Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter is THE resource book that I would recommend you purchase if you have a daughter that has strayed from the Lord, or who has never known Him. A somewhat lengthy title at 320 pages, the book is broken down into bite-sized chapters, small enough for any busy parents to digest in a single day, 27 in all. This comprehensive work takes parents by the hand and leads them step by step through the importance and details of praying for prodigal daughters. With faith in God, this book in hand and a writing journal for additional note taking space, parents will be well equipped to take up arms in the spiritual battle for our daughter’s souls. Written by a prior prodigal and mother of a prior prodigal, this title is written in a warm, encouraging and supportive style that will resonate most with mothers, though fathers are also addressed.

Divided into five logically progressing sections, readers are taught: praying for your prodigal daughter, praying with purpose for your prodigal daughter, living life with your prodigal daughter, questioning your role with your prodigal duaghter and welcoming home your prodigal daughter. I do not believe that managing any aspect of your relationship with, and prayer life for your prodigal daughter has been left unexplored. From the intensely spiritual to the painfully mundane aspects of raising a prodigal, you will find it all here.

Thompson understands that though as Christians we realize the importance and necessity of prayer, we often find ourselves feeling ill-equipped or too inexperienced to fruitfully pray for our prodigals. That is where she comes in, taking us gently by the hand and leading us through the stories of past prodigal daughters, mother’s of prodigals, instructions for prayer, prayer examples, family/group discussion questions, journaling topics and space to record thoughts, practical advice for managing your home and family and more. This title is so comprehensive in regard to dealing with prodigal daughters that I can see the need for it to be read by many believers: parents of prodigals, friends and family of parents with prodigals, parents concerned for their children’s salvation who wish to keep their child from straying, those in ministry etc. If you find yourself immobilized and overwhelmed in the situation with your prodigal child you can simply pick up this bok and start praying through the 40 days of personalized scripture prayers found in the appendix. These references and prayers alone may be worth the purchase price if they will get you on your knees, and past the fear of imperfection that keeps us from praying far too often.

The scripture references used throughout the book are taken from a number of Bible translations, some of which are simple paraphrases rather than accurate translations (such as the Message). Other references are ‘personalized’scripture, which means taking a piece of scripture, often promises, and personalizing it for our situation. At times the references seemed to be interpreted out of their context in the Bible in order to apply them to the life of a family struggling with a prodigal daughter, so be sure to keep your Bible handy to look up not only the verses referenced themselves, but also their context. Though not a central theme of the book, I was disappointed in the author’s treatment of divorce and remarriage. While she mentions the negative effect of divorce on children, particularly the loss of the male father figure, she fails to acknowledge divorce and remarriage as a sin that is contrary to the word of God. Perhaps it is due to her own status as a divorced and remarried woman that she treats divorce rather casually throughout the book. Although this is indeed a common situation, it should not deal with casually.

As a mother of two young girls who do not yet know the Lord I was deeply appreciative of the chapters on how mothers and fathers can develop relationships, guidelines and boundaries with our daughters that will help keep them from straying. The chapter addressed to fathers is also a vital portion of Praying For Your Prodigal Daughter, guiding fathers into their role as spiritual leaders of the home, and their importance in the lives of their daughters in encouraging purity, aiding in mate selection and biblical headship. Though the chapters specifically set aside for mothers and fathers, as well as dealing with your prodigal within the family may give the impression that this book is geared only to two parent families, single parents (particularly mothers) should know that plenty of provision and suggestions have been made for single parents as well.

I will not hesitate to recommend this title to any family struggling with a prodigal child. I do not know of an equivalent title that deals with prodigal sons in such a complete manner, so I will also recommend this title to those with prodigal sons. While being full of rich advice on relating to female children, and their unique relationships with parents – the general instructions as to setting boundaries, prayer, love, forgiveness, dealing with relatives and the wealth of other richly developed topics provided make this title ideal for any family with a prodigal. A vital and necessary addition to all church libraries.

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Reviewed for Christian Review of Books.