This devotional is designed to help you trust that God loves your son even more than you do. To bring you hope when your son has lost his way or is struggling with weaknesses or temptations. To lead you to praise God for his power in your son’s life. As you pray through these devotionals over the next week, rest in the knowledge that your son is in God’s hands.
Baker Publishing
Day 1
The Best Way to Love Your Son
Scripture: Hebrews 4:16
As a dad, I think of myself as a provider and protector of my kids. But I, too, have come to realize that prayer is the most significant way I take care of them. Our oldest son will celebrate his twentieth birthday soon. I asked him recently what it meant to him to know that his parents have prayed for him over the years. He said it has helped him to see the importance of his relationship with God, especially now that he’s grown. It showed him how much we cared for his needs, both physical and spiritual. He believes our prayers protected him from a lot of things that he wasn’t spiritually mature enough to handle along the way. And our prayers taught him how important prayer was in his own life with God.
It is through our prayers that we release our sons to God and trust him to care for them. We know that God can take our boys’ struggles and failures and bring good from them. He can take their accomplishments and strengths and make them even greater when he’s in control. He is willing and able to respond to any concerns or issues with our sons. We have taken to heart the truth that we can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, NIV).
Another element of our prayers is that they’re faithful and persistent. We know that we trust in a God who hears us when we cry out to him. Jesus taught his disciples that “they should always pray and not give up,” and “will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly” (Luke 18:1, 7–8, NIV).
Don’t lose heart! Keep on lifting up your son’s concerns and needs to our loving Father every day. He will hear and answer your prayers. It may not be in your timing or in exactly the way you have in mind, but it will be in a way that brings glory to God and the very best for your child.
What are three specific things you would like to pray for your son this week?
Day 2
Superpowers
Scripture: Zechariah 4:6
Lord,
My son is like every other boy—he’s fascinated by heroes who use their powers to save the day. Whether it’s in a movie, a video game, or a book, he admires the skill and strength that brings victory in battle.
Reveal to my son that he can be someone’s hero too. Give him courage to stand up for those around him who are weak or struggling. Let him be an ally for kids who are suffering at the hands of bullies. Give him discernment to know the difference between tattling and reaching out for help for those who need it.
Fill my son with compassion for the poor. Make him eager to share what he has so he can relieve the suffering of others. Keep him from a “me first” attitude through a desire to give and serve. Give him humility to treat everyone with respect, no matter their appearance or social status. Make my son a man of integrity. May he play fair, speak the truth, and insist on justice if he sees someone being cheated. Give him a bold voice to speak up, and use his example to encourage other young people to stand for what is right.
Let my son know you are with him. You are aware of every time he reaches out to those who are rejected, helps someone in need, and stands up for someone who needs support. Show him that you have blessings and rewards in store for him, especially when it’s costing him to do the right thing. Change his heart through prayer to want what you want for him.
Use me as an example to my son through my attitude toward the handicapped, the poor, and the marginalized. Give me opportunities to help and honor others. Show me how to encourage my son to be bold and stand for justice. Thank you for being our great hero and rescuer. Thank you for your power to rescue us from our sins and the enemy of our souls.
May your Spirit move powerfully in my son’s heart to create gratitude, patience, and love for others. Give him your joy that is greater than any happiness this world could offer. Give us your strength and heart of compassion that cares for all people. Amen.
What qualities does your son tend to respect most in others? Why do you think that is?
Day 3
The Freedom of Submission
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:33
Lord,
With each passing year my son becomes eager for more freedom and independence. He looks forward to earning his own income, driving a vehicle, pursuing adventure, and taking responsibility for his own decisions. There will never come a day, however, when he is without authority and boundaries in his life.
Thank you for our government that provides safety through laws and military protection. Help my son to treat law enforcement and elected leaders with respect. Give him self-control to obey the rules and regulations of our country and community. Guard his heart from rebellion that would deny the authorities you have put in place. May he submit with an attitude of surrender to you.
Help my son to see that submission brings freedom of its own. He’ll avoid the painful consequences of a ruined reputation, lost income, damaged property, and personal injury. He’ll be free to enjoy respect, liberty, and safety.
Guard my son from those who would influence him to break the law, for “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV). Make him mindful of how he could end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, finding himself guilty by association with the crowd.
Begin shaping his heart attitudes today. Give him a respectful spirit toward his teachers and coaches. Let him practice obedience at home as preparation to submit to future leaders in his life. Bring rewards and commendation for his obedience, so he can see that living by your ways results in blessing. Let my son’s submission come from a commitment to living for you. May he love you with all of his heart and desire to please you in every way. May his life allow a clean conscience so he can walk before every authority with peace and confidence.
Bless those of us who watch over my son each day. Let us have joy in his obedience. Guide us by your Spirit to teach him well and protect him with diligence.
Thank you for your great love and care for my son. Amen.
How do you feel about the people your son spends time with? What kind of conversations do you have about his friendships and peers?
Day 4
Perfect Counsel
Scripture: James 1:5
Lord,
Navigating the choices of life is too confusing for my son to manage on his own. What classes should he register for? What sport, musical instrument, or club membership should he pursue? Which friends will be the best influence and most fun to hang out with? Does the science lesson at school match up with the Bible’s creation story? What should his involvement at church look like? Is it really worth saving sexual intimacy for marriage? There are so many options and messages coming his way—he desperately needs your help.
Thank you for promising to give your wisdom whenever we ask. You give us freedom to come to you with any question, knowing you will “give generously without finding fault” (James 1:5, NIV). Teach my son to look for your truth and wisdom for his life. Give him ears to hear your voice no matter how loudly the world tries to drown you out.
Bless my son with wisdom and understanding beyond his years. Help him to find your path. Let him fear you in his heart and obey you in everything. Fill him with your Spirit so he can discern right from wrong and know your will for every decision he faces.
