Hello, friend. Welcome back to Authorized Sword Ministries.

We're so glad you're here again.

In Lessons Three and Four, we talked to the dads. Today we're talking to the moms. This lesson is about mothers and sons.

A mother's influence on her son runs deep. Some of the greatest men in the Bible were shaped by a praying mother. Let's look at a few of them.

A Mother Who Prayed

Hannah wanted a child more than anything. Year after year, she had none. So she went to the house of the Lord and poured out her heart in prayer. She promised that if God gave her a son, she would give him back to the Lord. And God answered. When her son Samuel was still young, she brought him to the house of God and said:

"For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there." — 1 Samuel 1:27-28 (KJV)

"For this child I prayed." Mom, your prayers for your son matter. Pray for him by name. Pray for his heart, his friends, and his future.

And notice what Hannah did. She gave him to the Lord. Our sons don't really belong to us. They belong to God. He has only lent them to us for a while.

A Mother Who Kept Caring

Hannah didn't forget her son.

"Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice." — 1 Samuel 2:19 (KJV)

Every year, a new little coat. Every year, a bigger size. Hannah's love kept showing up. And the Bible says, "the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men." Samuel became one of the great prophets of Israel.

A Mother Who Taught

In our Training Up a Child course and in A Strong Woman of Faith, we looked at Timothy's mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois. Paul spoke of their "unfeigned faith," that is, their sincere faith. And he said that "from a child" Timothy had "known the holy scriptures."

A mother who reads the Bible with her son is planting seeds that can last a lifetime.

The Bible even records the teaching of one mother word for word:

"The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him." — Proverbs 31:1 (KJV)

In that chapter, she warned her son about things that would ruin a king. She taught him to stand up for the poor. And the chapter goes on to describe the "virtuous woman" whose "price is far above rubies."

Mom, talk to your son about real things. About character. About temptation. About what kind of woman to marry one day. He needs to hear it from you.

Honor Your Mother's Teaching

God tells sons to listen to their mothers.

"My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck." — Proverbs 1:8-9 (KJV)

A mother's teaching is like a beautiful chain of honor around her son's neck. Teach your son to respect you, not for your sake, but because God asks it. And he will learn to respect women.

Jesus and His Mother

Even Jesus, the Son of God, honored His earthly mother. When He was a boy:

"And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart." — Luke 2:51 (KJV)

Jesus obeyed Mary and Joseph. And Mary "kept all these sayings in her heart." She watched her son closely and treasured what God was doing in him.

And on the cross, in great pain, Jesus still thought of His mother:

"When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." — John 19:26-27 (KJV)

He made sure she would be cared for. That's the kind of son we want to raise. A son who honors his mother all his life.

The Reward

"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." — Proverbs 31:28 (KJV)

Mom, there will be long days and hard seasons. But keep praying, keep teaching, and keep loving. One day, by God's grace, your son may rise up and call you blessed.

Simple Steps for This Week

First, pray for your son by name every day this week.

Second, read a few verses of Proverbs with him.

Third, tell him one thing you see God doing in his life.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ

Friend, the most important thing you can give your son is a mother who knows Jesus. When a jailer asked Paul and Silas how to be saved, they answered:

"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." — Acts 16:31 (KJV)

They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house, and that same night he rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. Jesus died for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day. Believe on Him today, and point your family to Him.

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." — Romans 10:9 (KJV)

Next Time

In Lesson Six, the last lesson in this series, we'll talk about mothers and daughters, and what we can learn from Naomi and Ruth.

A Prayer

Before we go, let's pray together.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this friend who is listening right now, and for every son You have given.

Thank You for praying mothers. Help every mom to pray for her son like Hannah did, and to teach him Your Word like Lois and Eunice did.

Help our sons to grow in favour with You and with men. Help them to honor their mothers all their lives.

And give every mother strength for the long days.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Thank you for spending this time with us.

We'll see you in Lesson Six.

From all of us at Authorized Sword Ministries, God bless you.