The Real Threat of Safe {Guest Post}

Today I have as my guest my friend, Lee Nienhuis, author of the new book Brave Moms, Brave Kids; A Battle Plan for Raising Heroes. 

 

 

She bowed her head and began to pray, the same version of the prayers I had heard for the last few weeks.

Dear God, Thank you for this day.  Please keep Daddy safe at work today.  When we go to school, please help us to have a good day and keep us safe.  Thank you for Mommy.  Keep her safe today here at home….

Safe. Safe. Safe.

I could hear it in her tone, and in the repetition of her words.  Fear had taken hold of her precious little, seven year old heart, and was making itself at home there, even unpacking its nasty bags.  As I reflected on the condition of her heart and the delicate tending that needed to happen, the Holy Spirit nudged me in the most convicting way.

Lee, she’s praying the same safe script that you have praying.  ‘Keep them, safe, Lord.’ What ever happened to brave prayers?

Per usual, when the Holy Spirit points out truth, He was right.

I used to pray these great big hero prayers for my children.  Ones that begged God to let them be warriors in His kingdom, filled with boldness, defiant of fear, and willing to live lives poured out for His glory and the salvation of others.  I had asked daily for their salvation, until they had entrusted their lives to Him, but now, the prayers for them to be bold were melting away.

Somewhere along the way, fear had snuck in and whispered to my heart, “If your kids are warriors, that means they will see war.  People get hurt in war.  There are enemies in war, and sometimes soldiers never come home.  Are you sure that’s what you want?”  And my brave Mama resolve slipped to the floor.

That’s when my safe prayers began. And fear unpacked its bags and began to permeate my home in the quietest, but evident way, until one day my daughter’s prayer startled me awake.

I began to see that the enemy of my soul had been feeding me a lie.

The lie was that my version of safe and my plan for my children’s lives was better and fuller than God’s.

Safe had taken on a new definition. Safe had become:

S-Still

A-Afraid of

F-Facing the

E-Enemy

The real threat of always praying they’ll be safe is that it considers the threats of the enemy as worth more than the promises of God.

My brave lay in a quiet corner of my heart, and it wasn’t until I realized I’d flat been lied to that I saw brave resurrected.

Brave begins with BELIEVING God.

It begins when we look right at the enemy of our souls and say, “No, Satan you are lying to me.  The truth is that my God is the Most High. (Ps 91:1)  There is nowhere my children will go where Christ will not have all authority.  (Matthew 28:19) He is a shelter to those who run to Him. (Psalm 46:1-3)  He is their helper. (Hebrews 13:5)  And through the Spirit He will give them everything they need for life and godliness, come what may. (2 Peter 1:3)  And you, nasty sir, will get behind me.”   

As, the Lord began to rewrite the safe script in my mind, I felt my strength rise, and yours can too.  It all begins with tuning yourself to the frequency of God’s word, and believing Him.

You can believe Him, Friend, when He says:

Never will I leave you (or them), never will I forsake you.  (Hebrews 13:5)

His faithful love will remain forever.  (Psalm 136)

He will supply for all your needs. (Philippians 4:19)

That He is the source of all comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3)

That He listens when we call. (Jeremiah 33:3)

Today, put on your bossy pants and tell the Enemy the truth.

Your God has not failed a single generation, and you and your kids’ won’t be the place He’ll drop the ball.  He stakes His name on it.

 

Because I treasure you as my reader and out of the generosity of Lee’s publisher,  we’re giving one reader a copy of Lee’s new book, Brave Moms, Brave Kids: a Battle Plan for Raising Heroes. 

 

This world feels like it’s spinning faster every day. As the darkness has crept in, your brave prayers may have given way to fearful pleas that your kids would experience God’s kingdom—in a safe and comfortable way.

This generation needs heroes of the faith and your child can be one of them, but that will require you to be strong and BRAVE. You and I must call out the bold Christ followers within our children and help them face the unknown future with divine confidence.

Brave Moms, Brave Kids is an equipping tool that will help you…

  • identify the qualities present in true greatness
  • reject “mommy fears” and replace them with immovable truth
  • learn strategies for praying for and training your children more effectively
  • develop seven key lessons we must teach our children to live for Jesus

Courage starts with you, Mama. If you’re going to raise a hero, you must become a hero—because brave kids need brave moms. Let’s do this, together.

******** The winner of this contest is Tracy Barton Niles who posted at 

 

Lynn

93 Comments

  1. I would love to read this book, as I have two little ones at home. I want to pray brave prayers over them instead of one that are rooted in fear.

