Praying for the young and the rebellious

Teenagers in the Netherlands. (Wikipedia)

My Aunt Blanche used to have a description for young people who were making ridiculous and dangerous decisions. She said they were climbing Fool's Hill.

Like never before in living memory, our young people are under attack, and many are climbing Fool's Hill. The adversary is using every possible means to bring death and destruction to their entire generation.

If they are not one of the two in every five who lose their lives to abortion, they encounter at a younger and younger age the character of the enemy of their souls who desires to steal, kill, and destroy them.

Parents, grandparents, prayer warriors, and youth pastors plead with the Lord, “What, Lord, is Your plan for this generation?” Oh, the Lord does have plans. He plans for them to inherit the promises set aside for the descendants of His servants (Deut. 7:9; Psalm 33:11; 100:5; 112:2; Isaiah 41:4; 44:3; 49:25; 54:13, 17; 59:21; Acts 2:39; Eph 3:21).

Our most urgent assignment is to pray for those in rebellion, who are resisting God’s grace, that God will protect them from the enemy’s assaults against them (Gen 22:17; Psalm 127:5). We are called to pray that they will realize the depths of their own rebellion and sin, come under the Holy Spirit’s conviction, repent (Ezek 18:30-32), and understand the incredible love that their Father has for them. He does not want any of them to perish (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Tim 2:4; Ezek 18:30-32; John 6:37, 40).

First, we pray for their rebellious wills. We understand them, for we, too, are children of Adam. Prone to wander, Lord, we all feel it. Pray that the Lord will guard them. The strongest hedge of protection we can place around our children is the very authority of Jesus Christ and of His inerrant Word. “Let thy goodness like a fetter bind my wand’ring heart to Thee.”

Stand in all authority in submission to Jesus Christ on behalf of your rebellious one (Eph 6:10-18). Peter and John knew the command of faith (Acts 3:6; 9:34, 40; 14:10). Speak over them from the position and in the power you have in the authority of the risen Lord. Command the enemy’s assignments against your rebellious one to stop. Rebuke passivity, blindness, rebellion, and demonic influence that would lead them to errors of judgment, wrong choices, or outright sin. Turn the curses to the cross of Jesus (Col 2:13-15; Gal 3:13-14).

In Jesus’ name, stand in His authority against the bad influencers, the works and workers of iniquity in your young person’s life (Psalm 91:13; Luke 10:19). Break the power of false loyalties your loved one has with those who are not sold out to the true and living God. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring such conviction on your rebellious loved one that he or she would resist the devil so that he would flee from them (James 4:7-10).

Ask the Lord to enforce the truth of His Word that when the enemy comes at them one way, he will flee from them in seven ways (Deut 28:7). Ask the Lord to expose the schemes of wickedness and protect them from themselves.

Commit to place your beloved rebel in the Father’s loving hands? Take your stand with 2 Timothy 1:12.

Adapted from Sylvia Gunter, Prayer Essentials, vol. 2.