Praying for Wayward Children | National Equipped Conference 2026 | Stephanie Schwartz

Main message: We must earnestly long for and persistently pray for wayward children (and others who are lost), because God hears and uses prayer as a means to bring people to salvation even within his sovereign plan. Do not give up hope — pray shamelessly, specifically, and practically while trusting God with the outcome.

Key points:

• Paul’s longing in Romans 10:1 (and Monica’s prayers for Augustine) models a broken, persistent desire that wayward people be saved.
• God’s sovereignty is not an excuse to stop praying; rather it compels us to pray—prayer is one of the means God uses to accomplish salvation.
• Pray continually and shamelessly (persistent asking), bringing specific requests to God for conviction, the removal of spiritual blinders, repentance, faith, a new heart, and godly influences/mentors.
• Use practical love and generosity toward wayward loved ones (presence, patience, humility, confess past failures) while avoiding behavior that creates barriers between them and the Holy Spirit.
• Examples given to encourage persistence: Monica/Augustine, George Müller (answers to prayer), and biblical models of intercession (Moses, Paul, Jesus).

Scriptures mentioned: Romans 10:1, Romans 9, Romans 9:1-3, Romans 8:38-39, Ezekiel 33:11, Psalm 141:2, Revelation 5, Revelation 8, Luke 11:5-8, 1 Corinthians 5, 2 Samuel 15, Romans 13:13-14