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Me too, Jessica! I am so glad that Lee wrote this book for us to be encouraged by!

    2. Emma Arias says:

      I would love to bless my daughter with this book as she’s raising two girls and a boy.
      Thank you!!!❤

  2. Lisa Buchanan says:

    Wow! What a great post!!!! I pray the “safe” prayer all of the time. I would LOVE to read/have this book and would love to learn to pray the brave prayers over my two children and teach them to be warriors in a world full of the fear. My 15 year old son, Will and my 10 year old daughter, Erika Jo – deserve that so much! 🙂

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      I don’t think we have thought of it the way Lee shares. Thank you so much, Lee, for opening our eyes to the truth of how we should be praying!

  3. Cari Adams says:

    I’m interested in reading this book! I have a hard time not living in fear in this world we live in!

  4. Amy Weber says:

    My little ones are Leonie and David — big, brave names to carry. We would be grateful for some guidance! Thank you!

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      I loved that you named your children names to live up to! Holy Spirit, fill them with power so that they are like their names!

  5. I’d love to have this book for my daughter, Starla, who is battling life-threatening issues and has two teenage boys. She needs to know that God is and will continue to take care of her boys.

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Lord, we lift up Starla to you. Fill her with Your confidence that You are with her and in her. We boldly ask and pray for your healing so that she will be able to finish the work that she has started in raising her sons. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

  6. Wow! I do it all the time to protect my kids. One is about to head off to college, another has in his head to go jump into war zones to save people, and the other one……

    1. It’s so easy to do isn’t it? Praying with you for boldness.

  7. Tracy Barton Niles says:

    I have a daughter, Cora, 10, whom I would love to have this book…so I can raiser her up a warrior, ready for any battle she faces!

  8. Our five children are great parents and this would be a wonderful book for them. Our fourteen grandkids need strong and faithful parents to teach them

  9. This book sounds like just what I need for me and my sweet kiddos. My 10 year old daughter has been struggling with anxiety since preschool and I already see how it’s trapping her from doing things. Fear seems to be rampant in our house because we are always trying to work her through her struggles. I feel like we are all anxious and fearful because of this. I would love to read this as a family ❤️??

    1. Oh Friend, praying right now for your beautiful girl. Jesus, be close and heal this anxiety. Help them walk in fullness and freedom ❤️

  10. I would love to read this book! I have three little ones at home 4, 2, and 4 months. I pray the safe prayer all he time. My struggle with anxiety makes the lies that God can’t handle everything even more believable.

  11. I loved this so much! It reminded me that we used to often pray for our children to be warriors for Christ, but have dampened them with the illusion of the safety we pray over them, realizing the fears I have, have just surfaced hearing this. Such a great eye opener! Definitely adding this to my reading list.

  12. Wow! I never thought of it that way! I would love to read this book and then pass it on to my daughter, a young mother of two.

  13. Jody Elton says:

    I love this devotional as I think of my three daughters and realize my prayers aren’t bold enough. God is bigger than them yet my prayers are safely managed. Thank you for this today! God bless and be bolder!

  14. Nancy Casteel says:

    Thank you so much for this treasure! When i wake up in th middle of the night and early morning, I lay there in worry, worry, worry…..about our 4 teens and the society they grow up in..from now on I will pray the safe prayer. I often tell others, “Pray more, worry less”, but I tend to forget that and get hooked on worrying about the world that is out of control. Thank you so much…your posts and articles mean the world to me and brings me so much comfort and strengthens my faith even more! For lent this year, I am going to send a scripture verse by text to all four teens (and hubby) everyday.

  15. Cleasa McLain says:

    I really need to read this book. I have raised three boys and now am raising an eight year old grandson. I find myself praying for their safety everyday and at all hours during the night. I related to your daughter because that is exactly what my grandson says in his prayers. I didn’t think about the way you explained. Thank you for sharing. I will most definitely need to read your book for myself to learn how to pray bravely.

  16. Christine D. says:

    This is such a powerful idea – that i hadnt even noticed has also happened to ME! Thanks for sharing this, I need to read this book!

  17. I would love this book for our daughter-in-law & son who are expecting our first grand baby any day now! I tend to pray the Safe prayer myself & I would also like to read. What a great eye-opener!

