Hayes’ Comment/Question/Discussion: This I cannot document but I believe it based on faith, experience and the scripture Matthew 18:10, For I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. Experience has shown me that children of Christian parents walk a shorter leash than others. By this I mean, they get by with less, they get caught quicker. It seems the “hound of heaven” is after them. Many who work with prisoners and teen-challenge-type facilities will testify that most of the youth in trouble who seek help do so because they have someone praying for them.
I see this as being what God talks about in Ps. 89:30-33, If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes, if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands, I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging; but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. I do not believe my faith will guarantee my son’s salvation, but I believe he will have to walk a mighty rough path in order to go to hell. I have mothers who really believe their children will be saved because they “have been raised right,” claiming Prov. 22:6,7 as a promise.
But I can’t make a that choice for my child. He is the one who has to surrender his will to the Lord. There is never a time to give up. Continue in prayer. Surrender that loved one to Jesus. Do not be an enabler. Do not pray for specific action which might be in direct opposition to what God has planned for your child.
I remember several times when I would hear my mother pray for me. She generally said something regarding the mission field on the other side of the world. I guess that was the most extreme thing that she would be willing to bear. Her will for me was that I would be a nurse. She didn’t get that either. But when she got a teacher out of me, it suited her to a tee.
God’s path was right.
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Sweet aroma 
I am not sure if you read in any of my comments on IB’s blog, but my daughter at the age of 18 became addicted to meth for the first time and it nearly tore my heart out. I helped her get clean, and then a few months later she was right back on it and worse than the first time. I believe in tough love and when I confronted her she refused to stop. At this point she weighed about 86 lbs so she was killing herself. I told her if she was not going to quit she had to get out of my house. I told her she was an adult and if she wanted to kill herself with that poison I could not stop her, but I certainly did not have to watch her do it. It was in the dead of winter and she said “but mama it is cold out.” So I said will you stop? She said no so I told her to leave. I did not see or hear from her again for three years and I cried nearly every day. Then one day she showed up on my doorstep clean and healthy and with her baby my youngest granddaughter. I prayed for that girl so much in those three years and those prayers were answered. We had a lot of healing to do between us, but I believe had i not made her leave that day she would have died because allowing her to live under my roof and do drugs was enabling her to keep doing it.
God bless you for your motherly courage. 💕
Thank you! I was heavily critcized by others for doing that, but I felt in my heart it was what needed to be done.
Praise be, that you followed your motherly intuition.😊
A very timely post for me, Oneta. Hugs to you for allowing the Spirit to lead you in writing it.😘😘
I’m glad. It is so nice to be used as a “messenger” for the Holy Spirit; as always it must align with what your spirit finds in the Word. I try to include the scriptures for confirmation. If I take some out of context sometimes, jerk me round. 😀
Amen and AMEN!!! Never stop praying. I know I was saved thanks to my grandma’s prayers. My husband and I have spent at least a full year, spread out some, with our grandsons. We always take them to church. This Monday night will be the FIRST time we had them and could get them into VBS. I was a VBS child….life long songs of JOY built in me. Please pray satan stays away this coming week. I am recovering from my second bout of Covid. Nasty tool from satan to try and keep me down….My GOD is BIGGER and stronger than satan and his tools….Hallelujah!!!
I don’t need to add anything. You’ve got it. I’ll join in praise to our Victor.
Oneta, I bookmarked the Part 1. I have done so with a few of yours because you have so many good Bible verses connected to the topics. thank you
Thanks so much for letting me know I add to your Word wealth sometimes. That’s pleasing to me.