References for Parents and Grandparents of Wayward Children

by Lois Breneman - Heart to Heart - Continued from last month

Many godly Christian parents have loved, disciplined, taught, and parented their children in all the right ways.  They are great Christian parents, and yet their children still rebelled, turning away from the God they had invited into their hearts as young children.  Remember that all children have a will and sometimes they simply allow the enemy to lure them away.  

In these last days, I know the devil is really on the rampage, working overtime, "seeking whom he may devour" - seeking to steal the souls of our children.  He knows his time is short!

My husband and I have so many young adults on our prayer list who have strayed from the Lord after leaving home.  It often happens when they attend a secular college, if not sooner. 

Of course, as parents, there is not one of us who hasn't made mistakes along the way.  But God Himself was a perfect parent, and yet Adam and Eve disobeyed Him, caving in after being lured by the serpent.  The children of Israel rebelled over and over again, and God continually forgave them and continued loving them.  The enemy is still on the rampage, I believe more now than ever before!  

An extremely helpful article for parents can be found at http://ccef.org/why-do-kids-turn-out-way-they-do.  This article was written by Jim Newheiser, a pastor in Escondido, California, as well as a counselor and director at The Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship (IBCD) in San Diego.  Parents of wayward children will find comfort and hope in this article, but all parents and grandparents will find it very helpful.

The pull of the world, especially today, is so powerful, but we need to remember that our God is more powerful than Satan. 

As I mentioned in the last newsletter, I believe there are three important  things we can do as parents and grandparents when a child strays from the Lord (or has never become a Christian).  They are worth repeating:

        1) Pray without ceasing.  Live in a constant spirit of prayer.  Pray the Word of God, using scriptures. Never give up!
        2) Love, love, love your child unconditionally. 
        3) Keep the doors of communication open.

More excellent and helpful resources available for parents and grandparents of wayward children:

        Good News about Prodigals by Tom Bissett
        Prodigals and Those Who Love Them by Ruth Bell Graham
        Rebel with a Cause by Franklin Graham
        Come Back Barbara by C. John Miller and Barbara Miller Juliani
        Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
        New Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
        More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell
        Beyond Belief to Conviction by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler
        The Truth Twisters by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler
        Right from Wrong by Josh McDowell
        Answers to Tough Questions by Josh McDowell and Don Stewart
        The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
        The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel
        The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel
        The Case for a Real Jesus by Lee Strobel
        www.creationmuseum.org - Visit the Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, and read all you can from their website.  They have extremely helpful resources of all kinds.  Creation is the basis of our Christian beliefs.

Parents who still have their children in the home, whether they homeschool or not, can have their children read some of these books to get them grounded in their faith.  They need to know why they believe.  Their faith needs to be their own, with changes in their hearts, and these books will help tremendously.  A good family discussion of each book, led by the parents, would be beneficial in transforming your children's beliefs into real personal convictions. 

It is my prayer that you will be encouraged by putting some of these ideas to work in your life, and you will see God do a mighty work in the heart of your children and grandchildren, regardless of the magnetic pull the world has today - but our God is greater!  Continually ask God to put a hedge of protection around our children and surround them with God's love and goodness, until they desire and seek a personal relationship with Him.  There is always hope!