  18. I would like to gift this book with my SIL- Jill.

  19. I would love this book for my daughter-in-law to share with and pray over my grands.

  20. I would love to read this book. I have four boys Caleb, Luke, Jadon and Micah. Thank you for the guest post. It touched my heart as I have been praying the safe prayer in place of the bold prayer as well.

  21. I would love this book for myself, but also for my dear friend Amber Sue – I have a feeling we would pass it around to ALL of our prayer mommies!!! Let us raise up a generation of WARRIORS – marching onward for the Lord!

  22. Susan Benner says:

    I would love to read this for my George who is in middle school and for the still often fearful girl inside this middle aged body I live in. Thank you!

  23. I’d love to gift this book to my daughter in law…10 month old Everett’s Mom. I wish I’d had this resource & your encouragement as a young mom. Praise & blessings on your ministry.

  24. Elaine Mumau says:

    Convicting and timely! Thank you for this post! I would love this book as I am Mom to six girls from ages 22 down to 10 and unfortunately the “safe” prayers you describe have also been heard in my home lately exactly as you printed them! We pick a word if inspiration every New Years Day and the one word I chose for 2018 is FEARLESS since I know circumstances in life have had me living in great fear recently, which I long to reverse this year by elevating the power within me by Christ my Savior and Lord and showing my girls they possess the power to be victorious over the enemy’s daily lies!! Fear-Less. Perhaps your book would help me and my girls illuminate this even further this year! Peace and love!

  25. I would love to gift this book to my daughter in law. And I would like it for me to pray brave bold prayers over my granddaughter. ♥️

  26. Marsha Dillon says:

    I would love to win this book for my daughter, Brandy Payne. She is a single Mom raising her son.

  27. This book sounds amazing. We are raising a princess warrior and I believe this book would be very helpful!

  28. I would love to read this book! I have three 16 7 and 6

  29. Linda Croach says:

    I would love this book for our Pastors wife, they are raising 2 boys ? Big job for anyone. Thanks for your consideration.

  30. My college friend, Lana, who is now a mother of 5 kids (all pre-teens) who she does her best to raise as strong Christians. I think this book would be perfect for her :).

  31. Moira Dolan says:

    I would love to gift this a very dear friend, Julie who is raising 3 children. They are 21, 15, and 9. She is an awesome mom who is raising up her children as god calls us to. This book will be uplifting to her..

  32. Wow. This really resonated with me. The ‘safe’ prayers are what I say with my daughter nightly. Please keep Dad safe, please keep Mom safe, please keep (fill in the blank) safe….
    Thank you for this insight – I would love to read this book.

  33. Shirley Mortensen says:

    I would love to have my daughter read this book!

  34. I would gift this book to my friend Suzanne, who has a little one (age 6) who is very fearful! I would probably purchase a copy for myself as well… my 12-year-old battles fear and anxiety. This post really gave me insight into another way to adjust and change how we pray to give her even more victory in this area!! Thank you!

  35. This would be a great book to read as a mother in this fear driven world. I would love to share it with my sister Jenna as well.

  36. I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE THIS BOOK TO MY DAUGHTER. SHE HAS AN EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, LEXY. YESTERDAY HER SCHOOL WAS IN LOCKDOWN ALL DAY. TWO DANGEROUS CRINIMALS WERE HIDING IN THEIR RURAL AREA. THIS IS SOMETHING THE CHILDREN ARE HAVING TO COME TO TERMS WITH. MY DAUGHTER NEEDS ALL THE HELP SHE CAN TO ASSURE MY GRANDAUGHTER OF HER SAFETY IN THIS WORLD. THIS BOOK WOULD BE A GREAT GUIDE FOR HER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS OFFER!

  37. I surely love this “out of the box” prayer. It is definately hard to pray our kids “IN” to a possible war zone. But I want my kids to be warriors for the Lord. My daughter babysits my good friends little girls. We often talk about the reason she chose my daughter to watch her children, usually the answer is that she wanted her girls to be around a strong spiritual influence. Her and her husband want to raise their daughters to be strong in the Lord and stand for His cause. I would love for them to have this book. Blessings to all.

  38. Samantha DeLeon says:

    I would love to read this book to help equip my husband and I to raise our 3 kids. I just journaled this morning that I want my husband and me to be the generation to stop the fear that has gripped both sides of our families. The fear that has infiltrated it’s grimy hands within the generations before us.

    Both sets of my grandparents left their home country in fear of their lives and their families lives. A noble and brave act, though still based on fear. I want their bravery, and to break that chain of fear in our family line.

