I noticed something different as soon as Andrew walked in the door. One evening, not so long ago, my 16-year old came home from working-out at the Y and told me a custodian had stopped him in the hallway and said he “looked like a champion” after working out. Andrew said he felt like giving the guy a hug because it made him feel good someone noticed his hard work lifting weights. Then he felt kind of awkard so he just told him “thanks” and kept walking.
But, when he got to the exit door, Andrew decided to drop his bag and run back to thank the guy for encouraging him.
The next morning as we were heading out the door for school, Andrew was still thinking about what had happened. He said he was tired of thinking about himself all the time and he’d decided any time he gets a sense in his heart that he needs to encourage someone, he’s going to follow through.
I did everything I could to hold back the tears. And with his permission I want to share why.
We have been on a hard part of Andrew’s journey this past year. A journey filled with doubts and hard questions about God, compounded by frustration and uncertainties about his purpose in life.
A journey that has broken my heart and brought me to my knees.
And while praying for my son, I’ve heard wisdom that could only come from his Heavenly Father.
- Wisdom told me not to react, but to listen closely as Andrew vented words that were hard to hear.
- Wisdom told me to keep my mouth shut, and let my actions speak louder than my emotions.
- Wisdom helped me breathe deep and look for ways to affirm unique gifts I’d seen in Andrew that he could no longer see in himself.
I have admired Andrew’s natural tendency to notice and encourage others for years. But it had disappeared. So, I’d been praying 1 Thessalonians 5:11 for him, asking Jesus to help this boy I love remember what brings him joy and purpose.
And God had answered, using the kindness of a stranger to stir up that life-giving gift in my son. That day, a ray of hope broke through the clouds. And each day it gets a little brighter as I stay on my knees and in God’s word on my son’s behalf.
Parenting is hard. It can leave a mama feeling worn out and weary from the battle for the hearts of her children.
If that is you, please keep reading and enter today’s special giveaway. I’m excited to introduce you to my new friend, Brooke McGlothlin. Brooke knows what it’s like to want to wave the white flag and give up the fight but she also knows God has called mothers to get in the battle. So how do we do that in the most effective way? By coming alongside them in prayer.
Brooke just released a new book, Praying for Boys: Asking God for the Things They Need Most, And I love it! So I’m giving away a copy today!
From fun boy mom humor, to insightful biblical wisdom, Brooke helps mothers of boys discover their value and power as praying moms. In Praying for Boys Brooke teaches us to discover delight in the chaos of raising boys, and helps us have more peace in our hearts and homes. {Disclaimer: If you have a daughter, don’t worry I’ve got another friend whose written a book for you and I’ll be giving away one soon!}
But if you are a mom of boys, I want to tell you a little more because this book is a praying-boy-mom’s treasure chest!
Praying for Boys will:
- Help you stop hovering, and start covering.
- Give you permission to wave the white flag, while empowering you with the tools you need to keep going.
- Help you recognize your value and power as a praying mom.
- Overcome feelings of failure, and walk in confidence as a mom.
My favorite part is that Brooke includes over 200 topically-organized, Scripture-based prayer prompts for 21 areas in which boys struggle the most.
Brooke McGlothlin is Co-founder of Raising Boys Ministries, where moms and dads come to discover delight in the chaos of raising boys. You can find her writing about fighting for the hearts of her sons at the MOB Society blog. Brooke is also a homeschooling mom to her two boys and happily married to the man she’s had a crush on since the third grade.
ENTER TO WIN: Click “Share Your Thoughts” below this post and tell me about the boys you pray for.
I’ll choose a winner Sunday night, and announce it on my blog Monday, along with the 5 winners that will be picked from Wednesday’s Giveaway.
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This blog spoke to me so deeply today, I have 3 daughters 26, 21, 17 and a son 13. I love my children so much and in my eyes I gave up everything to raise them i.e. furthering my education to be a stay at home mother (only the oldest went to daycare for a short period of time). I kept them from the stresses/issues of the marriage/life and I was the main disciplinarian but now they don’t seem to want to understand through God and life we all change, grow and mature so the best I wanted for my children only came across to them as mean. Yes I need to learn to pray for my children through the tears, hurt and unloved feelings. Thanks for the book that will help in this area.
After learning to love my self and God through your book A Confident Heart, I had a wonderful 15 year old boy and his father, steal my heart. Both have been betrayed, twice, with promises of love and a joyous-faithful family life, and the confidence of this 15 year old has been shaken to the core; he no longer feels he is worthy of a mother’s love. He tries so hard to find love within by attending daily bible study with a group before school; it literally breaks my heart though to see his smile and joyous nature continually dashed by doubts with a simple phone call or blast from his past. I want to help so badly, not having children of my own though I’m just not sure where to turn and what to do to rebuild his confidence and provide the love he is so desperately seeking. This book Praying for Our Boys sounds like just the inspiration and message I need. I am looking forward to reading it and helping fill all our hearts with love and joy.
