Our “Millennial Generation”

(c)DaneilleGraySnowdenJune2013
 

Our “Millennial Generation”

by Daneille Gray Snowden

 

The “Millennial Generation” (under 30 yrs of age)
 is in need of  zealous prayers by you- Prayer
 Warriors!  We all can agree in our own lives

 (and even families) that on a continual basis
 we are seeing the belief system of young people
not deteriorating  but actually deteriorated! I know
 this sounds quite hopeless...but we never stop as
 parents who BELIEVE IN GOD;  having hope that
 God will rise up this generation! He is pretty good
about raising the dead! 

This generation of young adults has been lost in the
 society of religion, for many years now. We cannot go
 back, but we can start now by allowing the Holy Spirit
 to open our own spiritual eyes to this truth. Just
 because our children have attended church with us
 their entire lives, does NOT mean they have an intimate
relationship with Jesus. The HOME is the foundation
 of their lives. What is allowed, what is lived out, what
 is done and not done will be the core of any child's belief
 system. Being diligent as a parent filled with the Love and
Grace that comes from spending our own time alone with
 God is what will strengthen the spiritual chords of your
 child's foundations.  

Read what renown writer and speaker on youth
  [ Josh Mcdowell ] shares;  "While parents need to fear
what their children could be tempted to do, they need
to be more concerned with what their children are led
 to believe.  Their attitudes and actions spring from their
 value system, and their value system is based on what
they believe."

 

In my talks with many parents,

 I constantly here them express with great

 frustrations, about their youth's attitudes.

  Recall what you just read; "...attitudes

 spring from their value system." Isn't this

 where we need to begin as parents, by going

 back to what our own children value? Some

may laugh and say, "It's just a phase, I did this

 too when I was there age."  Don't disregard

 your children's attitudes, ask God to reveal

 to you what your child's value system is. I

guarantee you, He indeed will reveal some heavy

 stuff to you that will not be easy to address.

 With  husband and wives together, addressing

this carefully with your child. Have you allowed

ungodly music in your home and in your child's

 spirit? [Question the lyrics, the music videos, the

life style of the vocalists...etc.] What about television

 and movies? The reason this is difficult because

 this also glides right into our own Value Systems

 as well. But, we must ask- how much do we love

our Lord Jesus, as well as how much do we love our

 children? Sacrifice to protect our children is worth

 it...wouldn't you agree? Please parents, be careful who

your teens decide to spend a great deal of their time with.

 What is the value and belief system of these individuals?

 We all know that this stage in a persons life is the most

 formidable. Of course we do not want our children

isolated, but Godly wisdom is vital.  Lastly here, we also

 need to help our children discover a Biblical Value

System as well. Starting with much prayer.  Pray and

 meditate, the Lord will direct your steps.

 We also need to pray for the foundations to be sure

 according to the Word of God. "Most teens in evangelical

churches today say they believe in the God of the Bible,

 63 percent also believe Muslims, Buddhists, Christians,

Jews, and all other people pray to the same god, even

 though they use different names for their god.  Though

 87 percent of teens believe Jesus was a real person who

 came to earth, and 78 percent believe He was born to a

 virgin, nearly half (46 percent) believe He committed sins

and more than half (51 percent) say He died, but did not

rise from the dead."  [ Josh McDowell ]  Raising our

 children faithfully in church is vital. But, making sure

they 'know-that-they-know' what you as a Christian believe

 in is far more important. Truth is, they can know

 (in their minds) but still not have a relationship with

 Christ. KNOWING is afaith act--realizing that there is

 a God; who did send His Son to die for our sins and this

same Son rose from the dead, so all mankind (when they

accept Him to live within their hearts) may be saved. It is

 a response on what they know, see, and feel within their

 own specific life. As a parent, encourage them as as much

 as possible to pray with you, gently ask them about their

 devotion and prayer life on their own, is (as parents) a God

 given responsibility. I am sorry to say, but this has slid through

 the hearts and hands of most Christian parents. 

 Today's youth as we observe, have created their own 

religion (belief systems). Yesterday, I spent the day with

 my daughters at the city pool. I found my self observing

 the young people, hearing their conversations, seeing their

 dress & tattoos on their body and knowing some of them

 personally. My heart just broke. You see, when we are filled

 with God's Spirit; He bestows on us the vision to see people's

 hearts. It's not hard to see the emptiness, pain, anger,

 confusion; to see searching hearts. So, what are they to

 do but to tailor their own Faith/Belief system. Where they

 can feel some type of affirmant  in who they are and then

they have the release to do and say what they please. I like

what Josh McDowell said; "They are led to believe it is better

to construct a tailor-made faith that is right for them by

choosing from various concepts of God and religion. They

 are being encouraged to piece their faith together

 themselves; that way it will be right for them personally,

 and will offend no one."  [ Josh McDowell ]

This is where the danger lies, our kids are living out life

 styles that are destroying their bodies, relationships,

finances, mental health, and their souls! It is astounding

 to see kids we all love start living out opposite what we

 as parents believe in God's Word. Kids having babies,

 literally believing in Zombies and making it their own

groupie religion, addicted to video games (playing them

 all day long), alcohol is at a rise in this generation, free

 thinkers and 80% of this age group will be "disengaged"

in their Christian faith and church before they are 30.

[Barna Group] They also will disengage more so from

their godly family (parents) and bind to those who are

 'like-minded'. All viewing their parents, and the church

 from their childhood as a nice but fruitless entity. 

 Newsweek reporter John Leland discovered, “Even

 more than their baby-boomer parents,'youth' often pick

 and choose what works for them. … As they sample from

 various faiths, students have become more accepting of

 each other’s beliefs, even when those beliefs are stringent." 

Initially they believe truth is not true for them until they

 choose to believe it!

What is our HOPE in all of this? The answer is WHO ARE

 HOPE IS IN! Glory to God, Jesus still reigns! His Power,

 His Grace, His love and His Promises still flow

 continuously.  He has given us the opportunity to

seek His Face. He is not shaken, nor is He surprised ... but

He does really care! He wants us as mothers to hear His

 Voice, be pliable in His Hands so He in turn can use us

 to affect our children and pierce the darkness that has invaded

 their lives. Fast and pray, pray through till the peace of God

has filled your hearts with that affirming knowledge that

 'All is Well'! 

Pray for God to send you, and others to our children and

all young people to live out and speak out the Love of Jesus.

 Pray that there are easy accessible opportunities for young

people to attend rally's,  concerts, revivals that are geared

 for their age group but speak the untainted true Word of

 God. Today is the day of salvation. Hold true my sister...

God will penetrate the heart of your son and daughter.

 Stand still and see the true salvation of God!

Deuteronomy 19:15 "by the mouth of two or three
 witnesses every word may be established."

Psalms 112:1,2  "Blessed is the man that fears
 the Lord, that delights greatly in His
 commandments. His seed shall be mightily
 upon the earth the generation of the upright
 shall be blessed." 

Is 54:13,14   "All your children shall be taught by the
 Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.In

righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far
 from oppression, for you shall not fear,

and from terror, for it shall not come near you."