We have a promise from the Bible that says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). If your children were not raised to know God, then Isaiah 54:13 assures you that they will be taught of the Lord and have great peace.

With adult children, clearly they are the final authority in their own lives, but, as their parent, you do have a special role in standing on God’s covenant for them. As a believer you have a covenant with God where your children are concerned. The Word declares that Jesus has redeemed you from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13). Study Deuteronomy 28 to find out your blessings as well as all the things you are now redeemed from, including the loss of your children to anything ungodly.

Children are sent as a blessing of the Lord to us and He values them highly (Psalm 127:3). There are many wonderful promises from the book of Isaiah concerning God taking care of our children (often “seed” in older biblical language). Read these verses and be assured that God is diligently watching over your children:

1) God will pour His Spirit and blessing upon your children (Isaiah 44:3)
2) God will save your children (Isaiah 49:25)
3) God’s Word will not depart out of the mouth of your children and grandchildren (Isaiah 59:21)
4) People will acknowledge that your children are blessed of the Lord (Isaiah 61:9)
5) You and your children will remain before God (Isaiah 66:22)

So stand on your covenant and claim all these good things for your children from God’s Word. Agree with God and talk like He talks. See them as God does. Begin confessing the Word by placing their names in the prayer the Apostle Paul prayed in Colossians 1:9-13 for the church at Colosse:

Father, I pray that {name} be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that {name} walks worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, and is fruitful in every good work; that {name} is increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might according to His glorious power, unto all patience, and long-suffering with joyfulness. Father, I thank You because You have made {name} able to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light and have delivered {name} from the authority of Satan and translated {name} into the kingdom of Your dear Son.

As you speak forth God’s Word, you open the door for the power of God to move. God knows how to deliver your children, so co-operate with Him and give Him the opportunity. God’s Word works when we put it to work.

I encourage you to look at this article by Gloria from the August 2002 issue of the BVoV magazine, entitled “When God says Pssst“. Also, Kenneth, along with many other adults I know, attributes his salvation to the faithfulness of has mother’s praying. So, you have an important part to play, even though you are not the final authority in your children’s life.

Finally, I reproduce some advice given by Kenneth Copeland concerning the role of parents in the lives of their adult children:

1. Always express your love to your children but be firm as you explain that you cannot contribute to their sinful lifestyles. Keep channels of communication open. It is important to be an effective communicator using godly wisdom. Your children, no doubt, are well aware of your moral stand. What they need to be assured of is your love. Let them know you love them, but you do not love their sin. With open lines of communication between you, it is more likely that they will receive guidance from you when they repent and come to God.
2. Refuse to receive any guilt they attempt to place on you. Because of their sin, they are the ones who should feel the guilt. If they confess their sin to God, He will be faithful to forgive them and cleanse them from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
3. Your part is to intercede for your children. Ezekiel 22:30 says, “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” Righteousness requires that sin be judged. But God longs for an intercessor to cry for mercy in order to delay judgment. God is longsuffering with a desire to work true godly repentance in the hearts of sinners.

Please be assured of our prayers
In Jesus’ Name