I am a mom of 2 boys.my oldest is 6 (7 in the spring:) and my youngest turned 5 last month. I pray for my boys in regard to everything-spiritual life- social life-academics-relationships with family and friends and making godly friends-I pray they will be respectful kind who love God first and do what’s right no matter what anyone else does. I long for my son’s to be close to God and to want to pray & learn -not just do it b/c they are asked to. I hAve even prayed that if Jesus tarries He will even now be preparing g their future mate if that’s what He has in store for them. Oh I long for my boys to be holy and happy-that’s most important…I’d love to read the book as I need all the help I can get per the marriage they see is not a good one and they’ve seen too much anger in their young lives and I don’t want them to ever think b/c daddy got mad that makes it ok-I’ve seen some things that concern me but prayer is all I have- thankfully God is powerful!
wish I would have had this info when i was a singe mom raising 3 boys
I really screwwed up and now there is nothing I can do they are adults
I have 2 boys , grandson and one more grandson on the way. I worried about my boys so much . One of my boys had to go though a hard time to find God in a most pervious way he has change quite a bit form that. my other Son Devin who loved God in away when he was younger is in need of a lot of prayers since he move out to live in CA to become a actor. I had to let him go to do this . It’s been very Hard for me. He is so far form God right now it worries me . I have my Grandson who daddy is the one who been threw a lot I hope that my son will continue to raises him to follow God .
I pray for my 4 boys, 24 yr old twins, 20, and 17 that they make the right choices, and that I had the things I needed to guide them in the right direction. I thanks God for blessing me with them, and praise him when they make the right choices, and don;t follow others just because it seems like the thing to do.
Thank you for this message. I too am the mom of two boys. One suffers from addiction and ental illness and has had a lot of legal issues. My other son is years beyond his true age because of what he had lived through and experienced with his older brother. While we are still in the midst of this struggle, ad a mom I wonder what am I supposed to do. God spoke to me in a big way, he reminded me that my sons are his children first. He has taught me to let go and surrender my boys to him. In doing so, I have seen his protective hand on both of them. So I continue to pray for God’s plan for ther lives and for their protection. Don’t get me wrong I still struggle at times to retake control, but realize God needs to do His work in their lives and I have to let Him. A small compliment goes a long way to a young person I believe especially today because we live in a world of automation and we have so little human touch and although we may not realize it we all crave human touch. I have watched my sons who suffers from these diseases suffer because of loneliness, and lack of friends, and will seek their approval in anyway possible. God has given me my spans as a gift and I am so grateful and thankful.
Thank you for reminding me that we need to surrender our children to Him. I know this, but I sometimes slip and begin to worry about them needlessly.
I have three grown boys of my own who I continue to pray for every day and now have a 15 year old stepson who is struggling with many defeats, which bring his confidence way down. I agree that boys are so different from girls as they struggle with many different things so this book would be so insightful to read, even for my boys who are grown and on their own. 🙂
Greetings: I am the mother of two daughters, but I am also the grandmother of a precious grandson. I would like to be able to give the book to my daughter if my name is chosen. I will be watching for the giveaway for the book on praying for daughters. My daughters are 17 and almost 27 yeas of age. It’s never too late for help with prayer. God bless you all richly!
Thank you so much for today’s post and for reminding us that we need to be on our knees interceding for our sons, and all the men in our lives.
Praying for my son, Colby,every day!
This is the perfect day for me to hear this message. God is always right on time. I have a 17 year old son. I need to be a more positive influence on him. I wonder how much longer I will have him at home as I moved out of the house at 17. We had to take him out of school and he is going for his GED. He needs direction in his life and I need more ways for me to inspire him and his friends. He finally came to church with me again so I am very hopeful. He has witnessed on Facebook, he has good in him but does not always make good choices.
My son is 15 ,and a delight to be with. He is ,however, struggling with worrying too much about himself. I need to learn how to pray specifically for him about issues in his life,that will help him grow to be a godly man.
I would love to win this book. I have a 22 year old son that I worry about. I would love to know how to pray for my son. I live in a country where young boys and men are looking at “bling” , guns and how to get rich quick as the way of life. In addition they are dying before the age of 30. So far my son has not looked that way. He is attending university and he tries to steer clear of those things. However as a mother, I would love to know how to cover him every day in prayer.
