Are You Preparing Your Son To Be God’s Strong Warrior?

Whenever I open the pages of my Bible, I read about real people and their encounters with a compassionate God who welcomes the shifty and the shy, the bombastic and the bumbler, the liar, and the lecher. Grace paves over some pretty rocky personal landscapes in both the Old and the New Testaments. Even so, scholars say that one of the strongest arguments for the reliability of the Bible is its apparent determination to paint every character with absolute truthfulness, celebrating their strengths and describing their obedience, while also faithfully detailing their weaknesses and revealing their failures.

Heroes of the Bible have feet of clay, just like the heroes our sons and daughters flock to and admire in real life. Even the Marvel universe of heroes has clued into the dramatic impact of a hero with a few chinks in his armor. Allowing the Bible to speak for itself about the highs and the low points in the careers of biblical heroes lays a foundation of realism for our sons as they observe the lives of spiritual leaders, teachers, and family members who inspire them to do more and be better. 

Throughout history, we see God looking for and working through strong warriors. A laser focus on the character and attributes of God impacts our sons’ character. It also shifts their perception for decision-making as they grow and mature. When they are seeking the will of God rather than getting stuck in the classic question, “What should I do?” our hero worship of the God of the universe prompts us to ask the better question: “Who should I be?”

The Bible is a book about God, not a self-help manual. Scripture provides our sons with a blueprint not just for good behavior, but for godliness.

The Bible is a book about God, not a self-help manual. Scripture provides our sons with a blueprint not just for good behavior, but for godliness.

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Calling All Warriors!

No topic is off limits, so the Pardoes forge courageously into sibling conflict, bullying, self-image, and fighting temptation. I especially appreciated their application of Mark 10:45 as a guide for leaders. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Leadership is not only a far-off-in-the-future prospect for a boy who follows Jesus:

Right now, you can lead your friends to be more like Jesus. You do this by setting a good example, treating others with kindness, and being bold in your faith but humble in your actions.”

Parents who are committed to preparing their sons to be God’s strong warriors will appreciate this well-crafted resource. Even adults need reassurance that when challenges come, we are trusting in a God who stands with us and fights for us. The battle belongs to the Lord.

Author and boy mom @StaceyPardoe has teamed up with her sons to create a collection of devotionals designed to help boys of all ages grow in godliness. #GodsWarrior

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Holding You in the Light,

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A New YouVersion Devotional!

I’ve got a new devotional plan ready for you on the YouVersion app. Click HERE to start The Meaning and the Method of True Rest, a ten-day plan that I pray will encourage and challenge you to seek intimacy with God every day.

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