Instead of trying harder to change your boy's behavior or worrying about his future, enjoy the peace that comes when you pray specific prayers for him straight from the Bible. This encouraging book helps you target your prayers on what your son needs most--from patience and self-control to having a pure heart and making wise decisions.
Today you can start giving whatever concerns you have to God and - learn to fight for your son's heart in prayer - look at raising boys as a gift - see how even quick prayers make a difference - understand boys' deepest struggles, no matter their age - rest in knowing that God is the only One who can change your son's heart
Written for moms but great for dads (and grandparents) too, this easy-to-use book is filled with uplifting stories and biblical wisdom that will equip you on your journey to raising a godly man.
Includes a 21-Day Prayer Guide for Small Groups, in Person or Online!
"What a gift Brooke has given us in this wonderfully practical and urgently needed book. We all want the very best for our sons. We invest so much in growing our boys up right, but we must remember that only our prayer partnership with God can mold their hearts. Brooke teaches us mamas how to fill the most sacred spaces of parenting with powerfully effective prayers." -- Lysa TerKeurst , New York Times bestselling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries
" Praying for Boys is more than a book of prayers or a devotional book for moms. It's a real toolbox that empowers parents to lead, love, and fight for the hearts of their sons."-- Amanda White , ohAmanda.com, author of Truth in the Tinsel
" Praying for Boys is profoundly motivating and biblical. Every mom who needs direction in raising boys into spiritually vibrant men will be challenged to embrace this clear strategy that Brooke provides. Highly practical and very encouraging!"-- Sally Clarkson , director of Mom Heart Ministries and author of Desperate
"I can't think of a greater resource for parents of boys than this book. Brooke McGlothlin has taken her love for all things boy, spelled out the important stuff, and infused a deep understanding of what boys need most in these pages. It is a must-read and pass-it-on kind of book!"-- Lisa Whittle , speaker and author of {w}hole
" Praying for Boys has challenged me to get on my knees and cry out to God for my sons in ways I never had before--boldly, expectantly, persistently, passionately. My mama heart has been changed."-- Erin Mohring , co-founder of Raising Boys Media
"As a mom it is a necessity and a privilege to bring our children to God through prayer. Brooke has created a fantastic resource to encourage and help us along the way. Praying for Boys is a must-have for every boy-mom!"-- Ruth Schwenk , speaker, writer, and creator of thebettermom.com
"Brooke's practical book, full of vulnerable sharing and deeply rooted in God's Word, will become a useful tool as you seek to make prayer a priority and model for your boys just how to run hard after Jesus."-- Karen Ehman , Proverbs 31 Ministries director of speakers and author of LET. IT. GO.
Brooke is the Founder of Million Praying Moms, and author of 8 books, including her latest, Praying for Teen Boys: Partner with God for the Heart of Your Son and Praying Mom: Making Prayer the First and Best Response to Motherhood. She’s a wife and mom to two teenage boys who make their home in the mountains of Appalachia, calling southwestern Virginia home. Learn more about Brooke at www.brookemcglothlin.net.
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review, the opinions are my own.
As a Bible College grad I can be extremely picky when it comes to any faith based book, especially in regards to children and youth. This may have something to do with almost a decade of post secondary education in related fields (youth and counselling) and with professors who encouraged questioning, critiquing, and excellence.
Brooke certainly provides the excellence.
One of the first things I noticed (with grateful relief) was Brooke's layout. Although my son is little and not yet mobile, he still requires time and energy (lots and lots of energy). Recognizing this endearing quality of boys, Brooke has structured her book to be enjoyed in large or small sections, in quick reference or at length in a group setting. I love this versatility! When I had time, I sat and read larger chunks (occasionally sharing insights with my dear hubby) and when I didn't it was simple enough to pick up a chapter and have a few minute break and recharge.
The second thing I noticed about Brooke's work was how it resonated with my new Mama heart and gave expression to the struggles I was having. Raising a boy in today's world is hard and, if I'm honest, I always thought raising girls was more in line with my personality (God has a sense of humour but I do love my little boy fiercely). Brooke's open, honest communication made the book feel more like a friend walking alongside. At many points her reminders that we cannot change our sons hearts and that she didn't have all the answers, helped her authenticity and were easily read as encouragement for one just starting out on the path of motherhood.
