by Cherry Grace G. Alday (Pasay City, Philippines)
Dear Lord, you have witnessed the rebelliousness of youth since the very beginnings of time. You understand a parent’s anguish and helplessness over the actions of his child. Please help us to transform our anger and frustration into loving care for our child who has gone astray. Help us begin to mend our broken fences and heal our broken hearts. Bless our child and also help him to mend the error of his ways. Help and bless us all to do right in Your name and restore us to peace and tranquility. Amen.
“Forgive the rebellious sins of youth …” Psalm 25:7
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Have you ever laid awake at night wondering, where is my son? What is he up to? Who is he with? Is he safe? The worries of a parent over their rebellious teenage sons is never ending. Teenagers can be in the wrong place at the wrong time and before you know it they are faced with peer pressure, gangs, hanging around streets and areas that speak ‘danger’. It is for this reason, prayers for my teenage son and for improving his relationship with parents is a must currently.
This article aims to explain reasons why we should pray for our teenagers, why this age group is key and equally challenging. This article also aims to outline how our prayers can help and change the very atmosphere over the lives of our rebellious teenagers and improve relationship with parents.
What is prayer?
Prayer enables us to communicate directly with our heavenly Father. Prayer is indeed a heavenly language and is available to those who trust and believe in Jesus Christ. The word of God reminds us to “come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Prayer allows us to approach God, concerning those issues that burden us as parents; our teenage sons. Prayer releases an atmospheric change and causes the forces of darkness to submit to the power of the almighty God. It is for this reason that we should pray for our rebellious teenagers and against the strongholds that encompasses them. Our prayers are not like the weapons of the world, but they have the power to demolish strongholds and every false argument that Satan uses against us and our teenagers.
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
Why we should pray for our teenagers and how our prayers help?
Prayers for my teenage son is a way to present my requests before God, with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). Prayers for my teenage son moves the heart of God as well as it teaches the fundamental principles of intercession. Intercessory prayer develops my relationship and communication with God and enables me to intervene on behalf of my rebellious son by standing in the gap and pleading with God through unrelenting prayer. We should also pray for our teenagers, because we are reminded that God is the hearer of prayer and to You people of all sorts will come (Psalm 65:2).
God is the source in whom we can rely on
Praying for my teenage son will demonstrate dependence on God. As parents, we may never understand the challenges and the difficulties faced by teenagers. However, offering prayers for my teenage son, gives strength and comfort, knowing that God is the source in whom we can rely on.
Prayers for my teenage son, invites God to act on his behalf. We must invite God to work through us here on earth. Failure to do so, will result in evil forces to legally dominate mankind. Therefore, “By inviting God to act (through prayer), counteracts the god of this age blinding the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4). Therefore, the lives of others, such as my teenage son(s) can be saved, rather than lost, and relationships with parents can be improved.
Why this age range is specific and challenging?
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Family Database, in 2015, teenage suicide rates was perceived to be the highest in Canada, Estonia, Iceland, New Zealand. 10 or more suicide cases per 100 000 teenagers (15-19 years) were reported during this period. According to WebMd, suicide is suggested to be the third predicted causes of death of teenagers aged between 15 and 24. Teenage males account for 84% of all suicides from 5,000 lives lost every year. Equally, the suicide rate for teenage boys (15-19 years) has increased significantly by 30% from 2007-2015.
The cause of the increase in suicide cases among teenagers can be stress, depression, mental and mood disorders, history of physical or mental abuse, substance abuse, confusion and bad relationship with parents.
Some teenage sons may find it difficult in coping with hormonal developments encompassed with body changes, ‘identity crisis’ and having to develop a sense of self-independence. As such teenage boys can often become rebellious, confused, anxious and carry low self-esteem.
Therefore, as parents and guardians, we must remind our teenage sons that God knows the plans He has for them. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). We must pray and remind our teenage sons to stay on the path of purity and live according to His Word (Psalm 119:9).
Prayers for my teenage son – Rebellious Relationship with Parents
Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. I thank you for your divine blessings in my life. I thank You Father for my teenage son. Your Word says, that before You formed my son in the womb, you knew him. Father, help my teenage son to understand the authority that you have place inside of him. Help him to not accept negative talk, negative actions, negative deeds over His life, but help him to recognize the ‘Christ-like identity’ that You have placed inside him.
Father, will you release my son from the strongholds that may plaque his life right now? Will you release him from emotional, physical and spiritual hurts, and grant Your emotional, physical and spiritual protection over my son? Please keep evil far away from him and help him to trust in Your Word, because you are his refuge and strength; a very present help in times of trouble. Guard his mind and every thought that is not of You. Help my son(s) to find rest in You, this I ask. Amen.
