Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt
In Part One, I began to talk with you as Christians parents trying to raise your children in the Lord, but seeing some of them wander from God as they became adults. If you didn’t get a chance to read it yet, please click here and read it as it will help you begin to deal with that scenario if faced with it!
I left you with this question: Is there anything I can do to help my adult children draw closer to God? Absolutely! I’ll give you four things to think and pray about. I believe they will all help make a great difference. 
First, set your heart like flint that love never fails. Love might look like it sometimes fails, but it doesn’t. Ultimately love will do its work. Love does not manipulate. It is kind, speaks encouragement, and is full of faith. You have to love your children during these years whether it’s a long duration or short. And even if they drive you crazy! Speak good over them. Thank God daily that He is working in their lives! He is!
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. Your prayers will cover them and protect them as much as possible, and in more ways than you can imagine. Pray that God send laborers to speak to them. In most cases, God will use someone else besides you to be the voice of reason and anointing to get through to them. Pray for the angelic host of Heaven to surround them. Hebrews 1:14 (NIV) “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” And pray against the demonic forces trying to blind their eyes. 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.”
Third, show emotional stability! You cannot afford to blow it by letting them drag your emotions into their muddy pit. Sometimes in this searching stage, they get obnoxious, cruel, manipulative, and make seemingly horrible choices. Establish clear boundaries for yourself. Don’t say or do what you will regret, and don’t let them drag your emotions and actions into that place. You are the mature adult right? So keep your emotions in check. Show the love of Jesus the best you are able. Keep in mind that one day they will show up, say they are sorry, and have come to their senses as did the prodigal son.
Finally, don’t you yourself live a hypocritical Christian lifestyle. Your children and the world are watching you! Don’t be a Pharisee and don’t be judgmental. Just live your life in a way that you hope they might be proud of and desire to emulate!
In conclusion: remember that as much as you love your children, Jesus loves them more and is working through your prayers behind the scenes! Your prayers don’t manipulate them or their thinking. Your prayers result in the Lord bringing things before them that help them think about Jesus and whether they will make the choice to return back to Him. That is still their choice and always will be. Your choice is to live and walk in the spirit of love and prayer—two incomparable forces surpassing all others!
1 Corinthians 13:8 & 13 (NIV) ” Love never fails… And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt
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