Does God Care About My Intimate Relationships: With My Rebellious Children?

Hardwired! Prison inmates are not the only people "hardwired by God" to connect with others. God created all of us to be relational, first in a loving relationship with Him and then in loving relationships with others.

I asked the inmates a simple question and I was surprised at the response: "Have you ever rebelled against your parents or God? Surprisingly, maybe 60% raised their hand...where are the other 40%? I had to look around the room and remind myself I was speaking in prison!

Have I turned a blind eye to my own rebellion?

What a different world this would be if we all were to survey ourselves against what is right in God's eyes. I encouraged the majority of mothers (including myself) to actively demonstrate a teachable heart to their own children.

"Jesus, please show me where I am rebelling against your lavish love?"  

Christian author Josh McDowell struggled years with this and then the light bulb went off... Here is his reasoning:

The rebellious behavior you see is the tip of the iceberg. There is a whole lot more going on beneath the surface. Think about it... our relationships lead to beliefs, our beliefs form our values and our values drive our behavior (rebellion). We only see the behavior. However, what is below the surface originates with our relationships. 

Psalm 26:3 
For I am constantly aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth. Build your relationships in God's truth.

"How do I build a relationship with my children from prison?"

It is not too late! We discussed ways to parent from prison? How to teach God's truth by living it out in their own lives? How to make their child feel special? How restore and rebuild broken relationships? Humbly, we began this new journey in prayer. Asking God to "hard-wire us" in an intimate relationship with Him.

You could feel the spirit's power, as the inmates ended the service by lifting up over 90 scripture verses in prayer. These beautiful women earnestly prayed to break the strongholds of rebellion in their own lives and in the lives of their children.

Isaiah 30:21
Whether you walk to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it."

Powerful! You could feel the Holy Spirit melting away the strongholds from praying scripture.

Shug