Finally, I love how Brooke continually takes her readers and turns them back to scripture. This is the central theme of her heart for Mama's and it resonates loud and clear. I haven't actually had the chance to really try this yet (although I've tried a little, after all who hasn't had those weeks where teething, viral infections, birthdays, and daddy starting a thesis haven't coincided, right? We've all been there ;) I'm intrigued to see how this will go (evidenced by my Heavily bookmarked book)
Praying for boys is one of those practical books that is good for any Mama, regardless of how old their sons or grandsons may be.
LOVED this book! If you have boys, young boys at that, you will LOVE this book. The author is both "real" and honest in her description of her own life and struggles raising boys to love Christ. She really gets it, as only a mom of boys can get it. I find her stories hilarious and her suggestions and advice so so helpful! && it is such a great motivator for a stronger prayer life. We can never go wrong with praying Scripture over our boys! The best part is that it doesn't end when you close the book. She provides the tools that will carry a mom or dad through years of parenting. So thankful for this book!
I borrowed this from the digital library and will need to buy a physical copy to keep in my own home library. I will do a lot of re-reading and highlighting some day, perhaps when my son is a little older. This book lays it all out for you, right down to the prayers you can pray over you sons each day/night. It was an easy read, yet so full of wisdom and helpful insight.
I listened to this book as an audiobook and it really is better suited in written format. Each chapter covers a different topic to pray for in your sons life. Each chapter begins with an anecdote and then scripture to pray relating to the topic of the chapter. The author encourages moms of boys to raise up men who understand biblical manhood and why it's important. Men who love and know the Lord. Because we cannot do this on our own, She encourages moms to do this mostly "on your knees" praying to the God who has the power to turn hearts of stone to hearts of flesh. This is also a good book to read with a friend because there are discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
A very practical book with pages of prayers based on scripture that can be used for all people and not just boys. The insight into what is vital for boys is well written in an easy to read style. I will be passing this book on to others to read.
Labai patiko. Geras priminimas apie maldos svarba, ir tuo pačiu tikslingos maldos galia ir džiaugsma. Autorė pagrįsdama Biblija siūlo kryptis/savybes už kurias mes galim melstis dėl savo berniuku. Manau, malda tikrai keicia daug ka, pradedant nuo to, kad keicia mus pačias.
This book was not what I expected…..a nice little book on praying for boys. It was so much more. The author has a real vision for boys. “I asked God to give me boys. Even before I was married I knew I wanted to raise men who would be different–respecters of women, lovers of God. Men who would work with their hands, take commitments seriously, and protect the least of these. Men who were warriors, protectors, worshipers, peacemakers, and friends” (location 37). She fleshes out her vision throughout the book and candidly admits that she has no idea how to get boys from where they’re at now to fulfilling their calling as godly men…..on her own.
She states that the “best way a mom can enter the war for the heart of her son is on her knees” (location 78). Parents who pray for their kids recognize that they can’t do it. We can’t change our kids’ hearts….but in prayer we put our “faith and hope in the God who can” (location 90). That’s the emphasis of this book.
I was convicted as I read this book over how generic my prayers have been for my son. Yes, I pray for specific character issues but often my prayers look more like, “Make him a godly man.”
This book has 21 different things to focus on as you pray for your boys. Each section has some thoughts and insight on the topic. The author gave real life examples and explains why this is so important for boys as they grow into manhood. Each section ends with scripture verses with a blank where you would insert your son’s name as you pray for your son in this area (i.e., obedience).
The information in each section was very sound and biblical. I was excited that she had so many verses listed in each area. This will save me (and you?) so much work and effort. It’s nice to be able to get started right away when you catch a vision for something like this. My only wish is that there would be a pdf file for those who buy the book that would allow you to print the verses in various formats as I might not want to have to open up my kindle copy every time I want to use the list. There is a website with a resources tab but so far this is not on there.
I would highly recommend this book for moms and dads or anyone who has a special boy in their life. It was so helpful and hopeful. I felt my own vision for my son grow and grow as I read this book. It is so easy to get caught up in every day life and not be intentional in preparing our sons. It was also helpful to be reminded that prayer is SO IMPORTANT!!! God loves our sons even more than we do. If they are believers, God has promised that He will be at work in them, moment by moment, making them more like His son, Jesus. So we can have great hope as we pray for them. If our sons are not yet believers, we have all the more reason to be praying for God to change their hearts of stone to hearts of flesh.
Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for proving me with a free copy of this book for the purpose of this review. I will use this book for many years to come hopefully as I raise my son.
I enjoyed this book and found a lot of it to be applicable to my fierce daughter, not just my sons. Really, the title is probably why it got 4 stars instead of 5. I don’t love the overly gendered stereotype stuff for kids—just let them be themselves and figure out who that is. Maybe it’s the tomboy in me. Maybe because I have always felt more equipped to be a “boy mom” than the unlikely girl dance mom I’ve learned to be. Anyway, most of the 2nd half are scripture prayers which is really nice. I listened to it as an audiobook and have ordered a paper copy to dig in more to those specifically. It also has discussion questions so I’m totally planning a reread with friends. I’m probably going to let the artist in me design some fun way to incorporate these prayers into visual reminders to pray them for my kids.
Boys are a special gift. Adventurous, wild, big hearted, soft, tough, kind, dirty, you name it. God had blessed me with 4 and I couldn’t recommend this book more! Raising Godly men in such an uncertain society, often makes me think ‘How can I do this?’. For I can do all thing through Christ who give me strength- Phil 4:13 You are not alone momma and those boys need you on your knees praying. My favorite part- is the prayer suggestions at the end of each chapter. Great insight on praying God’s word back to Him!
This was such a sweet book! I loved the guided prayers and Brooke McGlothlin’s tone was that of a dear friend giving loving advice. The only criticism I had was that I wish there was a little more meat to each of the chapters. The topics and verses were so perfect—I just wanted a little more discussion. But like she says up front, it’s not a parenting book per se. I recommend this book to all those helping raise little boys.
I have read and reread chapters on this and have really enjoyed learning how to pray scripture over my son. I'm sure I'll continue to refer to this even as he and I both age. I probably should have marked it as completed over a year ago, but since I still refer to it...and I did end up buying it.
While this book was written specifically about praying the scriptures for your boys, the suggested scriptures to pray are obviously applicable to all children, or even to pray for ourselves and our spouses.
Just okay. Provides a starting point for praying Scripture over my son, but some of the verses didn't seem applicable to the chapter topic. Also, the chapter discussions often seemed to only scratch the surface of the attribute you're praying over your son.
What Are Your Biggest Concerns for Your Son? Instead of trying harder to change your boy's behavior or worrying about his future, enjoy the peace that comes when you pray specific prayers for him straight from the Bible. This encouraging book helps you target your prayers on what your son needs most--from patience and self-control to having a pure heart and making wise decisions. Today you can start giving whatever concerns you have to God and - learn to fight for your son's heart in prayer - look at raising boys as a gift - see how even quick prayers make a difference - understand boys' deepest struggles, no matter their age - rest in knowing that God is the only One who can change your son's heart Written for moms but great for dads (and grandparents) too, this easy-to-use book is filled with uplifting stories and biblical wisdom that will equip you on your journey to raising a godly man. Includes a 21-Day Prayer Guide for Small Groups, in Person or Online!
About the Author:
Brooke McGlothlin has encouraged thousands of moms toward a richer prayer life as co-founder of the popular online community for mothers of boys, the MOB Society (www.themobsociety.com). She's the author of several books and resources for moms, and lives in the mountains of southwest Virginia with her husband, their two sons, and two Labs.
My Review:
The only power we as parents have in this strange, evil world is the power of prayer. The book, Praying for Boys, is a book to help you get right to the place of getting on your knees before the Lord and lay it at His feet. I know I want Him to take the lives and the hearts of my boys and transform them to live for Him.
Each day you can be met with obstacles that this life bring and the obstacles a life with boys can bring and together with the Lord you can overcome them all. The author, the mother of two young boys herself, she teaches us how to effectively pray and how to turn over the reigns to the one and only God that can help our boys reach those heights that that the likes of this world has never seen.
The author, Brooke McGlothlin, gives you prayers to pray along with the scriptures to use with them as you pray to become a true prayer warrior for your son(s). Her purpose in writing this book is three fold: to encourage parents to pray for their sons, to teach them how to pray for the, and to inspire them to do it on a regular basis.
To conclude- the author reassures us that God has all of this in His mighty hands, we just have to be willing to trust Him with our boys and their path. Because of the fact that we as parents have very little control over our young boys and their hearts this is definitely an area that we need to relinquish control of.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Bethany House.
