Week Six: Fathers and Son

Hard to believe another week has gone by! But, with this monster storm, I know we were all pretty preoccupied with preparations. And now, seeing the devastation up the coast, my heart has been heavy all day in praying for those who have suffered; lost family, homes, etc. It is a reminder that we cannot take any one day for granted. Each one is given to us as a gift, so cherish it with the people you love.

Several of the young men I pray for in this group have difficult relationships with their fathers. And though we've prayed for this before, it is definitely an issue to continue praying over.  So much of who our boys become is determined by how well their fathers' loved them.

Precious Lord, once again we come before you, first with honor and praise to you for keeping us and our families safe this week and for your faithful work in our sons lives and in all of our lives.

We ask you today first of all, for the sons without fathers present in their lives, that you would continue to be a father to the fatherless. That you would bring godly father figures into those lives who would love them as You do and set an example of true Christian manhood.

We pray for our sons and their fathers. I am reminded of John 10:10 which says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Where the enemy would like to kill and destroy the relationships between our sons and their fathers, we ask that you would bless these relationships, that you would build strong, healthy, forever bonds between ours sons and their fathers. We pray, Lord, that you would heal hurts from past arguments, touch broken places in all their hearts and restore what has been stolen. We pray you would equip these fathers with wisdom, understanding and much grace for their sons. Whatever they lack, Lord, we pray you would impart to them. Draw the fathers into deep, abiding fellowship with you, that they would know your love and know your will for them in all areas. Help them to seek wisdom when it comes to their sons, for you promise to give us wisdom whenever we ask (James 1).  And for the fathers who don't know you, we pray for their salvation above all. Proverbs 8:35 says "For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD." They need your salvation, your blessing and your favor in their lives to be good fathers. 

We ask you to open our sons hearts and eyes to see how much their fathers love them, even when their words and actions don't always speak love. Open up healthy communication between them that would last a lifetime. Help them to honor and respect their fathers and the other men in their lives. And once again Holy Spirit, show us how to encourage our sons and husbands in their relationship. We need your wisdom and guidance.

We lift up our sons,once again, Lord, and ask that you would keep/set them on a path of righteousness, help them to walk away from sin and evil, and desire purity and holiness in their lives. Help them know the purpose you have designed them for and that they would pursue it with all their hearts. In small and big matters, Lord, help them to make wise choices.

And for this day, we ask you would watch over all our children, keep them safe, guard their hearts and encamp angels around them.

You are always faithful, always loving, always perfect, Lord, and we lay all these requests at your feet, knowing you have already answered.

Cross references:

1. John 10:10 : S Jn 1:4; 3:15, 16; 5:40; 20:31
2. John 10:10 : Ps 65:11; Ro 5:17

I leave you with these 2 scriptures to pray over our young men.

“Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.

Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. 

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors,

waiting at my doorway." Proverbs 8:32-34

Cross references:

1. John 10:10 : S Jn 1:4; 3:15, 16; 5:40; 20:31
2. John 10:10 : Ps 65:11; Ro 5:17

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8-9

Be blessed!
Sharon


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Week Five: Salt and Light

Life couldn't be much busier for me, but more than ever, I see the importance of praying AND believing for what God is doing in the lives of our boys. So, after wrapping up a good 6 hours of work tonight, I am excited to press in and pray with expectation for my son and YOURS. God is so very, very good!

I also felt impressed to encourage some of you who are facing great challenges/loss with your sons and don't SEE any changes. I like the NLT version of this verse: "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1. We are not blindly hoping for something nice to happen. We are asking in faith, standing on the promises of God, believing He is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do. Our sons are incredibly precious and important to the Lord and He is going to complete His work in them. The journey they are on, the timetable, is not for us to understand, but to trust, that He will "never leave them, nor forsake them" and His timing is perfect. 

Do not doubt!

I rejoice in the reports I have been hearing of small victories, subtle changes in some of the boys. Every small victory in their lives is a great defeat to the enemy of their souls!

Lord, we come to you once more, as women with a deep burden for our sons. We thank you for the victories that have come, both seen and unseen, knowing that you are answering and have answered our prayers. We honor you as Lord of our lives and ask you continue to help us as mothers and wives to know our roles in our sons lives and encourage our husbands in theirs. You said "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." James 1:5. We ask for wisdom with our sons, that you would continue showing us how to draw out their gifts and talents, while continuing to shape and mold their character. Show us how to establish boundaries that they will honor and how to love them as you do.

We pray for our sons and their friends and all who are connected here today. We ask that you keep a hedge or wall of protection around them as you did for Job before Satan asked to test him. We ask that you would remove people from their lives who are negative influences and bring people into their lives who will influence them in a godly way. Our sons are looking for role models, Lord and we ask that you raise up godly role models and mentors for our sons. Give them divine connections with people who have their best interests at heart. Raise up our sons to not just have successful lives, we ask, but that they would be salt and light to a hurting and lost world.  Matthew 5 says,  “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." We ask that our sons would be powerful lights in a darkening world. 

