21 days of Prayer for Sons winding down part 1

Well I must apologize. I have been so overwhelmed with the harvest this year that I have completely missed posting Warrior Prayers passages.  I am going to post an overview post and include the 10 verses for each day so that you can continue to pray for our precious sons.

Day 4 Integrity:  What is integrity? That is hard for my boys, especially since they are young.. I really want to teach them that no matter how hard it is or who is around them it is always better to stand up for what is right.  I love how Brooke includes Proverbs 11: 19 “He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life…”  Being steadfast in your faith and strong in your conviction is key and training our boys to realize that peer pressure isn’t right and that standing up for what is right take true convictions.

1 Kings 9:4

Job 27:5

Psalm 101:2

Titus 2:7

Luke 1:27

Daniel 1:8

Philippians 4:11

1Timothy 4: 12

1 Samuel 17

Genesis 12

As you pray these verses for your sons remember to ask God to give them strength as they face these challenges; and don’t be afraid to admit to them that we are not perfect, share your imperfections and failures and ask for forgiveness from not only our sons but the Father above.

Day 5 Avoiding Foolishness

The parable of the 2 types of men, a foolish man and a wise man is the perfect analogy for today’s verses. What type of men are we raising? I pray I am raising wise men rather than foolish. Remind them that foolish choices result in foul consequences.

Titus 3:9

2 Timothy 2:23

Ephesians 5:4

Matthew 7: 26

Ecclesiastes 4:13

Titus 3:3

Proverbs 14:7

Ephesians 5:17

Proverbs 19:1

Ecclesiastes 10:2

As I finish up this post  I keep reminding myself although the official 21 days is nearing the end we should always be praying for our sons, daily they need us and they need their Heavenly Father in their lives.

In him,

Warrior Prayer: Aim for Integrity

The verses in this passage really struck me. I can guide my boys but only through God and his presence can they true be men of God. The images of young men in the  bible are strong vivid images to help guide future generations including our sons. It is our responsibly to turn the light on to those images.

In the book, Warrior Prayers: Praying the Word for Boys in the Areas They Need it Most  on of the study guide questions  for today really made me think  " In this chapter, Brooke says, “...what's in the heart eventually comes out. I know that if their knees are ever to bend to Jesus as Savior, their hearts must bend first. And that's God's business.” Have you given much thought to what God expects of you as a parent, versus the things that are really His job? Make a list ..of things that you know are your job, and compare it with a list of things that God says are His job."

Take a moment on ponder that list before you pray these verses for sons.
1 Kings 9:4
Job 27:5
Psalm 101:2
Titus 2:7
Luke 1:27
Daniel 1:8
Philippians 4:11
1 Timothy 4:12
1 Samuel 17
Genesis 12

Again, I pray for not only my sons but sons of my friend Dustin Hughes  as he battles cancer  and baby Nathaniel as he battles Leukemia at the young age of 6 weeks. 

Warrior Prayer for our Sons day 4 and 5

Obedience is a strong idea. We must be obedient to our Lord while expecting our sons to be obedient to us as well as the Lord. It is a heavy burden for children to understand and as a parent it is my job to help them understand that the burden is has been carried for them through Christ but they still are to be obedient. 

The study questions on Obedience really made me think and consider not only my children but also my husband and our obedience.  Understanding the power of the foundation we lay for our sons and how they will become men of G_d and Godly husbands in their adult life.

Discipline is a weak area for me with the boys; I have always been reactionary rather than proactive. This past week we implemented a new system using poker chips, the boys can earn, lose, and use the poker chips. So, rather than reacting to issues we setting the boys up to be positive and reward them for positive behavior.

The difference between boys and girls is subtle but so important.  Growing up my mom had 2 girls, and we really didn’t think about the differences until I had 2 boys and Grandma began watching the boys realizing how different boys are then girls.  I can so relate to so many moms with boys especially when other moms talk about blended or girl only siblings.  The journey of parenting boys is exhilarating but also flat out exhausting. Trying to keep up with their constantly changing moods and full energy lifestyle is amazing.

