Welcome, sweet boy-mamas to the first day of our 21 Days of Prayer for Sons challenge! Before we jump into the meat of today’s topic on Heart Change, we’d like you to take just 4 quick minutes and watch this welcome video from Brooke McGlothlin, author of “Warrior Prayers: Praying the Word for Boys in the Areas They Need it Most“ and founder of this prayer challenge!
What rest and relief can be found in the simple realization that the success of this challenge in the heart of my “warrior” is not based on anything I can improve upon or accomplish. As Brooke stated, it’s all about “what God can do in spite of me!” I hope you find encouragement there, too! With that prayer of dedication as our launching pad, let’s dive into today’s topic: Heart Change.
What a completely perfect place to start, friends. This concept of asking God to change “hearts of stone” into “hearts of flesh” provides a backdrop for the rest of His redemptive story to play out in the lives of our boys. Taking it one step further, I’m reminded that God cannot work in our hearts as mothers if we don’t allow Him to completely move into the recesses of our souls and rip away what is old, broken, and sinful to replace it with what is new, recreated, and redeemed. Brooke writes:
“The most foundational thing we can ask God for in the lives of our sons is heart change. The Word says that what’s in the heart eventually comes out. Bad stuff in the heart? Bad stuff comes out. Good stuff in the heart? Good stuff comes out.”
For those of you who may not know, my “warrior” is only 13.5 months old and I struggle to categorize him in the “heart of stone” group or see beyond that sweet, toothy-grin to know that because of our inherent sin nature, my Augustine has “bad stuff” in his heart even now. Yet, I cannot ignore the words of Scripture, “The heart is deceitful above all things and it is exceeding corrupt: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
Today, we pray for the heart change of our sons – that God’s overwhelming presence would be manifest in their lives in such a way that Heart Change would be unavoidable. As you start working through the eBook, and prayers on your own, I’d like to share four ideas from Brooke on how to organize your time through the topical prayers during this challenge:
1. Get up early and bathe your sons in prayer first thing in the morning
2. Pray the prayers one at at time throughout the day
3. Make the prayers a part of your family devotional time – pray them out loud over your sons
4. Spend time in concentrated prayer late at night, around bedtime
When my husband, Nate and I have walked through past seasons of this prayer challenge, we found the best method for us was to pray for Auggie each night before bed…we read through Brooke’s encouragement and direction in the eBook together and then took turns praying the prayers out loud, inserting our “warrior’s” name! However, you choose to do it – just commit to the 10 prayers each day!
Day 1 | Action Steps
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Read | The Introduction (pg. 7-9) and section titled, “The Battle” (pg. 10-11) in the eBook, “Warrior Prayers” and work through any (or all) of the Study Questions that enhance your time in this challenge!
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Pray | Work through the 10 prayers on Heart Change (pg. 12) using whatever method works best for you!
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Comment | Since this is our first day in the challenge, we want to hear what you are looking forward to most about the next 21 days! Do you have any specific hopes or goals? Are there any fears you’d like to share?
As always, feel free to email any comments or questions to me directly at [email protected] – I’m excited to walk this journey with you! Let’s wear some holes in our jeans this month!
Looking forward to learning how to pray the Scriptures over my little men. I get so distracted when I pray–my mind is all over the place. This will be a great time of focus. Thanks so much for doing this!
I’m a 4-boy momma, and this is my first time jumping into the prayer warrior plan. I’m excited and really thankful for the work that has gone into this!!
Aloha!
I have a 15 year old, an almost 3 year old, a 17 month old, and a 9 week old (along with a 5 and 6 year old girls). The 15 year old ha gotten into serious trouble with the law, and is no longer living with us. My heart is particularly burdened for him. This challenge as come at such a good time for me. Thank you for doing this.
Thank you for preparing this!
I am the mother of a 13 year old 6 foot boy! My prayer focus for the next 21 days is to stir the apathy that I see not only in my heart at times, but my sons. I see it in our youth, church groups, it’s actually hard to get away from it. My desire is that he be “set apart” and see how special he is and how we are called to live different, but with passion for Christ.