I recently received a complimentary copy of Praying for Boys by Brooke McGlothlin from Bethany House. I was very excited about receiving this book, since I just had my first baby, and it's a boy! This book is probably the favorite book I've received, since I started reviewing books. Brooke writes in such a way, that she makes you feel as if you are old friends just talking about your kids. She writes with such honesty and gives you insight into what it's truly like to be a mother of boys. She is also the co-founder of the online community for mothers of boys (you can find the website here).
Although this book seems to be written for mothers with older boys, I've found this book to be so helpful. I know it has only been 11 weeks with my sweet boy, it's never too early to start praying for your boy. In the beginning of the book, Brooke discusses the importance of praying for your son. After all, we aren't just raising little boys. We are raising future husbands, pastors, youth pastors, teachers, business men, heck, maybe even the future president. She stresses how there is a battle in the world today for the hearts of our boys. Each chapter of the book addresses a new subject of how to pray for your boy. There are verses at the end of each chapter along with a sample prayer, showing how to pray that scripture.
This book is also setup in such a way that you could use it for a Bible Study or Ladies' Group. There are questions for reflection and discussion at the end of each chapter (along with the Scripture and prayers). If you wanted to use this book for one of those purposes, Brooke is such a wonderful help! At the end of the book, she discusses how to approach this book, if you wanted to use it for a group in person or online (which is genius! I never would've thought about an online prayer/Bible study group online for those of us, who are too busy to make it out for a meeting every week!)
Now before you say, 'I'm not a mom of young boys, that book isn't for me', think again. This book isn't just for moms of young boys. It's for dads and grandparents, aunts and uncles, and even mothers of girls. Yes, it's setup for mothers of boys, but the prayers and topics are just as good for girls. These prayers are not only for children either. The wonderful things about prayers is that they're timeless and can be prayed for any age. If you commit to praying these prayers for anyone in your life, you will find your life to be transformed by the prayers you pray for others. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially to mothers of boys.
I’ve read the MOB’s Society blog for awhile now and I’ll admit that 7 1/2 years ago when the ultrasound tech told me “it’s a boy” I had no idea what to do with a boy! I had two girls, I knew what to do with them but what do I do with a boy? How do I potty train him? Teach him? Make him a godly man? I was out my league and until I had him in my arms I actually had myself convinced that the tech was wrong and I was having another girl and be-still my heart….I fell in love, head over heels in love with the writhing, screaming, red little boy that was in my arms. I still had no idea what I was going to do with him and honestly there are still days I have no idea what I’m going to do with him so when I found the MOB Society I knew I had some other moms who were going through what I was.
That brings me to Praying for Boys by Brooke McGlothlin, her sons exasperate her as much as mine does me and she, like me, also knows that you can truly only rely on one person to get you through and that is the Lord. There are days the only thing a mom can do is pray because otherwise sanity will go out the door. Brooke is honest in her love and sometimes exasperation of her sons and I so appreciate that, but this isn’t your parenting book – there are enough of those out there to fill several libraries – this is for moms who want to pray for their sons, want to wash Scripture over them but have no idea where to start.
Brooke begins the book explaining how boys are different – no matter how much I tried to avoid guns with my son he can anything and nothing into a pretend gun – from girls. She also explains what kind of prayer you’ll be undertaking in this book, it’s not just a simple “help me Lord” (although those are good too) but they are Scripture with your son’s name added (you could also if you wanted add your daughter’s name but the book is about son’s), she also tells how you can pray making it a monthly thing or taking a year or two to pray through the whole book. Also included are study tips if you’d like to lead an in person or online group of other mom’s or grandma’s who want to pray over their boys. Pray through the fruits of the spirit, purity, integrity and many more areas to make your son a godly man.
