The Good Father
February 26, 2026
Luke 15:11–24 (KJV)
This morning, I opened my Bible to the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. Although the story begins in verse 11, I found myself resting in verses 21–24:
“And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
The Departure
Jesus tells us that the younger son asked for his inheritance early. The father honored his request and divided the property between his two sons.
The younger son then went into a far country and wasted his substance with reckless living. Scripture does not list every detail — and it does not need to. What matters is this:
He left full.
He ended empty.
And eventually, he found himself feeding pigs, hungry enough to desire what they were eating.
The Awakening
Then came the turning point.
The Bible says, “When he came to himself…”
That line always arrests me.
He came to himself.
In other words, he recognized his condition. He acknowledged his sin. He remembered his father’s house.
And he made a decision:
“I will arise and go to my father.”
That is repentance.
That is humility.
That is leadership maturity.
The Return
I’ve done that before.
I’ve had moments in life where I had to take my grown self back to my Father’s house — not physically, but spiritually.
Ashamed.
Guilty.
Humbled.
Aware that I had sinned against Heaven and in His sight.
And yet…
When the son was still a great way off, his father saw him.
The father ran to him.
Embraced him.
Kissed him.
Before the son could finish rehearsing his apology, the father commanded:
Bring the best robe.
Put a ring on his hand.
Put shoes on his feet.
Prepare a feast.
Restoration.
Identity.
Authority.
Celebration.
The Leadership Lesson
This parable is not only about a son who wandered.
It is about the inner work required to come home.
Before the robe…
Before the ring…
Before the celebration…
There was a process.
Reflect — “When he came to himself.” He paused long enough to see his condition clearly.
Repent — “I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight.” He owned his wrongdoing without excuse.
Release — He let go of pride, entitlement, and the identity he tried to build in a far country.
Reset — “I will arise and go.” He made a decisive turn.
Realign — He returned to the Father and was restored to sonship.
This is spiritual alignment.
And leadership that honors God always begins here — not with position, but with posture.
The Celebration
Today, I celebrate.
My Heavenly Father has received me.
He has forgiven me.
He has restored me.
I repent; meaning I turn away and choose not to return to what once pulled me away.
Like Paul wrote in Philippians 3:14:
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
I will not look back.
I am free.
Free to walk in grace.
Free to live in peace.
Free to lead from alignment.
Free to rejoice.
And yes — I may even celebrate with a little Cabbage Patch today. (Younger friends, you can Google that.)
Because when the Father restores you, joy is appropriate.
Celebrate.
Celebrate.
Celebrate.
For we were lost.
And now we are found.
Closing Reflection
Coming home is not weakness.
It is maturity.
The prodigal son was not restored because he had potential or because he carried a title. He was restored because he returned.
That is where true leadership begins; not in performance or visibility, but in alignment.
When we reflect honestly, repent sincerely, release what once ruled us, reset our direction, and realign with the Father’s will, we do not simply feel better.
We become better.
Leaders who are spiritually aligned lead with greater purpose, humility, and peace.
The Father receives the repentant heart.
So today, I stand restored and surrendered.
And from that place of alignment, I lead.MOGAS Moment
MOGAS Moment: "Meditate on God and Stretch."
Meditate on 1 Peter 5:6 (KJV)
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”
Stretch and Move
Stand up straight in an upright position.
If you feel led: Take deep breathes and move slowly and reverently.
• Bow your head in humility with arms stretched low.
• Open your hands in surrender.
• Lift your chest and stand upright with arms extended high in praise as a sign of restored identity.
You may follow these simple movements, or allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in movement that reflects repentance, surrender, and restoration before the Lord.
Pray
Father God,
I come before You humbly.
I reflect on my ways, and I acknowledge where I have wandered.
I repent of every sin committed against Heaven and in Your sight.
Cleanse my heart.
Renew a right spirit within me.
I release pride, self-will, and every burden that has pulled me away from You.
I submit myself under Your mighty hand.
Restore what was lost.
Redeem what was broken.
Realign my thoughts, my desires, and my leadership with Your will.
Thank You for receiving the repentant heart.
Thank You for mercy that does not run out.
Thank You for restoring my identity in Christ.
From this place of surrender, restoration, and alignment, I lead others to You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Originally written in June 2017, revisited and refined in February 2026