I cannot wait to see how God works in our family in response to the 21 day challenge. I’m mommy to 5 rambunctious, wonderful blessings of boys–ages 11, 9, 7, 3, and 10 months. I LOVE MY LIFE! I’m so thankful for my husband and these boys…and I’m also….very tired. God has been speaking to me over the past several months about me not being able to change my boys’ hearts. “That’s My job, He has gently reminded me.” It’s hard for me to remember this at times, as the deepest desire of my heart is to see these guys grow into men of God who love Him with all of their hearts, minds, souls, and strength. I desire this for my husband as well! The enemy is constantly hissing defeating words in my ear. I say NO in Jesus’ Name to those lies…and I am embracing God’s good plan for my family and I. Thank you for the opportunity to pray corporately for all our sons. May they all grow up to be all that God has planned for them to be!
We are in a battle and I am thrilled to be praying for four little warriors as well as the warrior/future husband of my daughter. I know that the devil doesn’t want us to bathe our families in prayer so he will be fighting hard and I can already tell that the fight has begun. I’m worried about consistency as well and noticed others have mentioned that too but I am excited and committed. New habits are hard to create but this is definitely worth it!
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I needed this today. It has been one of “those” days. The kind where you feel like packing up your kids & shipping them away. Either that or packing a suitcase & going on a vacation ALONE for a couple days. My “warrior” is 2, but will be 3 at the end of this month. He is very strong-willed & “passionate”. I know that Jesus softening his heart is the only way for him to be successful in life. My prayer has always been for him to know God & desire to serve Him & follow Him. I’m looking forward to more specific things to pray over my son!
I have 3 boys – 21, 19, and 12 (and 1 daughter – 17). They haven’t had a good male role model for just about their whole entire lives. The main things that I am praying for is that they will gain compassion to help others (including me!), wisdom to to do what is right in all circumstances and to have more fun in life.
So excited to be involved with other praying mom’s. Will be praying for my children, grand children, family and friends. So many mom’s with a heart to help their boys to meet their Godly potential.
What a blessing!!! Thank you for this book and this study, I can’t wait!!
3 boys – 4, 3 & 10 months! I stumbled upon this challenge through a friends facebook post. I’m reading the book for the 1st time and am excited to hear from other “normal” boy moms. I’ve been around boy moms for awhile but there boys seem different, mild tempered, laid back, relatively quiet. Then I see my boys, tough, loud, boundless energy, attitude. The White Flag has been me and I’m looking forward to praying my way through this challenge, I’ve never prayed scripture prayer before and I’m not sure why but thankful that I’m being opened to it now while my boys are young.
I have two boys, 2 1/2 and 1, and I’m excited to participate in this challenge to help set my boys up on the right path to begin with. They are wonderful little men already who love each other dearly. I can only hope to get them started in the right direction and pray that they will continue on their walk with the Lord.
Mom of 3 boys and one girl. Praying for my kids more has been on my heart for several weeks now, and what better way than to use scripture. I’m so thankful for this challenge and that someone has organized everything for me. Thank you!
I am a “New” mama to 3 boys (and 1 girl). We have our 16 month old biological son, who is just a joy and 3 foster kids (Boys 8 & 5, girl 3) that we have been called by God to adopt. They too are a joy, but boy has it been a rollercoaster. Not only trying to learn to be a new parent, but a parent of 4 at that (we got them all within 2 months of each other!). I am asking God to humble me and teach me how to be their mama. I’m am so humbled every day at this job, but love it and want to do it so much better than I am right now. I am so thankful that God can grab their hearts and take hold, even with all the messing up we do as Moms. I am excited to be guided through this challenge. Thanks so much!
So, here I am, at the end of a very long day. I’m trying so hard to push Satan aside. As I was coming home (to my sick 3 year old baby boy) from Texas Children’s Hospital this afternoon with my sweet 9 month old baby boy, the local Christian radio station put a bug in my ear to give Him time and He will give you rest. I know that God sent that dj to talk to me in reference to this challenge. I pray daily for God to change their hearts and for him to use me in the way He sees fit. I’m so excited for this challenge and look forward to throwing myself into prayer for the most precious gifts God could ever give me.
I have 2 sweet boys I’m praying for, ages 6 and 4 and a step-son who is 26. The youngest one is where my heart is pulling me towards prayer. He is full of life and energy and all the chaos that brings. My 6 year old is mostly calm, but has some powerful mood swings that seem to point to some sadness I’ve not found yet. These boy are my life, along with my husband and I, like every mother out there, want the best for them and to be able to teach and arm them to succeed in this thing called life. The only way that can be done is by the grace and teaching of God and my little men need to know how to hear and listen to that grace and teaching.