I am open to receiving scriptures and prayers fo my son.
Thank you all. Strength and grace to us mothers.
I have a son that’s 13. He’s a smart, loving, good kid. He’s not the type that likes to go anywhere. He goes to school, places on the computer or x-box. He does plays baseball, it took years to get him to like playing. but it’s the only activity outside of the home he does. He never wants to go out to dinner with the family, or anything else with the family. It’s not easy to talk to him. I also have a daughter 17 and she likes to frustrate him. It’s always a battle, attitude. Neither one of my children have had a real experience with the Lord. We attended a Christian Youth Production called “Acquire the Fire”. My son didn’t want to go, but I talked him into it. I could tell after that weekend God touched him. There was a small changed in him. He told me he would got to church with me once a month,it put a smile on my face and gave me hope. My son stopped going to church with me. My husband doesn’t attend, so my son decided he wasn’t going anymore until dad went. I know the God spoke to him during that weekend. I can’t wait to see my son on fire for God. I know God is working in him I just need to continue to pray and wait on God. This book would be so helpful to me to know how God wants me to pray and talk for my son . And I can’t wait for the book on daughters.
We have an amazing God.
God bless the mom’s in all they do!
Oh My Gosh! For Sure you wrote to me, I’ve been saying where is the blogs and help for the single moms of teenage boys! Last year my son while dabbling with trouble was still in band for his fourth year, loving his church group, and texting his hurting friends if they knew Jesus. Now he just turns 14, and there’s 2 friends, a girl 3 states away, he wants to live w/ his “no rules” dad, he wants nothing to do with any church, he thinks there could be multiple “himselfs” in ultimate dimensions! Ugghhh, my little 5 year old that out Bibled the high school Bible study wants to “take a break” from God… I asked him if he thought during these tough, puberty, trying teenage times he thought the devil was going to take a break from him? I told him it might be a good time in his life to keep God close. But I am a helicopter mom, and I need help. I’d love to hear more about what you did, because you didn’t have this book, so you’ve got to have some advice too!
I pray for three little boys, all under the age of five, my grandsons. My family is a good family but has made mistakes, and I want the next generation to have an unshakeable faith. My daughter is a wonderful mother, but boys are different, and her boys are so different in personality already, it’s hard to know how to help the quiet, passive one. If I win this book, I’ll be giving it to my daughter. If not, I guess I’ll need to buy it. Either way, I want this book!
Both of my boys are men now–young men. The younger of the two knows that God has called him to be a pastor and he is currently pursuing that career in Bible college. He has been on the enemy’s radar for a few years now and in the last 2 weeks, it has been one attack after another. I can’t really hover anymore since he is 600 miles away, but it sure is hard to be a mom. My oldest is 24 and has no clue why he is here. He didn’t like school so did not pursue college. He works a low paying full time job but has to live at home for several reasons. He desperately wants a girlfriend that will lead to a marriage but no one seems interested. This is hard for him, especially since his younger sister is getting married next week and his younger brother will most likely be engaged by the end of this year. My heart HURTS for him. He feels God has left him and doesn’t care about him anymore. I never realized how difficult it would be to parent adult “kids”. Never. I was told once they turn 18 your job is done. That is a lie. The job just gets more difficult, especially in this world.
@Becky-I agree the job is not done it just changes-as a parent you do have to step back but you will still need to be there for advice etc and most importantly our job is to pray-whether we have children young or old.
I loved the story you shared about your son. I have a 21 year old son. He is at college and has been having a tough time. He has went through a lot over his school years. I pray for him all the time and sometimes I just don’t know what to say anymore. I know that God is preparing him for something big. It is the only way I can justify the many trials. He is a great guy with a sensitive and kind heart. I pray that he will turn toward God and not away, especially in the tough times. I often feel like I have failed as a mom. It is so tough not to get caught up. When your kids are hurting or someone hurts them, it is so hard not to react. I am excited about the book you told us about.
I have a 23 year old daughter that I worry about too. I will be looking for the other title you were talking about. It is so hard to wait and hope that our children choose the spouses and paths that is God’s perfect plan for them.
God’s timing is perfect. I drove my 16 year old to school. He had a heavy heart, but didn’t want to talk about it. He didn’t eat breakfast and didn’t sleep well last night. I asked my typical pushy mom questions with no success. Finally I asked: what can I pray about? I have to admit I asked the question for my own selfish reasons really hoping to find out the root of the issue, but God didn’t want me to know. My son asked me to pray for grace. So, when I got home, I texted him a short prayer. He responded with a thank you. I am learning that patience with a teenager is where love meets wisdom. Thank you for writing this devotional piece for me to read today!