To The Parents of the Prodigal Children

Earlier this month we celebrated Mother’s Day. Usually my Mother’s Day is full of love, peace, and joy. My husband and children go out of their way to make this day special for me. This past Mother’s Day however was full of sadness, hurt, and confusion as one of my teenagers chose that weekend to make some seriously selfish and dangerous choices. My husband and I spent this last Mother’s Day weekend crying and praying for our wayward child.

By the end of that weekend when things had settled down some I felt the Holy Spirit showing me that I wasn’t the only mom crying for her child this Mother’s Day. He reminded me of the other mother’s of prodigal children everywhere who’s situations are terribly worse than ours. This past Mother’s Day weekend the heavens were full of our prayers and tears.

I was filled with compassion and moved to write a word of encouragement to the praying parents of the prodigal children. I believe this is what the Holy Spirit is saying to us in this season:

Our Children Are Under Attack!

For many days now the Spirit of the Lord has had it on my heart that our youth is under a severe attack of the enemy. The enemy has determined to steal our children’s faith by trying to pull them away from the truth of God’s Word. He is determined to get them to serve and make material things, money, drugs, alcohol, their boy friends/girlfriends, sexual immorality, entertainment, technology, and their own sinful selfish desires their gods. He is constantly sending subliminal messages through certain movies, TV shows, books, music, ungodly friends and even their cellular phones. Their cellular phones, video games, and laptops are stealing their time, keeping them distracted, and are becoming open doorways for the enemy to come into their lives.

As Christian parents we need to remember that we are in a spiritual battle fighting against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world. There are mighty powers in this dark world and evil spirits in heavenly places that are determined to steal, kill, and destroy our children. (Ephesians 6:12)

Let’s not be naive. Look around you...listen to the news. There are teenagers taunting and bullying each other. They’re violently attacking and killing one another. They’re being arrested, charged with lewd and lascivious conduct because they are getting caught engaging in oral sex on school buses. They’re hurting emotionally and expressing their pain by cutting themselves. Many young girls are so desperate to be skinny like the super models and altered images they see in magazines that they are starving themselves and purging when they do eat. Statistics are showing that one in four women will be a victim of attempted sexual assault during their time spent in college. Other statistics show that nationally more than half of our teenagers are virgins only up until age 17. Still other stats say that four in ten women become pregnant at least once before age twenty. Many teens and young adults aren’t ashamed about showing their half naked bodies in social network photo albums or sitting in front of a webcam in their undergarments trying to seduce the viewer on the other end. Having text sex has become the norm.

This is horrible! This is what is becoming of our next generation. What are we going to do about it as Christian parents?

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season

Every Christmas my church, Calvary Chapel Ft.Lauderdale, has a huge sign in Christmas lights on their property that says ‘Calvary Chapel Says Jesus Is The Reason For The Season’. I love it because the church is on a main road which gets a lot of traffic so the sign gets a lot of visibility. I pray and hope that when the motorist drive by and read that sign that it helps them put Christmas back into perspective. Perhaps they will stop and give thanks for the birth of our Savior. Hopefully their children will read the sign and ask what it means. But what answer will these small children be given? If they are not Christians who knows what their parents will say.

What about us Christians? What are we telling our children about Christmas? Is our children’s faith in Jesus or in Santa? Perhaps their hope and faith are in both. Is this right or are we in error?

I don’t know about you, but as for me and my household we will serve the Lord. We serve a jealous God who has said, “You may worship no other god than me.” (Exodus 20:3) By teaching your children to make their requests known to Santa, teaching them that he is “all knowing”, “always present”, “all powerful”, and the giver of good gifts you are putting in their mind that he is a god. You are leading these small children down the wrong path telling them that Santa knows when they are sleeping, he knows when their awake, he knows if they’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake. Santa-Clause to a child is an exact representative of God to an adult.

Imagine how hurt and confused your child will feel when they find out the truth that Santa is not real, that he is just a myth, a fairytale. The truth will be that you have spent the past several years misleading and lying to your own children. Have we forgotten that the Word of God says that no liar will inherit the kingdom of heaven? (Revelation 21:8)


Our children trust us to lead them down the right path honestly and carefully. Lying to them and teaching them to believe in this false god is cruel and inconsiderate to the child because we know that the day will come that you will have to burst their bubble by telling them that Santa is not real. This could destroy their faith. This may hinder their trusting Jesus Christ because they may be afraid that one day they may be told that Jesus is not real, that he is just a myth, and a fairytale. You may be causing your own children to stumble and lose faith.

Jesus said, “But if any of you causes one of these little ones who trusts in me to lose his faith it would be better for you to have a rock tied to your neck and be thrown into the sea.” (Matthew 18:6) As parents we will be held accountable by our Lord for how we have affected our children “these little ones” ability to trust. Jesus has warned us that there would be severe punishment for leading them down the wrong path.

Let us be good stewards of our children. We owe it to them to teach them the true meaning of Christmas. It is not about Santa, his reindeers, and elves. Santa is not the gift giver. Every good gift and every perfect gift comes from our heavenly Father. (James 1:17) It is because of His provision that we are able to bless our children and family with gifts during the holiday. He is the one that meets our every need.

Jesus is the reason for the season. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who was born to die for us. This is what our children need to know, the TRUTH.

