your current season of life?
Quote
If you take care of his house, he’ll take care of your castle. Are you about your father’s business?
Prayer
Lord, align my heart with Your purposes. Help me to use the authority and resources You’ve given me to advance Your kingdom, not just my own comfort. Show me how to be about Your business in every area of my life, trusting that You’ll provide what I need as I seek first Your kingdom. Amen.
Day 5: Living Like You Belong
Devotional
The greatest tragedy isn’t when someone rejects God’s offer of salvation—it’s when someone accepts it but continues to live like they’re powerless. You carry kingdom authority. You belong to God’s family. You have access to His resources and His power. The question is: Do you act like it?
Many believers live defeated lives despite carrying the family ring. They pray weak prayers, expect little from God, and settle for mediocrity when they’ve been called to make a kingdom impact.
Shame is a liar that tries to convince you that your past disqualifies you from your future. But when you’re adopted into God’s family, your past becomes like Teflon—it just slides off. You have the right to be called a son or daughter of God, not because you earned it, but because He chose you. This means you don’t have to live in the shadows of your mistakes. You don’t have to settle for less than God’s best. You don’t have to pray timid prayers or live a powerless life. You belong in the house. You carry authority. You have a purpose and a calling that’s bigger than your past failures.
Today, stop living like you’re powerless. Put on the ring God has given you. Walk in the authority He’s placed in your life. Live like someone who truly belongs to the King of kings. Your past doesn’t define you—your position as God’s child does. Act like it.
Bible Verse
‘But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.’ – Luke 15:22
Reflection Question
What would change in your daily life if you truly lived like someone who belongs to God’s family and carries His authority?
Quote
I think that God wants you to stop living like you’re powerless because you really carry kingdom authority.
Prayer
Father, help me to stop living like I’m powerless when You’ve given me kingdom authority. Remove the shame and lies that keep me from walking confidently as Your child. Help me to live each day knowing I belong to You and carry Your name with honor and purpose. Amen.