Berndt
reminds readers that even when parents have done everything they knew
to do right in raising their children in the faith, there is no
guarantee that they will remain faithfully strong. It is essential
that parents pray for their children, even when they are adults and
have a life of their own.
There
are two aspects to this book. One is stories. Berndt tells many from
her own family and many from the families of others. Lots of the
stories include wonderful answers to prayer but I liked it that she
has included stories where parents are still struggling over problems
unsolved. These stories help encourage parents that they are not
alone in their concern for their adult children. They also encourage
parents to realize that it is never to late to pray for their
children.
The
other aspect of the book is praying Scriptures. Berndt likes to have
a biblical basis for her prayers and includes many on a variety of
topics. There are prayers for the adult children and prayers the
parents can pray for themselves.
Some
of the topics were no surprise, such as praying for your child's
spouse or to get a job. But some did surprise me, like praying for
your child's mental and emotional health and praying to overcome
temptation.
The
bottom line is trusting God. That is ultimately what Berndt is asking
God to help her do, put her confidence, her trust, and her delight in
Him rather than in any blessing or gift He might provide. “And I'm
asking him to do that for my children and their spouses too.” (307)
If that resonates with you, this book will help you on that path.
Berndt
believes we must continue to fight for our families and the first
line of attack is prayer. This book contains good insights and
suggestions for maintaining a life of prayer over your children.
My
rating: 4/5 stars.
Jodie
Berndt is the author of several books. She and her husband have four
grown children and two sons-in-law. She is a speaker and Bible
teacher. You can find her writing at https://jodieberndt.com/.
Zondervan,
320 pages.
I
received a complimentary copy of this book through Handlebar. My
comments are an independent and honest review.
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