J.M. writes, “Would you please send me some advice on how to help my daughter turn her life around and embrace God. I have been praying for two years that God would bring positive friends and circumstances into her life to help her get interested in school and positive activities, but each time I try to help her, the doors keep closing! Thanks for any advice you may send.”

Dear J.M., not always, but sometimes the best way to pray for our kids is to ask God to change us. The reality is that we can’t change anyone other than ourselves and as we change, others are pretty much forced to change in response—one way or the other. Some people don’t want us to change because it upsets the games they play. However, having said that, realize that the art of all effective communication is “show me—don’t tell me.”

So ask God to help you to show your daughter by example the value in putting God first in her life. Every day ask God to help you to be “as Jesus” to her and that she, seeing Jesus in you, will in time want Jesus in her life too. Never give up praying the following prayer. I pray it every day regarding my loved ones and also try, in some way, to be “as Jesus” to every life I touch.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be ‘as Jesus,’ especially to my loved ones and in some way to every life I touch today and every day and grant that they, seeing Jesus in me, will want the same for themselves. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Matthew 5:16 (NIV).