The Parent’s Battle Plan: What Every Parent With a Prodigal Should Know
“[T]hese are our kids. This is who we love and there’s no other love than we have for our children.” Author, media host and speaker Laine Lawson Craft spoke to The Stream’s Nancy Flory at the most recent National Religious Broadcaster’s conference (NRB).
Laine has a new book out called The Parent’s Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigal. Laine knows what she is talking about. All three of her children were prodigals before God saved them from themselves. The Parent’s Battle Plan reveals how Laine fought for her children against the enemy who sought to destroy them. This book is for every parent with a prodigal child.
What is a Prodigal?
“[M]any people ask me, ‘What do you mean by prodigal?’… Prodigals can be just children that have walked away from faith or values that you have as a Christian, as a Christ follower. But it also can mean one that’s got mental illness, one that has a drug addiction or is battling suicide or depression. So I really want parents to know [I] cover a lot of enemy tactics in this book.”
“That’s why I call this an urgent message. … You’re not in war with your kid. Remember this: you’re in war with the enemy that’s out to seek, kill and destroy them.”
When life becomes difficult for our children, Laine says that there is only one fact we can cling to during the lowest times of chaos. “Our children belonged to God before they were lent to us.” Not only that, but “God is with us fighting on our behalf in the spiritual realm.”
Ask the Hard Questions
Even so, parents need to ask the hard questions. “I know as a parent you don’t really want the answers because you kind of have that intuition. I call it the Holy Spirit. But if you don’t get the answer, you don’t have a chance to help coach them, guide them back from those terrible destructive thoughts that the enemy has put in their head.”
Your Child is Not Your Enemy
She’s not just talking about high school-aged kids, either. The children are, in some cases, in elementary school. “[They’re] younger and younger. That’s why I call this an urgent message. … You’re not in war with your kid. Remember this: you’re in war with the enemy that’s out to seek, kill and destroy them.
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We are one click away, one click away from your child getting a dirty picture or sending one, you’re one click away from making the wrong connection. Bullying is at an all-time high. And I’m just saying with technology, this is an urgent message. We must equip parents and empower them and educate them on the spiritual aspect of this. Because this is a spiritual battle. … There’s a full on assault with our children.”
Prayer is Essential
“[W]hat I want to tell a parent today, if you’re not praying for them, then who is? So I really challenge you to become a real warrior praying for your child.” As for Laine’s children — one of whom struggled for 15 years before he came back to the Lord — God came through, something she calls a “big takeaway.” God hears our prayers and sees our tears shed for our children. We have to pray for our children. We must.
“I tell any parent today, maybe your child is really confused or maybe they’re really depressed, or maybe they’re on drugs. Just know that no prodigal is too far gone for God. Stand firm, stay encouraged, stay connected, partner with God. Because with God, all things are possible.”
Nancy Flory, Ph.D., is a senior editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.
