First I want to say I love this site! I am a newer Christian and A friend just sent this site to me to help me answer some of my questions and I check it now all the time. My question is this…I have loved ones that are very close to my heart daily who say and have said they believe in the Lord, I’m not sure if they actually were born again? They don’t live the life to Glorify him in ANY way. Of course I pray for them but I can’t seem to get it off my mind and continue to walk in faith about it. Please help me see this God’s way!
Many new Christians feel this way as they realize that others who claim they’re believers appear to be living defeated lives. Jesus spoke of this in the Parable of the sower and the seed. (Matt. 13:18-23) He said that the worries of this life can choke off the promises of God’s word and make believers unfruitful. It sounds like that’s what’s happening in your family.
You must remember that they want to be happy, they just don’t know what to do. They’re not the enemy here, they’re victims who are being used by the real enemy in an attempt to defeat you too. Study Ephesians 6 to help you understand who the real enemy is and how you can defend yourself against him.
As for what you can do, 1 Peter 3:1-6 is a helpful passage on how to influence them. Do your best to maintain a positive attitude toward them and keep praying for them. If there are some like minded others around you, see if you can enlist their help in praying with you. The Holy Spirit will do the rest.