Being able to understand the purpose of praying for your teenage son, will enable you to pray fervently as a parent. Knowing why you should pray for teenagers and the specific challenges faced, will also enable you to pray strategically, purposefully and according to the will of God.
Sources used for statistical information:
Teenage SuicidePreventing Teen Suicide
Also read: PRAYER FOR FAMILY – bring the needs of your loved ones to God
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Last week I wrote about prayers for your marriage. There was such a response, I decided this week to have my friend Brooke McGlothlin write a guest post on 10 prayers for your son. (On Friday I’ll be posting 10 prayers for your daughter.)
Here’s my friend, Brooke…
He looks at me with a “heels dug in” kind of glare. I know if I said, “the sky is blue on a sunny day” he would try to prove me wrong.
Sometimes, I don’t feel like we’re on the same team anymore, my son and I, and it breaks my heart.
On days like today, when he’s arguing with everything I say and trying his eight-year-old best to do things his way, it seems I’m fighting against him—like there’s a war going on in my house between me and my son, and a distance between us I want to bridge no matter the cost.
I know from my education that this process of differentiation is pretty normal. Boys ache for independence from mama, and feel ready to “boldly go where no man has gone before.” They want to be strong, assert their opinions, and explore their own ideas. Unfortunately, at the McGlothlin Home for Boys, we’re living in the in-between season— where ideas abound before they are mature enough to handle the responsibilities that go along with those ideas.
And so we butt heads.
Sometimes, I’m tempted to let our circumstances tell me my son is the enemy—he’s the one I’m fighting. But then I remember…
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 ESV
When the days of mothering grow long, and make a girl weary, and when what you really want to do is lock your son up in his room and throw away the key, it’s good to remember this:
He’s not your enemy. But there is an enemy.
That’s right, our sons have a real enemy—one that wants to kill, steal and destroy them (John 10:10)—but that enemy, according to the Word of God, has an opponent himself that’s a force to be reckoned with.
You.
Me. Any mother who’s willing to get on her knees and cry out for the heart of her son.
James 5:16 says, “the prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with” (The Message).
The best way a mom can enter the battle for the heart of her son is on her knees, so let’s start fighting for him right now.
10 Powerful Prayers to Help You Fight for the Heart of Your Son
1. Create in my son a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within him (Psalm 51:10).
2. May my son walk after You, God, and fear You and keep Your commandments and obey Your voice. May he serve You and hold fast to You (Deuteronomy 13:4).
3. May my son be strong and courageous and not fear or be in dread, for it is You, Lord, our God, who goes with him. You will never leave him or forsake him (Deuteronomy 31:6).
4. May my son walk before You, God, as King David walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that You have commanded him and keeping Your statutes and rules (1 Kings 9:4).
5. Like Timothy, may my son be an example to believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).
6. May my son listen to the way of wisdom and be led in the paths of uprightness (Proverbs 4:11).
7. Lord, be with my son in trouble; rescue him and honor him (Psalm 91:5).
8. May my son honor his father and mother… (Ephesians 6:2).
9. May my son have love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5).
10. May my son think on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is commendable; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, may he think about these things (Philippians 4:8).
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Thank you, Brooke, for this beautiful list of Scriptural prayers!
Brooke McGlothlin has a new book called Praying for Boys: Asking God for the Things They Need Most. It’s an insightful and much needed book for all moms of boys. Click here for more details.
And today, Brooke is giving away 5 copies of Praying for Boys! To win, leave a comment below telling us what prayer you are praying for your son(s).
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Letting go, doing all that you can and nothing more; this is a trial for any parent watching a teen abuse drugs. Pray for understanding, for grace and for healing.
Lord, sometimes I don’t know where my job as a parent ends and Your heavenly gift as Savior begins. Grant me understanding, so that I may do all that I can, and nothing more.
Lord, keep my faith burning bright. I believe in you and I believe in your power and love, but sometimes I am tempted to act in your stead. I hurt so much watching my son destroy himself. Grant me faith, so that I may receive your grace and act as Your instrument of love.
Lord, save me from despair. I get overwhelmed sometimes. My wife and my kids need attention, love and support, and so do I. Grant me clarity so that I may serve my family, even in this dark hour.
Lord, show me the path I must walk. Show me what good works I can do to serve You. I need your guidance, and although sometimes I feel rage, Lord, transform my anger into love, and use me as an instrument of Your purpose.
Lord, let my son feel Your love. I believe that only You can heal his wounds. He is troubled, He harms himself, please; bring him home.
Amen
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