How should I pray for my adult children?

We as parents love our children and want what is best for them.  We want them to have a relationship with God.  We want them to be successful and financially stable adults.  Do you pray for your adult children, but never seem to see any results?  Are you wasting your time?  Are you praying for the wrong things?  How and what should you pray for? 

Recently my small group Bible study  has been reading and studying the book "The Power of Praying For Your Adult Children" by Stormie Omartian.  And what great insights she has on praying for our adult children.  We begin praying for our kids when they are young, but as they get older we really don't know how or what to pray for.  She tells us just what we need to know.  This post is taken from her book with some of my thoughts added.  I hope you will enjoy this and get some ideas of how you should be praying.  - And I highly recommend you get the book.

Seven things every parent needs to know:

1. Being a parent never stops, if you really care about your child's well-being.  When they become adults, they make decisions and choices on their own.  We as parents want to express our concerns and give advice, but may not have an opening to do so or our advice is not wanted or accepted.  We can go to God with our concerns and ask Him to do something on behalf of our adult children.  If we trust that God hears and answers our prayers,  it can change their lives.

2. We need to know that we can't fix our adult children.  Only God can make changes in them.  Our job is to release them into God's hands and keep praying for them.

3. We need to know that God can change everything.  It's hard to know what to do and what not to do for them.  Only God can give you wisdom about these things.  Prayer is not telling God what to do, but it's partnering with Him for His will to be done.  We must believe that God loves you and your adult children and He will hear your prayers.  Believe He can deliver you from fears and give you and your adult children what you need when you ask for it.  No matter how big your adult children's problems are, God is greater.  Believe that your prayers have power.

4. We need to know we must stop blaming ourselves.  Don't feel guilty of how good or not so good you have raised them.  We are not perfect.  God is the perfect parent and looked what happened to His children.  We need to walk with God daily and ask Him for wisdom about everything.  You can ask Him to free you from any guilt.  Don't be discouraged.  Discouragement is a sign you need to spend more time with God so He can encourage you.

5. We need to know we have to forgive.  Forgiveness has to flow in us before the power of the Holy Spirit flows through us when we pray.  "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear." - Psalm 66:18.  So forgive your adult children for anything they may have done to hurt or disappoint you.

6.  We need to know there is only one perfect parent.  That is God Himself.  There are no perfect parents on earth.  "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 you didn't know the Lord when your children were young and didn't train them in His ways, it's not too late.  You can still go to God and confess and ask for forgiveness for your mistakes.  Ask Him to now show you how to pray for your adult children.

7. We need to know you can say "For this adult child I prayed".  These words were spoken by Hannah in 1 Sam. 1:27.  Her prayer is one of the greatest examples of a parents prayer.  If you have not dedicated your child to the Lord, do it now and release him to God's hands.

Start now praying for your adult children.

Lord,

I pray you would teach me how to pray for my children.  Set me free from all worry and concern and give me peace.  I now release them to you.  Thank you for loving me and my children.  Help me not to feel guilty for things I have done or not done in their lives.  Help me to forgive myself and anyone who has hurt my children.  Thank you for hearing my prayers.  Give me faith to believe and patience to wait for the answers.  I give you all the praise and the glory.  In Jesus' name I pray. 

Amen.

Now that you have released and dedicated or rededicated your adult children into the hands of God, here are a few things you can pray for:

Pray that they will welcome an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Pray that they will be influenced by the Holy Spirit of truth.

Pray for their hearts will be turned toward the Lord and open to receive Him.

Pray that they have a desire to know God better and become more like Him.

Pray that their heart will be closed to the lies of the enemy and open to God's truth.

Pray that they have the desire to have a repentant heart and know what God has done..

Pray that God will give them wisdom, discernment and revelation.

Pray that they have freedom in Christ, deliverance and restoration.

Pray that they understand God's purpose for their lives.

Pray that they work successfully and have financial stability.

Pray that they have a sound mind and the right attitude.

Pray that they resist evil influences and destructive behavior.

Pray that they avoid all sexual pollution and temptation.

Pray that they experience good health and God's healing.

Pray that they enjoy a successful marriage and raise godly children.

Pray that they maintain strong and fulfilling relationships.

Pray that they walk into the future God has for them.

 Her book goes in more detail giving examples of prayers on each of the above suggestions on things to pray.  She lists many, many Scriptures concerning how, what, and why we should pray for our children.  Never give up praying for them.  God wants them to come to Him and be happy more than we do.  If you don't see results, don't be discouraged.  We must remain faithful and trust God.  We must wait on His timing.