I now understand that the way I was working with the boys was behavioral rather than spiritual and I need to change that, it is going to take hard work and a lot of time on my knees in prayer and really getting down on their level. I was blessed this past week, my oldest spent 3 days at Grandma’s house while the youngest stayed home. That one on one time with my 5 year old gave me some real insight and helped me to see my goals a little better. 

The idea that we are potentially nothing more than “white-washed tombs” is really eye opening. A wake up call, what we are on the inside is more important than our appearances. We still need to be aware of what we present to the world, but we really need to be concerned with what we are to G_d and how our children see that.

I hope you are learning along with us during these 21 days of prayer. It is so important for our sons that we grow in this journey so we can help them grow in their love of the Lord.

Warrior Prayer: 21 Days of Prayer for Sons Day 3

WOW, in Warrior Prayers e-book Brooke really hits home with the idea that how we raise our sons really does matter. G_d takes the raising of children very seriously. To think about the impact the way we raise our sons , is almost overwhelming. Really makes me consider my actions and reactions where my boys are concerned.  I didn’t think this processes would impact me in quite this fashion but am blessed that it has.

As I sit in the park writing to you today, I watch my boys playing and enjoying each other.  Nathan actually came and told me “brother is fun!”. That is huge for him as most days they are at each other’s throats fighting with each other.

Today’s study questions for page 11 of the e-book:

1.       Did your parents raise you in a Christian home to know and love the Lord? What kind of impact has your up bringing had on the way you parent your sons?

I am grateful for being raised in a Christian home, while not a overly conservative home it was Christian and that gave me a strong baseline to grow on and a strong foundation to raise my sons with.

2.       How does it make you feel to know that a godly man, such as Eli, could fail to raise his sons to know the love the Lord?

None of us can truly know what our impact is, to know that a Godly man like Eli could fail in such an important task makes me realize that I have to work that much harder to really

3.       Have you ever thought about the importance of raising sons from the perspective of this story? What kind of response does this create in your heart?

I never really paid much attention to that story until I read it here, but now it really hits home with a strong message. I watch friends with older children and see this kids leaving their churches and pray that I can keep my boys in the church.

4.       Do you believe G_d holds us responsible for the way we train our children?

I think we are given  our children as a gift from G_d with the mission to raise them the way they he has instructed us to. It seems simple but is really a great commission task.

21 Days of Prayer for Sons : Day 2

Today is officially the beginning of this blessed challenge.  Today I want to share some of my answers to the study questions in the ebook.  On page 9 of the e-book Brooke presents the first set of Study Questions.

1.       What is your current relationship with you sons?  My boys are younger (ages 5 ½ and 8 ½) so I am with them most of the time as a home school mom.

2.        Think back to when you first relazied you were having a boy…. When we found out our first was a boy I was relieved, I really felt like a girl would be more than I could handle… When we found out our youngest was a boy I had mixed emotions relief that it would be 2 boys, mild disappoint that my husband wouldn’t have the little girl he wanted, fear as to what was I going to do with 2 little boys.

3.        Are your boys typical rough and tumble? That is an understatement… Nathan our youngest has no fear and will try everything.  It is has wheels it must be riden on and crashed at least once.  Cameron is slightly more reserved but not much… They love to wrestle and race. They are all boy through and through.

4.        Do your boys have good role models? My boys have a wonderful role model in my father (their papa) , their Father, and their uncles. We are also blessed to have several male role models in our church communities that have had a wonderful impact on my boys.

5.       How have you prayed for your sons in the past? Unfortuneatly inconsistent is the best word I can come up with right now… We do have our night time prayer we do together (I usually pray it for Nathan). I love the idea of praying the Word of G_d for them although it is new it is a wonderful idea.  Below I am posting our version of the Good Night Prayer.

Now I lay me down to Sleep

I pray the Lord my soul to keep,

May Angels watch me through the Night

And Keep me in their Blessed Sight

Amen

And the version I pray over them;

Now I lay him down to Sleep

I pray the Lord his soul to Keep

May Angels watch him through the Night

And Keep him in their Blessed Sight

Amen

I hope this journey is a powerful one for you and your sons.