Lord, you have created our sons to be doers and not talkers, which means they often hold things in. We ask that you would touch their hearts and heal any hurting areas they might have. Show them how to talk to you and hear your voice that you could do a great work in their souls. Where they have heard harsh words, replace them with words of your great love for them, where they have gone through painful experiences, heal them from the inside out and give them compassion for others. Turn their sorrows into joys. Let them feel you, see you and hear you like never before. Raise them up to be modern day Josephs, Jeremiahs, Peters and Pauls, etc., men who will love and obey you at all costs and use their experiences to change the world.

Even now we ask you to continue to soften their hearts and draw them into a deep and abiding relationship with you. Let them know your love even this day, Lord.

I want to close with these verses from Psalm 91.

If you make the Most High your dwelling—

even the Lord, who is my refuge—

10then no harm will befall you,

no disaster will come near your tent.

11For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;

12they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;

you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15He will call upon me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.

16With long life will I satisfy him

and show him my salvation.”

This is our prayer in faith for our sons, both those who have accepted you as Lord and those who have not.  Be with them, Lord and show them your salvation!

In Christs name we pray, amen!


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Week Four: For Such a Time As This

Good Morning! Normally I like to have post ready on Tuesday night, but yesterday I was hit with a severe migraine, so morning it is. The last 2 Tuesdays actually have been pretty challenging, and I am not surprised.

Late one night, over the weekend the Lord had me wide awake in regards to this prayer day. There was such a sense of urgency in continuing to do this and mobilizing women to join in as a united group. 

We are living in challenging spiritual times. Our nation is more divided than ever before, both in the natural and the spiritual. And we are raising our boys right in the midst of these times. The battle for our boys began the second they were born. But, as the Lord reminded me that night, our children have been dedicated to the Lord. They are His and He will watch over and guide them. This was a strong word He gave me, especially for the children who are away from their parents homes and protection. I said, but what about the age of accountability? Aren't they that age? And I felt the Lord impress that they are accountable, but that doesn't mean He doesn't have them in the palm of His hand. It's SO good to be reminded of that!

I am reading a book to my kids, Adam and His Kin. It talks of life before the flood. How, once Adam and Seth were dead (at over 900 years old), the people in the earth began turning their backs on God and set themselves up for destruction. They were even warned prophetically of the coming destruction unless they returned to the Lord. And then came the flood. Over and over again, throughout the bible and in history, judgment came when God's people turned their backs on God....a lesson we are just not learning! We as a nation, are so close to that place as you all know. It is NO ACCIDENT our sons have been put on this earth for such a time as this. So, let's PRAY!

Lord, today we thank you once again for the privilege of raising our sons, and for knowing you, training them in you and covering them in prayer. We thank you for all that our sons have been called to do; to be strong and courageous, mighty men, leaders and warriors, world changers, men who will serve and honor you and train their families to do the same. We thank you that they are part of the next generation who will bring about changes in this land because they love you and want to see people come back to you. We thank you that DESTINY is written all over them and they will have distinct PURPOSE as they walk into the future and that your LOVE will lead and guide them.

We continue to pray for our sons to be surrounded by only people of your choosing, that you would protect and keep them from anyone who would influence them negatively. We ask that you give them supernatural discernment, that they would know right from wrong, good from evil and choose only good. We pray that as they come to know you, you would fill them to overflowing with your Holy Spirit and they would walk in that power.

We pray they would grow in godly character; integrity, honesty, righteousness, all the fruits of the spirits; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We pray you would they would "fix their thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable and think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Phil. 4:8

Lord, we do know that our sons are uniquely made and created in your image. We pray you would bring out their gifts and talents and help us to inspire and encourage them. Help them to have a strong vision for what they want to do as adults, but let it be YOUR vision for their futures, the one that you have designed them for. 

Once again, we ask that you bless our sons in these difficult young adult years. Help them overcome the sins lurking at the door, help them to embrace the person they are becoming and feel confident and secure as we love them as you have loved us. Help them to know their part in their families, even as they pull away to independence, that you have designed them to be part of a family and that there they will continue to find safety, love and acceptance. Draw our prodigal sons back home again. Soften the hard places in their hearts, heal their hurts and turn them back to YOU.

We will continue to lift up our sons and the sons of those in this group and in our worlds today, knowing you hear and answer every prayer. We thank you for all the victories we have seen in and the ones yet to come. In Jesus name we pray! Amen!

Week Three: Godly Wisdom

Some days I cannot believe the things my son comes up with to do, or at least tries to do. Although much of the time he leaves a mess in his wake, or something ruined, for the most part we see his imagination at work or his drive to conquer or build something and we just have to let him work it out. But I do pray he understands the risks involved, whatever the project. And that's really what we want them to consider in all their choices, isn't it? What are the risks involved? Unfortunately, some boys don't always weigh their choices, before making them. Today, we pray for their choices, the daily ones, the ones they are making about futures and of course, the eternal ones.

