Focus on the Family Broadcast: Praying for Prodigal Children

Key Themes

• Silence of God: God's silence does not imply indifference.
• Parental Concerns: Focus on bringing children's hearts to Jesus.
• Prodigals: Referring to young adults who may appear distant from faith.

Insights from Dr. Erwin Lutzer

• Parental Prayer: Necessity of praying for children; focus on heart transformation over behavior.
• Wayward Children: Often stem from broken homes; not always the fault of the parents.

Key Discussions

Understanding Prodigals

• Definition: A prodigal walks away from faith, derived from the parable in Luke 15.
• Behavior and Heart: The need to focus on godliness over merely preventing bad behavior.

Praying Effectively

• Prayer Approach: Importance of praying for oneself as a parent before the children.
• Scriptural Praying: Using scripture to guide prayers for children, making them specific and meaningful.

Personal Accounts

• Dr. Lutzer’s Experience: Personal anecdotes about prayer’s impact on family and children.
• His Parents: Their dedication to daily prayer for their family.

Parenting Through Faith

Common Parental Struggles

• Guilt: Many parents struggle with guilt over their children’s choices.
• Interpreting God’s Silence: Encouragement to persist in faith and prayer despite silence.

Biblical Illustrations

• Syrophoenician Woman: Persistence in prayer and overcoming barriers.

Encouragement for Parents

• Trust in God: Conversion is God's job; parents should give children to God through prayer.
• Don't Give Up: Continue to trust God, break through barriers like the Syrophoenician woman.

Practical Steps

• Parental Introspection: Before praying for children, ask God what He is saying to you.
• Specific Prayers: Example of using prayers from Apostle Paul and Psalms for children and how to adapt scripture into prayers.

Advice for Parents

• Long-term Prayer: Understanding that results may take time, but God is at work.
• Breaking Down Barriers: Continue fighting for children through persistent faith.

Call to Action

• Support and Resources: Encouragement to reach out for counseling and resources like Dr. Lutzer's book.
• Community Support: The importance of donors supporting efforts to help families thrive in Christ.

This summary captures the main points of discussion from the Focus on the Family broadcast featuring Dr. Erwin Lutzer on the topic of praying effectively for children, particularly those who may be considered prodigals.