You have to plant a vision in your children; a true vision of what God thinks about them and what kind of future He has planned for them.

You do it with words that come from the Scriptures, and they come a little at a time. As God's Word says in the book of Isaiah:

Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.
(Isa. 28: 9-10)

Listen to me, Mom and Dad: You do things a little at a time. I don't care what your family situation may be.

It's a circumstance, and maybe even a bad one, but circumstances can change—no matter how hopeless they may look. I don't care if your children are adults, the situation can still change.

When Jesus was preaching all those great sermons at the age of 33, there were probably some mamas sitting around, listening to Him and saying, "Where were You 30 years ago?"

I know; I have been in situations like that.

After hearing the truth preached, don't just say. "That's great! I wish I'd heard that a long time ago." Instead, say, "Thank God, I've heard the truth today! Now I know how to pray for my children."

When praying for your children, ask God to enlighten the eyes of their understanding. Pray that He send laborers across their path and loose the Spirit of God to bring conviction to their hearts. Boldly say, "I command that blindness be removed form my children's minds and eyes, in Jesus' name!"

Redeem And Restore
You have to do righteously concerning your relationship with your children. Pray for the Lord to give you wisdom on how to handle them and talk with them. If you will do righteously toward them, God will honor it.

There is no situation that God can't turn around. Not one! If your family as split apart, He can bring all of you back together again. If you have a good family, He can make it a great family. Jesus came to redeem and restore.

All that's needed is for you to come together in agreement with God. No person, no flesh and no demon in hell can stand against you. That's when you know the change you desire will certainly come to pass!

Source: God Knows How to Raise Your Kids - Even if You Don't by John McGee.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers.