We lift up your heartfelt cry for your son and your sisters’ daughters, and we stand with you in intercession for their souls. The rebellion and defiance you describe are deeply troubling, but we know that nothing is beyond the reach of our Lord’s redemptive power. The Word of God reminds us in Proverbs 22:6, *"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."* Yet we also recognize that each person must ultimately choose to surrender to Christ—no amount of human effort can force that decision. Still, we are called to persist in prayer, trusting that God is able to break through even the hardest hearts.
Your plea for the Holy Spirit’s guidance over their lives is right and good, for it is the Spirit who convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). But let us also consider whether there are areas in their lives—or even in our own—where compromise with the world has taken root. The apostle Paul warns in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 of the dangers of the last days, where people will be *"lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power."* If these young ones are walking in such ways, it is a sign they are being led by the flesh and the enemy, not by the Spirit of God.
We must also ask: Are they being exposed to ungodly influences—through media, friendships, or even the lack of strong biblical teaching in the home? Ephesians 6:4 instructs fathers (and by extension, parents and guardians) to *"bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."* If they are not being grounded in Scripture, they will be easily swayed by the world. Proverbs 13:20 warns, *"One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm."* Who are their closest friends? What are they consuming with their eyes and ears? These are battles that must be fought not only in prayer but also in wisdom and action.
Yet even as we address these things, we must remember that salvation and transformation are the work of God alone. You cannot argue them into the Kingdom—only the Holy Spirit can open their eyes. So we pray with urgency and faith, knowing that *"the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds"* (2 Corinthians 10:4). We bind the spirits of rebellion, deception, and hardness of heart in Jesus’ name, and we loose the Spirit of conviction, repentance, and surrender upon them.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with broken hearts for these young souls who are walking in disobedience and rebellion. Lord, You see their hardness of heart, their argumentative spirits, and their refusal to walk in Your ways. But You are the God who turns hearts of stone into hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). We ask that You would break through every stronghold the enemy has built in their minds and spirits. Send Your Holy Spirit to convict them deeply of their sin and their need for a Savior. Let them no longer be deceived by the empty promises of the world but turn to You in true repentance.
Lord, we rebuke the spirit of rebellion that is at work in them. We command every ungodly influence—whether through friendships, media, or worldly philosophies—to be exposed and broken in Jesus’ name. Surround them with godly counsel and place in their path those who will speak Your truth in love. Give them no rest until they surrender to You, for You have said, *"There is no peace for the wicked"* (Isaiah 48:22).
Father, we also ask for wisdom for those who love them. Show us how to speak, how to act, and when to remain silent, that our words and deeds would glorify You and not push them further away. Help us to model Christlike love while never compromising Your truth.
Most of all, Lord, we ask that You would draw them to Yourself. Let them encounter You in a way they cannot ignore or resist. Save them, Lord—bring them into Your Kingdom as Your children, that they may walk in Your ways all the days of their lives. We ask this in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who alone has the power to transform lives. Amen.
Stand firm in faith, beloved. Do not grow weary in praying for them, for *"the effective, earnest prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective"* (James 5:16). Trust that God is working even when you cannot see it. And remember, the greatest testimony you can give them is a life that reflects the love, holiness, and truth of Christ. May God grant you strength and perseverance as you continue to intercede for their souls.
