A Prayer for Parents - Your Daily Prayer - April 29
A Prayer for Parents
By Living Free Ministries
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. – Proverbs 22:6
Early adolescence includes young people from 11 to 14 years of age. Contrary to popular thought, adolescence does not have to be a time of rebellion or rejection of earlier teaching. The key to parenting an adolescent is communication. If you keep the lines of communication with your child open, almost any disagreement can be resolved, or any difficulty overcome.
Family mealtimes continue to be important times for family conversation. Adolescents often try to avoid those times. It would be reasonable to insist on at least three (and preferably five) evening meals per week with all family members present. Discuss family issues, school issues, community issues, politics, God, and spiritual issues. Encourage your teen to think through issues and offer opinions.
Consider this…
Have real conversation with your teenager--don't just voice demands or criticism. Ask for, and respect, your teen's opinions, even if you disagree. Share confidences, dreams, mistakes you have made, feelings. Do not withdraw from your child, even if he or she attempts to withdraw from you.
Prayer:
Father, I find it so easy to focus on the negatives in my teen's life, easy to jump on those things without listening. Help me to speak in a way that will bring out the best in my child. Help me to not put him down, not cut him out. In Jesus' Name, Amen!
Editor’s Note: the following is an abridged version of Godly Parenting from Living Free Every Day. To read the full devotion, follow this link.
Related Resource: When Life Unravels: Biblical Strategies for Hard Seasons
Few challenges stretch a parent’s faith and emotional reserves more than life’s unexpected curveball seasons—the plot twists that leave you wondering, “God, what are you doing?” How do you remain anchored in truth when the bottom drops out?
This week on Christian Parent/Crazy World, Catherine welcomes back her very first guest and trusted friend, Dr. Erin Barry, to help parents not only survive, but find hope and stability in life’s most turbulent moments. Dr. Barry is a clinical Christian counselor, author, homeschool expert, and co-founder of inseparableLives.com. Her biblically grounded wisdom comes from over 30 years of walking families through the storms of life.
In this transparent and practical episode, Catherine gets real about her own season of loss, uncertainty, and a series of shocking life upheavals—from parenting a prodigal, to family moves, to sudden job loss. Using these stories as a backdrop, Dr. Barry unpacks essential biblical strategies for clinging to faith and finding stability when life feels out of control. If this episode helps you be a more thoughtful parent, be sure to follow Christian Parent, Crazy World on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