Use me as an example by the way I seek your wisdom for my life. May I have a humble, obedient heart that looks for your perfect will in every situation. Show me how I can best serve you in my home and community, when to take on new challenges and when to say no, and how to show the love of Christ to my son. Keep me faithful in prayer and studying your Word, so I can discover your insight and truth. Use me to encourage my son in seeking you when there’s a decision or challenge before him. Teach us both to wait on you when we ask for wisdom, trusting you will respond instead of running ahead to find our own way.
Thank you for your Word that gives perfect counsel. Give us your thoughts and your truth so we know what to do and where you would have us go. May we be fully yours and live in your ways. Amen.
What choices is your son facing right now? If he is still very young, consider some of the upcoming choices he has in his life about friendships, kindness, and learning.
Day 5
Standing Firm
Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:22
Lord,
This world is a broken, painful place for my son to navigate as he grows. He’ll experience physical illness and injuries. Trusted friends and family may betray his confidence. The dreams he holds for the future may crumble. He may find himself lonely, broke, sick, or disappointed.
Keep my son from the trap of addiction as he seeks comfort in this world. The pleasures of food, alcohol, sex, entertainment, drugs, and money can offer a temporary diversion from the pain in his heart. But these same pleasures can become a trap that steals his freedom to live in your peace and righteousness.
Don’t let my son’s heart become enslaved to anything or anyone but you. Let him find his greatest satisfaction in your presence. Give him discernment to identify temptations that come his way.
My son often feels pressure to fit in with the boys around him. They treat foul language and crude humor like a badge of masculinity. It takes courage for my son to live by your ways, especially when he has to walk that path alone.
Give my son the strength to live for you without compromise. Equip him to stand firm in his faith. Give him an assurance of your presence so that even if he feels left out and alone, he can know you are with him.
Pour out your blessings in his life as a comfort and encouragement to keep on going. Guard his heart from fear—no insult or rejection or pain compares to the glory you have in store for your children.
Show me how to encourage my son. Help me to celebrate with him every time I see your hand in his life. Let me walk beside him in our journey of faith so he doesn’t have to make his way alone.
Show my son that you are his true comfort. You offer a future of perfect peace and love with you. Your plans for him are good and perfect. You are the source of everything he needs. You hold the answers to all of his questions. Let my son live in your freedom. Keep his eyes on you. May he offer his life fully to you and obey you with all his heart. Amen.
In what ways could you encourage your son today?
Day 6
A Powerful Work
Scripture: Ephesians 6:1–3
Lord,
Out of your great wisdom and love you created family. In your Word you instruct us in how to relate to one another in our home. Part of your perfect plan is for children to honor and obey their parents.
You hold blessings in store for my son if he submits to my authority. You describe how his future will go well and how he’ll enjoy a more fruitful life. You also describe the challenges my son will face in these days. We live in a time of rebellion and selfishness. Young people despise discipline. They disrespect adults. They celebrate their immaturity and lack of self-control. My son feels torn between what he knows is right—obedience—and the temptation to reject his parents and go his own way.
The push and pull between his will and mine is creating hard feelings between us. I’m weary of having to justify what I say and ask him to do. I feel on edge, expecting conflict to rise up at any moment. He ignores me or argues about nearly everything. I can sense his resistance to my input and his frustration with being asked to do things my way. We need your help to find unity and peace again.
Do a powerful work in my son’s heart. Turn him toward you and help him to see his parents as a gift from you in his life. Let my words of correction and advice be received with humility. May he see my heart of love that seeks to guide and protect him rather than steal his freedom and joy. Build trust between us so he can have confidence in my motives and submit himself to my authority.
Give me wisdom to know how to pick my battles. Let my words be gentle and full of truth and love. Fill me with mercy and grace, just as you show patience with my own weaknesses. Keep my heart from resentment that expects the worst and is quick to find fault. May I walk in integrity so I’m worthy of respect. Open my eyes to my son’s strengths and what is worthy of praise in his life. Show us the way to a right relationship with each other and with you.
Draw my son to you and give him the mind of Christ. Amen.
What are your son’s greatest strengths?
Day 7
Teach Me to Pray
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
Father,
I don’t know how to pray for my son. All I know for certain is that he needs you. This world is full of pain, violence, and sin. Sometimes it seems like a foolish wish to hope that my son will be able to know you and walk in your ways. Today, when I’m confused and doubtful that he’ll find his way, I trust that you know.
Thank you for your Spirit who prays for my son when he can’t pray for himself. When I become discouraged and wonder if he’s going to make it, I praise you that your heart is with us. When I grieve over his mistakes and their consequences, you remind me of your patience and forgiveness. When he’s wounded or weak, your Word tells me you’re our healer. When I feel like we’re in a daily battle with one another, you declare that you’re our peace. Thank you for your wisdom when I’m foolish, your knowledge when I don’t have a clue, and your outpouring of mercy when I’m ready to quit.
Show me how to pray. Open my eyes to see what my son needs most. I can fall into praying for an easy, happy life for him, but “what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36, ESV). Guide my prayers so I can lift up his very soul to you.
Make me faithful in prayer for my son. I want to lift him up to you at all times. I want to be joyful and thankful even when he’s troubled or rebellious. I want to place him in your hands so I don’t bear the weight of his future on my own shoulders.
Thank you for the gift of prayer. You are always with me. You never fail to listen and respond when I cry out to you. You care when I’m hurting and afraid. You cover my mistakes as a parent with your perfect love. And most of all, you love my son and know him through and through. I praise your name for the hope we have in you—we are saved and we are yours forever. Amen.
Do you ever feel the weight of your son’s future on your shoulders? What Scripture verse could you hold on to during those times?