CHAPTER EIGHT | ATTRACTING GODLY FRIENDS AND ROLE MODELS
I have always prayed for my children’s friends and, for the most part, they’ve had great ones. Occasionally they’ve made friends I have always prayed for my children’s friends and, for the most part, they’ve had great ones. Occasionally they’ve made friends that, as a parent, I had reservations about. What I didn’t like was the type of influence they were on my child.
The way I always handled this situation was to pray. I prayed for that child to be changed or else be taken out of my child’s life. In every case that prayer was answered.
Parents often have gut-level feelings about their children’s friends. When that happens, ask God for Holy Spirit–inspired discernment and pray accordingly.
One of my most fervent times of intercession regarding my children’s friends came when we moved from California to Tennessee. Because I knew how difficult this time could be for my children, every day in the months before and after we moved I prayed, “Lord, help my children to make godly friends. I know that You brought us here and You will not leave my children forsaken. I’m concerned that in their need for acceptance they’ll end up with friends whose moral standards are not as high as Yours. Bring godly role models into their lives.”
I often lay awake at night praying on their behalf.
Eventually people came into their lives who have become some of the greatest friends they’ve ever had. This is not just a coincidence or a fairy-tale ending. This is a result of intercessory prayer. This is the result of crying out to God, saying, “God, help my children to attract godly friends and role models.”
God’s Word clearly instructs us: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. That doesn’t mean our children can never have a nonbelieving friend. But there is a clear implication that their closest friends, the ones to whom they have strong ties, should be believers.
“Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3). No, they can’t. That means if they are not agreed, somebody has to change. And that’s why “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26).
If your child doesn’t have close believing friends, begin to pray right now toward that end.
We have the power of God and the truth of His Word behind us. Don’t stand for someone leading your child astray.
One of the greatest influences in our children’s lives will be their friends and role models. How can we not pray about them?
WEAPONS OF WARFARE
Proverbs 4:14
1 Corinthians 5:11
Proverbs 24:21-22
Proverbs 22:24-25
Psalm 1:1
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