Confession For Parents

Confession for parents taken from The Secret Power of Speaking God's Word (Meyer, Joyce). God’s Word spoken out of your mouth regularly produces a powerful, victorious life!”-Joyce Meyer

• I always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when I pray for my children. They have the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for them in heaven. God has filled them with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. They live lives worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that they may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully give thanks to the Father. They are qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. He has rescued them from the dominion of darkness and brought them into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom they have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:3,5,9-14)


• My children [reverently] fear the Lord, and keep all His statutes and His commandments…They love the Lord their God with all their [mind and] heart and with their entire being and with all their might. (Deuteronomy 6:2,5)


• My children are the head, and not the tail; and they shall be above only, and they shall not be beneath, because they heed the commandments of the Lord their God and are watchful to do them. (Deuteronomy 28:13)


• My children choose life and blessing. They love the Lord, obey His voice, and cling to Him. For He is their life and the length of their days. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)


• My children make right choices according to the Word of God. (Isaiah 54:13)


• As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are my children in the hands of the Lord. (Jeremiah 18:6)


• I am always a positive encourager. I edify and build up; I never tear down or destroy. (Romans 15)


• All my children have Christian friends, and God has set aside a Christian wife or husband for each of them. (1 Corinthians 15:33)


• My children are not unequally yoked with unbelievers. (2 Corinthians 6:14)


• My children walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]. (Galatians 5:16)


• My children have the spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of God. Their eyes have been flooded with light, so that they can know and understand the hope to which He has called them, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones).


• My children have a teachable spirit. (Proverbs 14:16)


• My children love to pray and study the Word. They correctly analyze the Word of Truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Teach Them The Way To Go

Do you realize that the enemy has been trying to destroy you since you were born? Do you think that it will be any different for your children? There is a spiritual battle for our children’s souls. Are your children being prepared for war?

Many parents long to give their children all the things their parents could not give them. Better clothes, better shoes, bigger homes, more presents during the holidays, whatever they felt they were in shortage of. Although these things are nice they cannot be our main focus. Our children’s spiritual condition is vital to their survival. Our Heavenly Father commanded the children of Israel to teach their children His laws and tell of His miracles so that they would set their hope on Him. He did not want them to be stubborn, rebellious, unfaithful children who refuse to give their hearts to Him. (Psalms 78:2-8)

I have five beautiful children. They range from 16 months old to thirteen years old. I do not claim to be an expert, but I have gained a lot of experience over the years and I am learning daily. The more time I spend with the Lord the more I begin to realize that had I of been taught the principles found in the Word when I was a child perhaps things would have been different. I was not equipped for the attacks that were launched against me.

His Spirit has lead me to teach my little ones values, integrity, and morals based on His Word. He has promised that if we direct our children onto the right path when they are older they will not depart from it. They will remember it and always turn to God. (Proverbs 22:6)

We must teach our children to love, honor, worship, praise, and have a reverential fear of God. Sending them off to Sunday school is just not enough. We have to set the example for our children. They should see us spending time with God, praying, reading the Word, worshipping and praising. They need to see Jesus in us! They need to know the importance and benefits of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We must be sure they understand that His sacrifice did not come easy and should not be taken lightly.

It is our responsibility to encourage them to read the Word daily and put Him first in everything. If we teach them the principle of tithing and giving with a sincere heart while they are young they will not have a problem later on in life honoring God with their finances. They need to know that they are different from the rest of the world and they are to let their light shine for all to see.

If you do not teach your children to serve God they will learn to serve the world. The world will try to consume them and destroy their lives but you can teach your children to be over comers in Christ Jesus. Teach your children to walk down the narrow road that leads to salvation or the enemy will lead them down the wide path to death and hell.

King Solomon - One of My Favorite Father's

One of my favorite father’s in the bible is King Solomon. I can see him in the movie screen of my mind walking through the palace talking with his son. “My son, never forget the things I’ve taught you. If you want a long and satisfying life, closely follow my instructions.” (Proverbs 3:1-2) He wanted to impart wisdom to his son. He wanted his children to develop good judgment and common sense. (Proverbs 4:5) He was specific in the advice that he gave explaining the benefits of wisdom.

“The person who has Wisdom.. is loyal and benefits with a long and satisfying life."
"The person who has Wisdom.. is kind and finds favor with God and people."
"The person who has Wisdom..trusts the Lord and has a reputation for good judgment."
"The person who has Wisdom..puts God first and has success."
"The person who has Wisdom..turns his back on evil and has health & vitality."
"The person who has Wisdom..knows right from wrong and has riches, honor,pleasure, peace."
"The person who has Wisdom..Listens, learns, & does what is right and has protection ."

(See Proverbs 3 & 4)


He spoke to his son about honoring the Lord with his money (Proverbs 3:9-10), debt (Proverbs 3:27-28), meditating on the Word (Proverbs 4:20-22), warned against sex with prostitutes and encouraged faithfulness to his wife. (Proverbs 5:1-23)

Fatherhood is a great honor and privilege with great responsibility. The principles that Solomon taught his son can be applied in any lifetime. In fact ALL scripture is give of God, and is profitable for teaching, reproving, correcting, and instruction in righteousness; that the man (or woman) of God may be completely equipped for all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Fathers you can become the dad God wants you to be by meditating on the Word daily. If your earthly father did not set this example it is ok. God your Heavenly Father is the perfect role model. Let Him help you become the godly role model your children need so that they will learn to love the Lord with all their hearts and desire to do His will in their life.

May God give you a desire to search his Word and teach your children to reverence Him. In Jesus name..Amen.