**I was given a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion no other compensation was given.
Although “Praying for Boys” is targeted at moms, I believe that this is a powerful book that should also be in the hands of dads, grand-parents, aunts and uncles and anyone else who plays a role in the life of a boy. The book is easy to read, and at under 200 pages it would be hard for someone to argue that they just don’t have time to read it! I greatly appreciated McGlothlin’s biblical advice provided in the pages of this book, showing the power of praying scripture over our children and so birthing God’s will in their lives. But I also loved the fact that she’s not afraid to relate her own struggles with parenting her own sons, that she shows that neither she nor her children are perfect, and that she’s down in the trenches praying hard just like the rest of us should be. The overall focus on prayer is a powerful one, and I love how she honestly reflects that she doesn’t pray because she has a special anointing to do so. Rather, she prayers “because I don’t know what else to do. I pray because I don’t have all the answers...because I’m desperate for a word-touch from the God who made me and because I can’t do this life thing without his direction”. There is something powerful about surrendering our boys to God through prayer and partnering with God in releasing all the good things he has in store for them. The author does an excellent job at guiding readers to teach their sons to have servant hearts, to be quick to forgive, to learn patience and self-control, to take a stand for purity. I loved praying through the prayers she lists for each section, while inserting my son’s name there. I also found the questions “for reflection or discussion” to be very thought provoking. Also, her anecdotes about her own family or examples of people from scripture add a richness to the book that kept me engaged from beginning to end.
Well-written, and sure to inspire confidence that we are parenting with our loving God by our side, “Praying for Boys” is a practical and insightful book, one that I will be encouraging many others to read as well. I award this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group
Praying for Boys: Asking God for the Things They Need Most was a spectacular book. The word brilliant also comes to mind. It was just what I needed. In fact, I think it is just what all parents need.
There were so many things that I liked about this book. I adored the conversational tone that the author used. She was funny and she was encouraging at the same time. She didn't have all of the answers, but yet and still, she offered the perfect solution.
I loved that she talked about the peculiar challenges that come with raising boys. I loved that she presented a picture of the dual parent, as well as the single parent family and home life. I loved that she also gave a picture of what a successful parenting model looks like from a Biblical perspective.
She referred to Scripture after Scripture to convey what to pray and how to pray. She gave a step-by-step guide on how to use this book. She provided questions for consideration. She suggested helpful tips on how to insure that mom-time with God did not fall by the wayside.
In a way, she served as the head cheerleader for moms-R-us.
I cannot say enough good things about this title. It was even better than I anticipated.
Mothers, especially busy mothers (and fathers, I dare say), will like this book because it is an easy, functional, practical read that allows one to hit the ground running.
Outstanding!
Rating: 5/5 Recommend: Yes Bookshelf Worthy: Yes Other/Options: This book needs to be read by mothers and fathers, as well as by extended family and caregivers. It is suitable for all audiences. It would be ideal for a book club. It would be perfect for a church library. It would also be a great resource for a parenting seminar or class.
A complimentary copy of this title was made available to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The words I have expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
First, I am very thankful that I was granted access to this ARC from the publisher in return for an honest review. I requested this book for a very specific reason, I have a son whom I care deeply for, but at times I don't know exactly what it is the young man needs. As a Mother I provide all the love and support that any Mom raising kids hopes to provide, but there's always those moments where I realize that having not grown up around young boys I really don't understand his actions. As a Mother I know that I want him to have a blessed life full of love and compassion for others, but honestly the way us women and men fulfill the role of providing love and compassion are quite different.
With that said, I was truly blessed to discover this book that teaches us moms a way to fight for the virtues are sons need. It lays out a plan of prayer, but most importantly it does it through scripture. Every chapter is filled with verses we can lay upon our sons and ask for the Lord's hand to guide him in each of the very important virtues that our outlined in the book including having a servant's heart, compassion, and loyalty.
I highly recommend this book to all of us raising young men in this world.
I really enjoyed this thoroughly practical book on how to pray for boys. Author Brooke McGlothlin shares her own life and experiences (the humorous and the serious) and how she used them to teach her sons truths about life and God. Her commitment to praying for her boys is inspiring. She also provides detailed guides and even fill-in-the-blank (with your son's name) prayers based on scriptures and specifically fruits of the Spirit. I plan to use and reference these in my own prayer time for Micah - to remind me to pray for him and to guide me when I don't know where to start! Brooke also really motivated and challenged me to think about and realize what a great task it is to raise a good Godly man (they're hard to find, huh?)!!! Our world definitely needs more men who are willing to pray, serve God, work hard, provide for their families, stand up for others, be faithful to their wives and in their giving, and be a true man after God's heart. I pray that Micah will be able to grow into all of these roles.
I highly recommend this to all moms of boys (no matter what age!). Never too early or too late to pray for our sons!