John and Paula Sandford, of Elijah House International, say most of the problems we have today, can be traced to our negative reactions to our fathers. It is critical to revival today, to restore the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers. They say that judgmental condemning attitudes and dishonor (even toward absent, neglectful or abusive fathers) affect how life goes for us today, according to the the Bible:

Deut 5:16 "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you."

How important is it to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children? What happens if we don't?

Luke 1:17 "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to restore the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." NASU

Lou and I were doing extensive jail and prison ministry until 2005, often 3-4 times per week. I asked the prisoners to take this POLL and the results were staggering. Poor fathering appeared to be a huge factor in molding their life and character. How serious is the lack of or poor fathering?

Think about the importance of fathers, effects of fathering and of your reactions to him by participating in this poll for your own benefit.

I am a male female.

He was mostly present but was emotionally unavailable or unresponsive.

He was often emotionally, mentally or verbally abusive to me..

He neglected me, ignored me or did not provide for me financially.

He was physically abusive to me more than once or twice.

He molested me, abused me sexually or abused my sibling sexually.

He abandoned me/us and he seldom, if ever, spent time with me after that.

I didn't know my father or didn't have a consistent father figure at all.

I often used or abused alcohol and drugs as a child or teen.

I often smoked cigarettes or used tobacco of some kind as a child or teen.

I was assessed or treated for emotional or behavioral problems.

I was considered a discipline problem in school, more than twice in one year.

I had lower grades and poor attendance because of issues with my father.

I dropped out of school and had lower aspirations to continue my education.

I was more anxious, hostile, withdrawn or less popular with my peers.

I was promiscuous and/or involved in premarital sex as a teen.

I felt unimportant, rejected, devalued and confused about who I was.

I got into trouble with the law as a teen or had run-ins with authorities.

I had suicidal thoughts and considered a "plan" to commit suicide.

I undervalued my worth, my identity and my contributions to society.

I committed criminal acts and became a juvenile offender.

I committed criminal acts and became a repeat offender.

I fathered a child or conceived a child that was aborted.

I became a single teen parent and my child had a one parent home.

I married but divorced the other parent of my child (children.)

I became a neglectful, absent, abusive or emotionally unavailable parent.

I was just having sex with the other parent of my child (not married.)

I was not able to keep a full-time job in order to support my family well.

I had enforced supervision (council house, group home, jail, prison, probation.)

I was haunted by feelings of fear, insecurity, inadequacy, shame or failure.

I had troubled maintaining good relationships with peers or with authorities.

I ran away from home, was living on the street or was homeless at one time.

My relationship with my father has affected how I relate to Father God.

God seems distant, uncaring or unwilling to bless me, like He does other people.

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If you would like to have a more effective personal relationship with Father God or would like more information about restoration prayer at Cross Walk Life contact us.