Tag: How To Help Your Millennial Return To Faith

‘So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, ‘ Colossians 1:9-11(NLT)

Based on this prayer of Paul to the Colossians, pray over your millennial in these five areas: 

• Pray that he or she is filled with the knowledge of God. 
• Pray that your child knows and pursues God’s will for his or her life. 
• Pray that your son or daughter grows in wisdom and understanding. 
• Pray that your child lives a life of purity and pleases the Lord in all that he or she does.
• Pray that your son or daughter would be strengthened in the Holy Spirit and will experience endurance and joy in his or her life.

Understanding the power of prayer and the impact your prayers can have on your millennial will radically change your life. There aren’t many guarantees raising children, but one thing is sure— your prayers can change their lives for the better.

 Keep praying, mom and dad. Don’t give up! Stay in the fight by staying on your knees.

from How To Help Your Millennial Return To Faith by Jason Jimenez

‘Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.Some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’ Matthew 6:9-13(NLT)

‘Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. ‘ Colossians 4:2(NLT)

Praying for our children is one of the greatest things we can do for them. It is more important than paying for their college, sending them money, or buying them gifts. Parents, praying for your children is powerful. Your millennial needs your prayers. He or she may not ask you to pray, but your son or daughter desperately needs your prayers. 

I (Jason) remember vividly a picture my mom placed on my bedroom bookshelf. It depicted a father kneeling at the bedside of his son. The father’s face is buried in his hands, signifying he is interceding for his son. Behind him is an arched window with the splendor of a shining angel. It’s a remarkable picture that shows the power of a praying father and the intense warfare that rages over the souls of children. My mom put it in my room to remind me that she and my dad were praying for me. 

Several years after my mother’s death, I was lying in bed. It was late, but I couldn’t sleep. I’d been having nightmares and felt under attack by the evil one. I was scared to tell anyone but shared it with Joe, one of my older brothers, who then shared it with my dad unbeknownst to me. I remember distinctly falling into a deep sleep, and then being awakened by what sounded like whispering prayers. 

What I didn’t realize was those sounds coming up the staircase were the sounds of prayers coming from my dad. He was interceding for me! That morning my dad and I talked about spiritual warfare and why he stayed up praying for me. It changed my outlook on prayer. 

Your prayers matter. Your prayers are mighty weapons used on behalf of your children to fight off Satan. Your prayers have the power to protect your children and provide them with opportunity after opportunity to grow in their relationship with God and with you. It’s disheartening to hear from parents who lack the confidence to pray bold prayers. We know of many, and we identify with those who struggle as well. But we have good news for you: the Bible is filled with many amazing prayers. All you need to do is take some of these prayers recorded in the Bible, learn to follow their patterns, and adapt them as guides for praying for your children.

from How To Help Your Millennial Return To Faith by Jason Jimenez

‘So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.’ Ephesians 5:33(NLT)

‘In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives. Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands. For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.
Husbands
In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
All Christians
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. ‘ 1 Peter 3:1-9(NLT)

Years ago, when I (Jason) was a pastor at a local church, I ran into a woman who worked downstairs. I said my hellos and kept walking. She called my name. I turned around to see if something was wrong. 

She ran up to me frantically. Just a few months back, she had shared about her son and how well he was doing in college. He had always been a great student and even considered becoming a missionary. But now something was terribly wrong. When her son came home for spring break, he told his mom and dad that he was an atheist. She was shocked. For the next year, I tried helping the family, but their college son never came back to Christ. 

I remember how defeated the parents felt. Over and over they would explain their efforts to raise their kids in a Christian home. They spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on private Christian education and stayed involved in as many activities as their kids were in. But as I talked with the parents, I kept noticing something. The couple argued all the time. When he would start to say something, she would interrupt him. When she would speak, he would correct her, which led to even more arguing. It was nonstop. 

Why do I bring up this story? 

I bring it up because if you want to get along with your millennial, you have to first get along with your spouse. Given the divorce rates and remarriages these days, I’m sure it’s going to be very difficult for some of you. 

Some of you are divorced and have very little (or no) communication with your ex-spouse. Some of you have been married a long time but were never on the same page when raising the kids. Now that your children are grown, it’s a moot issue. 

Others of you are divorced and remarried. Which means you have stepchildren in the mix—and that can make things a bit more complicated. 

The rest of you are still happily married and finding more ways to relate and get along with your adult children. Good for you! 

Families these days are very different. Some are more complicated and messy than others. But the fact remains that God expects parents to strive for togetherness and be a united front in the home. To have a rock-solid marriage and be on the same page in their parenting. It’s really hard to get along with your millennial if you can’t even get along with your spouse. No matter how hard you try, it is impossible to keep your marital problems from interfering with your parenting. Work things out with your spouse. Do whatever is necessary to restore and strengthen your marriage. 

Marriage is the centerpiece of the family. When the marriage is strong, the family will be strong. But if the marriage is weak, the family will be weak. If the marriage is in trouble, the family is in trouble. The problems you have with your millennial may easily be related to past and present troubles in your marriage. 