I have three wonderful young men, 29,18,17,and12. I am excited to take this journey of prayer for my young men. I am looking forward to seeing the Lord work in their hearts and lives.
My prayer is that the Lord will soften my boys’ hearts and that they would yearn to follow Him.
I am praying for my 3 boys, ages 9, 7 and 5. Andrew, Ethan and Samuel. What do I look for most in this? For a heart change in me! I’m excited and ready! Thanks, ladies!
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I forgot to add that my boys are 7, 4.5, and 2.
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I’m a mom of 3 girls and 1 boy, so I’m not only praying for my son but also my future son-in-laws. I know praying over our children is important and needed, but I’ve had a hard time making it a habit. So, that is what I’m excited about – yes, I’ll be praying for these 21 days, but also that this will instill the habit of going to God daily for my children.
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Today was pretty powerful for me. My husband is a pastor. He co-pastors with his father. As a child, my husband and his brother often describe how they felt they got the short end of everything with their father. My father-in-law often gave more grace and attention to those in his flock than those in his own household. My husband’s brother has made a series of bad choices, so, the Eli and evil sons story means a lot to our family. Thank you for another resource in placing God’s word into our hearts and lives.
Hi Sisters,
I have three precious ones who I’m praying for: Joshua 5, Liam 2, Nathaniel almost 1. They bless me and stretch me everyday. I’m a little behind the 8 ball today- as I realised my ebook didn’t make it when I re-did the computer a couple of weeks ago. God is good, and all was recovered. Looking forward to this challenge.
Thanks for sharing your heart Brooke and co.
danielle
I just want to say, that I am so grateful for this book & challenge, that God birthed in the hearts of these momma’s. I need this! My boys need this! I do NOT know what I am doing! And I cannot even express what a relief it is to hear other (humble) boy momma’s admit that as well. I love the Lord….but that wonderful fact alone is not going to be enough to make my boys love the Lord. So, like I said, I’m just so grateful for these scriptures that are already laid out here for me to pray…,P-R-A-Y, yes, that I can do…help me Lord to commit to this, please give me the strength and energy to carry it through this 21 days, I surrender to you.
I also just want to confess that I didn’t really get started on this yesterday (“day 1″), I let tiredness and busyness win out, yet again…:-(. But I am going to make up for it today! I am on board, thank God, He does not love me or answer my prayers based on my performance..
I’m late posting a comment as I was sick yesterday. But I have 1 son, 2 years old. I’m hoping to learn how to “pray the Word of God” — not sure what that means, really. I am hoping to raise a son that is a respector of women, fearful & follower of God.
Hi Sisters,
I have 3 sons by birth and 1 by heart (ages 19, 18, 15, 13) and 2 daughters (so praying for their future husbands). This will be the 2nd online challenge I’ve participated in, but I’ve also done the challenge 2 other times on my own as God has burdened my heart for one son or another i particular. Be encouraged as you go through this challenge for there will be days that are difficult to keep on track, days that are ultra-discouraging, days you’ll wonder why things seem to be getting worse when you’re spending so much concentration on prayer – the Lord is working and the enemy is fighting back – but thanks be to God Who has given us the victory! I have seen God work in ways I never dreamed while praying – I have been blessed beyond my hopes – I have been humbled and thrown back on God’s great mercy and strength – I have been carried by God’s love! I am anticipating great things by God’s hand again and so looking forward to this time praying for my sons!
I, too, am getting on board a day late, and yesterday’s finale simply proved the need for this prayer challenge in my life and the life of our family! arg
I am just finding this today, so I am getting on board. I find myself here as I have two son’s that are grown. They are 24 and 22. We raised them in a good home and prayed for them and taught them the word, but we are finding them to be making some very sad decisions in their life. It is breaking this mother’s heart and I am fervently praying for them. I am hopeful that this book and challenge will be good for me and for them even though they are grown. I have been crying out to God for them and praying that He bring them back to what is true.
Good Morning! I am pregnant with our first, due in July with our lil man. I am VERY excited to come together with some other moms, especially since I am a young (newly married cpl years) soon to be first time mom and feel like I have NOOOO clue what to expect/what to do with motherhood….lol… excited to learn and glean from you all!
I’m running behind, but I fear nt completing the 21 days-not being consistent in praying for my son beyond this challenge. I tried earlier in the year and failed. But God is good and I can/will do all things through him.
I have a 7yr and a 6 yr old- and my biggest prayer for them is that they listen and obey God’s calling for every aspect of their lives.