Romans 10:1
Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them [my children] is that they may be saved.
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Pray that they would see the futility of life without God.
Psalm 14:1
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
Romans 1:22
Claiming to be wise, they became fools.
Pray: God, please allow __________ to see the absurdity of life without you.
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Pray that they would have no lasting peace apart from God.
Isaiah 57:21
“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
Pray: God, please give __________’s heart no peace so that they might be driven to find their rest in you.
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Pray that the Holy Spirit would convict them of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
John 16:8
And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.
Pray: Lord, please send your Holy Spirit to convict __________ of sin, awaken him to how far he falls short of your perfect righteousness, and cause him to fear the judgment his sin rightfully deserves.
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Pray that God would remove Satan’s blinding influence.
2 Corinthians 4:4
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Timothy 2:25-26
God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Pray: God, please command Satan, the god of this world, to remove the blinders from __________’s spiritual eyes and allow him to come to a knowledge of the truth.
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Pray that God would draw them irresistibly to Christ.
John 6:44
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.
John 6:65
No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.
Pray: Lord, please draw __________ to Christ, causing him to see his desperate need for a Savior.
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Pray that they would see the beauty and worth of Christ.
Matthew 13:46
On finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Philippians 3:8
I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Pray: God, please allow __________ to see the beauty of Jesus and realize that nothing is more precious than knowing him.
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Pray that God would do whatever it takes to save them.
1 Corinthians 5:5
You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
Pray: God, I pray that you would loving do whatever you know is necessary in __________’s life so that his soul might be saved.
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Pray that they would recognize the Bible as the word of God.
1 Thessalonians 2:13
When you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.
Pray: Lord, please help __________ realize that the Bible is not merely a human book but your very word.
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Pray that God would give them a new heart.
Ezekiel 36:26-27
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Pray: God, I ask that you remove the heart of stone from __________ and replace it with a heart of flesh, soft and submissive to your authority.
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Pray that God would grant them repentance and faith.
Acts 11:18
“Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
Pray: God, please cause __________ to turn from his sin and place his full trust in Christ alone for salvation.
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Pray that they could no longer kick against the goads.
Acts 26:14
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
Pray: God, please make it impossible for __________ to resist your work in his life and continue fighting against you.
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Pray that they would hunger and thirst for truth.
Psalm 42:1-2
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Pray: God, please create a thirst for truth and righteousness in __________, helping him see that you alone can satisfy that thirst.
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Pray that God would bring faithful Christian mentors into their lives.
Acts 8:30-31
So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”
Acts 18:26
But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
Pray: Lord, please bring godly men and women into __________’s life to explain the gospel accurately to him.
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Pray that God would save those who influence them most.
Proverbs 13:20
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
John 1:42
He [Andrew] brought him [Peter] to Jesus.
Pray: Lord, please cause __________’s closest friends to be saved and testify to him that you alone provide the life he truly needs.
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Pray that God would frustrate their sinful relationships and influences.
2 Samuel 15:31
“O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
Job 5:12
He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
Pray: Lord God, please frustrate every relationship, influence, and counsel that is drawing __________ away from you.
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Pray that they would remember the truth they once heard.
Luke 15:17
But when he came to himself, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!”
2 Timothy 1:5
A faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice.
Pray: God, please allow __________ to remember the truth he once learned, the love he experienced in a Christian home, and the joy that came from being among your people.
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Pray that God would deal mercifully and graciously with them.
Ephesians 2:4-5
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Pray: God, please do not give __________ what he deserves. Instead, please cause your grace and favor to fall upon him, making him alive in Christ.
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Pray that they would recognize every good gift as coming from God.
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.
Romans 2:4
God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.
Pray: God, please help __________ recognize that every good thing in his life comes from your loving hand.
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Pray that they would no longer love the world or find satisfaction in sin.
1 John 2:15
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Jeremiah 2:13
They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
John 4:13
“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again.”
Pray: Lord, please do not allow __________ to love the world or find lasting satisfaction in its pleasures. Help him see that every earthly substitute ultimately leaves him empty and unfulfilled.
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Pray that they would fear the Lord and walk in obedience to him.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Pray: Lord God, please cause __________ to develop a healthy fear of you and joyfully choose to obey your commandments.
8 Things to Remember While You Pray and Wait
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Don’t lose sight of the real battle.
Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Fight for your child, not against your child.
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Let them know you are praying for them.
You do not need to remind them every day.
Many wayward children expect condemnation. Few expect faithful, persevering prayer.
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Ask questions and listen carefully.
Ask sincere questions. “Why do you believe that?” “What led you to that conclusion?”
Listen carefully to their answers. Not only will you communicate respect, but you will also learn how to pray for them more specifically and intelligently.
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Build regular prayer reminders into your life.
Use prayer prompts that keep your child before your mind and heart.
Perhaps it is a photo, a prayer journal, a recurring alarm, a note card, a piece of jewelry, or some other reminder. Do not rely on good intentions alone. Choose to build prayer into your daily life.
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Enlist others to pray.
Ask trusted believers to pray.
Share prayer requests.
Find prayer partners.
Join small groups.
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Resist the urge to nag your adult children.
Resist the temptation to constantly send articles, podcasts, sermons, books, or social media posts.
You want their greatest struggle to be with God, not with you.
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Be generous with your time, attention, and resources.
Spend time with them.
Serve them.
Open your home.
Let your generosity reinforce the truth that your love for them has not changed.
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Trust God with your past failures.
If you sinned against your child, repent.
If you need to ask for their forgiveness, ask for their forgiveness.
Then move forward.
There are no perfect mothers.