  39. I am surrounded by young moms. I would give this book to my friend Gen who is expecting #3. She will read it and share it with her friends.

  40. This book sounds great and I could really use it. I have two at home that I would love to impart this to as well.

  41. I would love to read this book. I have one teenager. We are having a lot of family issues right now. There is so much fear in our house that it is paralyzing his dad & I from moving forward, taking steps of faith. I want my son to see a brave mom and be brave himself. There are also a few other moms who I believe could benefit from it. Thank you both for sharing with us what Christ s putting on your heart. Blessings.

  42. I have a 16 year old and a 14 year old who need a brave mama?. I’d love to read and share this book!!

  43. Dori Sheese says:

    I would gift this book to my new friend Carly, who has children she is co-parenting with her ex-husband. She is on fire for the Lord, and we are attending an IF Conference next month, and are starting a new bible study shortly with Lysa Terkheurst’s book What Happens When Women Say Yes to God. Thank you for this opportunity to receive and share this book! God Bless!

  44. TERESA M BECKHAM says:

    As a mother of 3 and grandmother of 6 (soon to be 7) kids, I have seen my prayer life do exactly this! Satan is so good at convincing us that we need to be afraid, when all we have to do is look at Gods word and BELIEVE His promises! He is our shield and strength! With God NOTHING is impossible! That is the kind of prayers I also want to pray for my kids and grandkids so they can be the warriors God intended for them to be! I would share this book with my daughter Miranda, who is expecting that lovely #7 grandchild!!!

  45. Kaye Willett says:

    I would love to have this book for my two daughters. Would be a wonderful help in raising my two grandchildren.

  46. Tracy Nielsen says:

    As a mom of a teenage daughter, I want to be a daily example of what a brave woman looks and acts like.
    As a teenager, they listen less and see more.
    I want my Lauren to be a strong woman of faith.

  47. I am raising Hunter and Lonnie, and would love to have this book to help me pray braver prayers on their behalf!

    Thank you!

  48. My daughter is going on 6 and I hear her prayers and she asks for safety for her friends and family all the time. I don’t want her to grow up fearful when there is such a bright light inside. This would be awesome to have help bring her up with brave prayers!

  49. Ricole Rice says:

    How timely! I just prayed for God to keep my oldest daughter safe when I dropped her off at school today. Now I realize (remember) he is always with her no matter what happens during her day. Such a sense of calm that provides. Thank you for the encouragement to pray brave prayers! I want both my daughters to be brave for the King! Would love to read the book!

  50. Janice Kesterson says:

    I would love to give this book to my daughter Kelly who is raising my 3 beautiful grandchildren!

  51. Wow. God has really been talking to this momma heart about fear. Thanks for sharing.

  52. Shannon Sailor says:

    I would love to win this book and gift it to my church’s library! Thank you!

  53. I would love to read this for encouragement as I raise my daughter Kate. She just started reading your devotional book for kids, and I know I need to model courage for her!

  54. Erika Crawford says:

    I would like to read this for my daughter Stefanie. She’s 3 and I want her to continue to live brave like she does now.

  55. Is 60 too late to learn how to pray brave prayers for your kids? Struggling to overcome patterns of protecting myself due to abuse that started as a little girl, is like to learn more about how to pray for my adult children even now and hoping this book would help! I’d also like to give a copy to a friendly work who really struggles!

  56. Would love to encourage my daughter with my grandchildren with the book. My prayer is that my adult children would be bold and courageous. How important to be BRAVE. Thank you.

  57. Jennifer Ratcliff says:

    I would love to have this book! I have three children (Gideon, Estee, and Rebecca). I was greatly encouraged by the devotional. I want to be more bold with my prayers.

  58. I’d give this to my friend, Megan, although I think this is a book we could all probably stand to read. I know too often I just want to stay safe instead of being brave. Thanks for the post!

  59. This is what I needed today. I would love to read this book not only for me, but my 10 year old son and 8 year old daughter! Thanks for posting!

  60. I pray the safe prayer all the time and yes, teaching my 3 kids to pray that way too. This post was enlightening! I would love to read more in her book. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!

  61. What a convicting post!! Thank you! I realized I cannot pray for them to be safe AND be warriors for the Kingdom. My daughter Norah is 12 and my son Liam is 16! I will be praying bold prayers and trusting God for his perfect plan in their lives! I would love to read tgis book and give it to a friend of mine with 4 little ones!

