So glad to hear baout your Mom! Thanking God with you! Praying for you right now. Cry if you feel so led. Hugs!

My advice about the praying problem would be: Pray. :) There are some things you can do (which it sounds like you are doing by praying with her and encouraging her to pray), but in many ways, turning your daughter's heart to God is His job. Keep praying with her, showing her what your relationship with God looks like. And keep praying for her, even while you're praying with her. And allow yourself and your daughter to see God's power in her life. (And don't forget to point it out to her - "See what God is helping you do!") It's an amazing thing to see God Himself bend your daughter's will to Him. (I know, my daughter is pretty strong-willed, and we are watching God start to dig into her life. It's pretty amazing!)

Hey sweet friend. praying for you and your family. Li'l B goes through phases like that when he won't pray - I think Jess' advice was really helpful! I have started praying for him when I'm with him, so he hears me pray that God will work in his life and give him a heart to love our Father. I'll pray for Kylie in this area, too. I understand having a child w/ an independent streak! We've got one!!!!!!!

I am with them^^. I usually pray first with Landon and almost always pray FOR his heart while he is listening and then he usually prays after me. Although, once in a while he won't...and I usually don't force the issue bc God wants our hearts freely. Relationship is given by choice...you know. Do you talk with her about how God would love to hear her voice and how much He enjoys "talking" to her? I would say to just make him as personal as possible

And regarding the family stuff...girl if you can cry, do it. Sooner than later. If you bury this stuff and keep pushing it down bc "there just isn't time to have an emotional breakdown" eventually you will just feel numb regardign the whole thing. And numb is not good. So express that emotion while you still feel it. If you must go the anger route, pray your heart out first in an effort to do so without sin...have those difficult conversations and make those difficult choices...but try your best, with God's strength to do so with the Spirit of the Lord. I am eating my own words rightthisverysecond

Take care my friend...and PRAISE the Lord for your MAMA!!!!!

They're right--pray. I have one very self-willed child. When she refuses to do something, there's very little I can do. Her heart seems very hard toward God sometimes, and it breaks my heart. But other times, she is so sweet and sensitive and spiritually open. It's incredible.

Pray your heart out!

My little guy obviously isn't to that stage yet, but I certainly benefited from your question and the responses above. I'm thankful that your mom is doing better.

Ahhhhhhh. And that is why I love all of you- such good advice!

I don't have any advice but I can pray and I will. I love you dear friend and I wish I could be there to hug you when you have your snotty cry!  :)

I know I'm a little late - My kids never bucked the system when it came to prayer.  When they were really little I would start and say, "Dear God, we pray for" and the kid would say all the names of everybody they have ever known.  When they got a bit bigger, they would start inserting their own prayer requests.  K3rry prayed tonight that God would heal his body (he has a canker sore). :)  I agree with the girls about praying for sweet K's heart.  Also, the kids and I pause and pray a lot through out the day.  Creating a constant spirit of prayer helps.  Now, when something fun happens or something like that Addy will ask me to stop and thank God for it.  I'm NOT trying to say I've done everything right, I certainly haven't.  Please don't get that idea.  I'm just tellin you what I did. :)

Oh! One more thing....After I discipline the kids I pray with them and they have to repeat after me (again-they have never bucked it after being disciplined).  We say, "Dear God, I'm sorry that I (insert how they disobeyed their lovely momma here).  Please forgive me and help me to obey. In Jesus name, Amen". 

Praying for your ugly family junk.