A Prayer for Parents - Your Daily Prayer - April 29

A Prayer for Parents
By Living Free Ministries

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. – Proverbs 22:6

Early adolescence includes young people from 11 to 14 years of age. Contrary to popular thought, adolescence does not have to be a time of rebellion or rejection of earlier teaching. The key to parenting an adolescent is communication. If you keep the lines of communication with your child open, almost any disagreement can be resolved, or any difficulty overcome.

Family mealtimes continue to be important times for family conversation. Adolescents often try to avoid those times. It would be reasonable to insist on at least three (and preferably five) evening meals per week with all family members present. Discuss family issues, school issues, community issues, politics, God, and spiritual issues. Encourage your teen to think through issues and offer opinions.

Consider this…

Have real conversation with your teenager--don't just voice demands or criticism. Ask for, and respect, your teen's opinions, even if you disagree. Share confidences, dreams, mistakes you have made, feelings. Do not withdraw from your child, even if he or she attempts to withdraw from you.

Prayer:

Father, I find it so easy to focus on the negatives in my teen's life, easy to jump on those things without listening. Help me to speak in a way that will bring out the best in my child. Help me to not put him down, not cut him out. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Editor’s Note: the following is an abridged version of Godly Parenting from Living Free Every Day. To read the full devotion, follow this link.

Related Resource: 5 Things Parents Need to Tell Their Kids About War Right Now

When war dominates the headlines, parents are left asking an important question: How do we talk to our kids about it? In this episode of March or Die, Jeremy Stalnecker shares practical and biblical principles for guiding young people through confusing and frightening global events.

Drawing from his experience as a Marine who lived through the wars following 9/11, Jeremy explains why moments of global conflict can become powerful opportunities for parents to teach their children about courage, faith, and moral clarity. Rather than avoiding difficult conversations, parents can use them to help their kids understand fear, the reality of evil in the world, and the responsibility we have to stand for what is right.

This conversation explores how parents can alleviate fear, explain why conflict exists, and demonstrate a faith-filled response when the world seems chaotic. Jeremy also discusses the importance of teaching children the difference between necessary and unnecessary violence, why standing against evil matters, and how faith in God provides stability even in uncertain times. If this episode of March or Die helped your spiritual perspective, be sure to follow the show on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!