"Lord, we thank you today for the work that you are doing in our sons lives. We know you are at work far beyond what we can see. We pray today you would "direct our son's footsteps according to your word and no sin would rule over them".(Psalm 119:33) We pray that their "steps would stay on your path, and they would not waver from following you." (Psalm 17:5)  Your word says "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matt 7:13-14). We pray that only the narrow gate would be available to our sons and they would choose the path that leads to life. We pray that they would grow to love your word for "your word is lamp to their feet and a light to their path." (Psalm 119:105). They desperately need the illumination of your word and the power of the Holy Spirit to help them find their way. 

The word says "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word" (Psalm 119:9). We pray for purity for our young men; purity of heart, soul and body. Help them to honor the women they do life with in every aspect. Help them to "flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness". (1 Tim. 6:11) Help them to walk with integrity in all their decisions, large and small. And Lord, help them to count the cost, know the risks, consider the consequences of all their choices. 

The bible says that, "plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." (Prov. 15:22) We pray you would surround ours sons with great leaders, men of God, godly friends; those who would help our sons succeed and honor you while they do it.  Proverbs 1:7 says that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and instruction". Help our sons desire godly wisdom in all things and not despise the instruction we as parents are called to give them.

Lord, they are young men, but above all they are your children and you love them far more than we ever can. We lift them up to you, knowing you are able to do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine."(Eph. 3:20) We thank you for the mighty men of God they WILL be, that they WILL be more than conquerors in every situation and they WILL have hearts that seek after you. We give you all the praise and glory in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen!

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Be blessed and encouraged as you pray today!

Week Two: He Who Began A Good Work

Well, I can already see how God is honoring our commitment to prayer for our sons. Sometime late last Wednesday, we realized it would be a good weekend for the Mark and Jordan to go on a fishing trip. They did this last year and brought Jordan's good friend. So, once again the 3 of them headed up the Chickahominy for man time. And the thing is, the fish were NOT biting, it WAS raining and yet they had a great time! I sure don't get it :). In the midst of their hangout time, the conversation just "happened' to open up to some heavy guy stuff and Mark was able to listen, answer and impart to them. When Jordan got home, his countenance was completely changed and I just had to give God praise (as well as for the nice break I got!)  

Recently, Mark has been reading Every Young Man's Battle by Stephen Arterburn. I highly recommend this book for dads to read. There is even a section in the back to do with your son. One reason I can recommend it so much, is that I read most of it and realized I am completely out of my league in trying to understand the male DNA! I am quite happy in turning over the responsibility of training our son to Mark, as many, wizened older mothers have counseled. At this age, they just don't hear as well from mom and are looking to their dads for guidance as well as acceptance and approval.

Something our pastor said this weekend really triggered the direction of my prayers this week; "people are good-willed, but inclined toward evil." (Jer 17:9 says the heart is deceitful above all things). As we love and encourage our sons, we must also pray for their hearts and against the sin and rebellion warring within them.

Lord, we just speak truth over our sons, right now. That they would know the truth and it would set them free (John 8:32). Most of our sons have had at some time accepted you as their Saviour, but are not choosing you as Lord. We pray that they would know you as Lord AND Saviour. We pray you would "lead them not into temptation" and protect them from all the fiery darts of the enemy. We are confident that you who began a good work in them will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6). We "pray also that the eyes of their hearts may be enlightened in order that they may know the hope to which he has called them, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints..."(Eph 1:18) We also pray you would give them a love for your house, for the body of believers and see church as a place to honor and grow in You. We pray Lord, you would shine your light into any dark areas in our sons and that sin and wickedness would be revealed. Not to bring shame, but that sin would not gain a foothold and lead them into deeper areas. We know that sin crouches at the door (Gen 6:7), so we ask that they would not “ be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”(Romans 12:21) And when they do fall, like all of us, they would be quick to repent. Thank you, Lord, that you have provided for complete forgiveness through your death and resurrection.
And once again, we thank you for our precious sons, knowing that you have a plan and a purpose for their lives. We know that no plan of yours can be thwarted.

And today, we also pray for the fathers of our sons. Lord, you have entrusted them with a great responsibility. We know that many of these fathers have not had kind and loving fathers themselves and we pray against all the sins of the fathers that they would not be passed down to our son's fathers or our sons.

We pray that you would heal the hurts that many dads carry and show them the depths of your great love. Then, show them how to love their sons in a greater way. Show them what it is to love as you love (just as we ourselves desire to do). Help them to speak life over our boys as the power of life and death is in the tongue (Prov. 18:21). And we pray you would give them godly wisdom (James 1:5) as the teach and train their sons and prepare them for adulthood. Bless the fathers, O Lord, bless them mightily, we ask.

We lift all these requests up in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen


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