Today, we're pleased to share with you an audio essay written and read by John Nielsen, entitled

How to Pray for Your Teen's Spiritual Growth.

John is the author of God's Great Story, a daily devotional for teens from Crossway.

How to Pray for Your Teen's Spiritual Growth, written and read by John Nielsen.

I am nearing 42 years old, and I have a soon-to-be high schooler living in my house. Yikes. So I am joining all of you who are raising

teenagers and seeking to point them intentionally, winsomely, and prayerfully to Jesus and to God's

precious word. If you're a follower of Jesus Christ, you already know that you must pray for your teenage

child, but perhaps you struggle with exactly how to pray, and for what specifically you should be

praying? I'll offer here seven specific prayers that I'm praying for my own teenager and which I would encourage you to be

praying for yours. I would encourage you also to take a moment and read the Bible verses that give

root to these specific prayers. Number one, pray for a miracle. Read 2. Corinthians 5, verse 17. For any sinner, dead in his or her sins, see Ephesians 2,

the first few verses of that chapter, to hear the gospel, to repent of sins, to believe in Jesus

Christ with saving faith, that is a miracle. It is God by the power of the Holy Spirit,

making a dead heart come alive in faith toward Christ. That's why Paul doesn't say that if anyone

is in Christ, he or she is improved or better or happier. He says that he or she is a new creation. That is precisely what we're

asking God to do for our teenage children. We certainly are called to speak God's word to them,

point them to Jesus, bring them with us to church, but only the Holy Spirit can make their

lives come alive in repentance and faith

toward Jesus. And that is the miraculous saving work of God. That is what theologians call

regeneration. Number two, pray for gospel friendships. See 1 Samuel, chapter 18, verse 1.

Quickly on the heels of my prayers for God's miraculous, regenerative, saving work in the hearts

of my kids, comes my prayer for friends who will walk alongside them, not only in fun companionship,

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