If things are really bad in your marriage or between you and your millennial child, seek help from a godly couple, accountability group, or from a biblical counselor. The Bible says, “Where there is no counsel people fall, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11: 14). Added guidance will give you the support needed to work through major issues between you and your millennial. Don’t neglect this. Get the help you need. Because in order for parents to build their relationship with their millennials, they need to first and foremost have unity in their marriages. 

from How To Help Your Millennial Return To Faith by Jason Jimenez

‘I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord .’ Psalms 40:1-3(NLT)

There is no denying that culture and church play a major role in the developmental life of any person. But the role parents play in their children’s lives far outweighs any other influence. What parents believe and how they live out their beliefs (positively or negatively) has a huge impact on their children.

 You see, parents are the key. Parents are the most influential and most powerful force in a child’s life. Nothing can compare to the love a mother has for her children. Nothing comes close to the security and wisdom a father provides for his children.

 When parents strive to model a pattern of Christianity to their millennial children, those children are far more likely to follow in their parents’ footsteps. There is no one more powerful and uniquely qualified to do this than mom and dad. There is nothing more compelling and persuasive than a parent living out his or her faith with great boldness and conviction. 

However, parents must be willing to step up and step out to assume their spiritual roles in the lives of their millennial children. The family is central to the spiritual formation of any child (regardless of the age); but if parents lack the passion and drive to live it and teach it, then the world will ultimately shape our children. (You don’t want that, and neither do we.)

These are critical times for millennials. And that’s why it is so vitally important that you stay invested in their lives. They need you now more than ever. And remember, you are not alone in this situation. Find other parents who share your concerns. Speak up at church. Surround yourself with a support group of like-minded parents committed to helping each other work through these challenging times together.

from How To Help Your Millennial Return To Faith by Jason Jimenez

‘I prayed to the Lord , and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.’ Psalms 34:4-7(NLT)

‘No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ‘ Philippians 3:13(NLT)

Most parents, if they are honest, will tell you they are hurting. They hurt over the bad choices their adult children are making. They hurt over the intimacy they once had with their son or daughter. 

 In too many families, faith went only as far as church attendance. Throw in a few extra church activities, a few family devotions, and lectures about doing the right thing. The truth is, many parents do feel they failed in leading their children spiritually. 

 I remember an older pastor sharing with me about his prodigal son. He and I were sitting in his office before I was about to preach in his church. I saw many pictures of his beautiful family there. But I noticed he had current pictures only of his daughters and not his son. When I commented on it, he said that he and his wife had not spoken to their son in years. The pastor teared up and said, “I’m to blame that he’s running away from God. I was too busy ministering to others, and I didn’t do enough for my son. That’s my biggest regret.” 

Sound familiar? Take out ministering to others and fill in the blank. We all have regrets and know other godly parents who do as well.

 Holding on to regrets prevents you from experiencing true freedom in Christ. Being tossed around by waves of regret is actually where Satan, the great Adversary, wants you to be. He doesn’t want you to let your regrets go. He wants you to drown in them. Every time you see your son or daughter making bad choices, Satan wants you to feel regret. He wants you to blame yourself for their sinful choices. But like the apostle Paul, you need to gain this assurance: “One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3: 13).

 The key is not to regret having regrets. (That only brings on more regrets.) Instead, give your regrets over to God and allow His healing power to take control of your life. As the old saying goes: you can’t change the past, but you can learn from it. 

 When you feel disappointed in the way you parented, or even ashamed, look to God. When doubts creep in and you feel you failed as a parent, cry out to the Lord. He will heal your pain. 

from How To Help Your Millennial Return To Faith by Jason Jimenez

‘for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—’ Psalms 78:2(NLT)

‘Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ‘ 2 Timothy 2:3(NLT)

In a recent study, LifeWay Research and Fuller Youth Institute estimated that over half of high school graduates will leave the church and become disengaged in their faith. This is alarming because many emerging adults are making big decisions that affect more than just their own lives—and they are making those decisions without faith in God. You may have a child who has rejected Christianity, or you may simply have a desire to help build an unshakable foundation for your child. 

Whatever the case, Christian parents need to be armed and ready to wage war for the hearts and souls of their adult children. We are knee-deep in a culture war for our children’s faith and for the future fate of Christianity in America. Satan never stops scheming and spreading lies. He doesn’t want you standing firm in the faith, nor does he want you leading your family. 

He uses the guilt and regret many parents carry to advance his agenda. It’s clearly going to take a lot of prayer and hard work to equip parents to rise up and use their influence and faith to change the direction of their homes. But it’s worth it. If you’re desperate to learn about your millennial and you want to find a better and more powerful way to communicate with him or her, then we welcome this opportunity to help reinforce your responsibility to have a strong relationship with your adult child. Your child might be an adult, but that doesn’t mean you’re not to play a role in his or her life. 

We want to empower you to do that, so we’ve sought some of the most respected Christian minds (Lee Strobel, Ed Stetzer, David Kinnaman, Sean McDowell) to help you understand the worldview of typical millennials and, hopefully, to bridge the gaps that exist between you and your adult child. It is our prayer that this plan will deepen your faith and equip you with the courage you need to become the parent your children (young or old) need you to be.

from How To Help Your Millennial Return To Faith by Jason Jimenez