Powerful Prayers For Your Son By Rob & Joanna TeigenShembull

Day Six

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?