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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