Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim BurtOh the challenges of the Christian parent that has to watch their adult child go through the stage of figuring out what they believe. You no longer have the right or say in their life that you did when they were younger growing up under your guidance. They are adults and you have to develop a real friendship with them, the same as you would with anyone else. That's the only way they will listen to you without shutting you out. If you preach at or yell at or condemn them, they will shut you out. Yet you can’t stand to see them make wrong choices or decisions. Welcome to God’s world. He feels the same way about us, yet He doesn’t interfere or manipulate us. (If you’ve been told He does, you’ve been told wrong.) He doesn’t want us to make wrong choices. He wants us to draw near to Him and walk in His grace and guidance. Yet, sometimes you just do your own thing. And so do your children!So, what’s the answer? Let me give you four areas to anchor your faith and heart on!
First, set your heart like flint that love never fails. Your words may fail. Your approach to loving your children may fail. Love might look like it sometimes fails, but it doesn’t. Ultimately, God's love will do its work. God's love does not manipulate. It is truthful, yet appropriate and kind. God's love speaks encouragement, and is full of faith. God's love gives you the right thing to say and the right way to say it or it's not to be said. If you care about your children's love for God, and you should, then these years will teach you how to walk out God's love-walk like nothing else can. You have to love your children during these years whether it’s a long duration or short and whether it's difficult or easy. And even if they drive you crazy! Speak good over them. Don't make them part of your whining or gossip to friends or other family in the name of asking for prayer. Do what God's word teaches us to do—calling things that aren’t as though they were, your children! Declare these words despite what you see... Lord, I thank you that you are pouring out your spirit, sending laborers across their path, and watching over and protecting my children in Jesus name! Secondly, you have to pray for them daily with sincere and true heart faith—not out of fear! Believe that God is working to draw them to Himself remembering that as much as you love them, He loves them more! Your prayers will cover them and protect them as much as possible, and in more ways than you can imagine. Pray... Lord, I thank you that you are working to influence my children's heart each and every day. And I thank you for softening their heart and opening the eyes of their understanding today and every day! In Jesus name! In most cases, God will use someone else to be the voice of reason and to speak God's words to get through to them. Pray for the laborers that God sends across their path. They are working for you! And pray against the demonic forces trying to blind their eyes from the truth of God's love. 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV) “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Pray that the angelic host of Heaven will surround them during this time. Hebrews 1:14 (NIV) “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
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