  62. I am trying to raise two brave girls: Adrianna (8) and Emily (3).

  63. Thanks Lee and Lynn!
    This great book will go to my daughter.
    I want brave grandkids!!

  64. My children, Camryn & Brennan. Hugs!

  65. Melissa Plets says:

    My children, Michael, Katie and Natalie, all of whom fight the insidious anxiety monster daily. I want them to realize just how strong they are, when they lean into Jesus!

  66. I would love a copy of this book. I want to be a prayer warrior for my son. He is allergic to peanuts, and many of my prayers have been ones filled with fear. I want to bravely pray for him, and teach him how to live and pray bravely too. Thanks for sharing this book! 🙂

  67. mirna chamorro says:

    This books is for my daughter melody which is a new mommy to Sophia. I would also definitely read as well.

  68. This book speaks to my heart since I believe Jesus is preparing me to be a “Mommy to be!” Thank you for your kind consideration.

  69. Kacy Tonkery says:

    Wow. There are so many great women and moms on here. The longing to want to be the best mom they can be for thier little gifts of life. I feel like my comment should be looked over. But I would love to have this book as well. I want my children to be Brave and Bold. To stay strong in the Lord and fight the good fight. This world isn’t getting any better and I want to leave one day knowing they are equipped with Gods word and power. I lost my mom 10 days before Brayden was born. I’ve had to turn to God for my guidance ever since. I still wish they had their “meme” here to give them wisdom from God when I can’t.
    Their names are
    Taylor 10
    Brayden 5
    Kelsey 3

  70. Alicia Buratti says:

    Hello what a great read!! I’m that safe momma!! I have MS and I’m always praying for my beautiful babygirl her name is Tianna!! As a matter of fact!! Tianna saw me praying yesterday!! We were just praising him and thanking Jesus for bringing us together! She is 3 and my biggest prayer is for her to Love Jesus and live for him! God bless we would love this book ❤️

  71. I’d share this book with my best friend. This looks like a wonderful book to let sink in and put into practice. Thank you for this post.

  72. nancys1128 says:

    With two grown children, a high school junior and two grand children I can see reading this book being a blessing in how I pray for each of them.

  73. Alicia Staubus says:

    I would love this book! I have an 11 and an 8 year old daughter and this is an extremely important way to pray for them! I feel like this post sparked something that I’ve been thinking but never actually identified as a way of prayer! Thank you for writing this!

  74. Wow! What a paradigm shift! I would give this book to my daughter in law who is a brand new momma of a three month old baby girl and has a 21 month old baby boy. She just lost her mom the day before my granddaughter was born from a sudden heart attack. She is feeling very unsafe in this world at the moment.
    Thank you for this blog post. It really gave me a new perspective.

    1. Would love to give this to my daughter Anne as she raises her son Noah.

  75. I would love to gift this book to my neighbour Bridget. She is a strong follower of Christ and is raising her four young sons to be warriors.

  76. My daughter is turning 8 next week, and after reading this post a lightbulb went off! This is a struggle in our lives. I am hoping it can help both of us as we read it together!

  77. Megan Canfield says:

    I would love to have this book! Ever since I was a little girl my life his been fear driven. Not being good enough or not doing something for fear of getting in trouble. Now as an adult i still have those fears of not making the right decisions for the future. And now that i have two little boys, I don’t want that for them. I need to be brave so they will be brave, God fearing warriors for Christ! That makes me fearful just writing it down. Thank you for the opportunity!

  78. Michelle Wilkinson says:

    Loved this. I appreciate the truth told here. To realize that “safe” prayers fall short of “brave” will change how I pray. To be safe places me in its shadow. Brave has me stand in truth. And I want that for my loved ones. I’m a grandmother, and I want my grandsons to be brave. I’ve prayed protection, which isn’t a bad prayer, but I will be praying for brave too. I’ve prayed safe for my son in law who is in law enforcement, and I know see how brave is important for him as well. And praying for my beloved daughter who has been equipping her sons in brave (5 and2) since birth. May the Lord continue His equipping in her in brave.

    This article has given light on a perspective of brave that I thought I understood. Even a 60 yr old can still learn brave! Thank you.

  79. I WOULD LOVE TO PRAY MORE BOLDLY FOR MY GRANDSON, THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER!!
    I’D GIVE THIS BOOK TO MY FRIEND SONIA!

  80. I’d love to share this book with my daughter who has 3 little ones ages 4 and under. And praying more boldly for my grandkids is a goal of mine as well.

  81. stephanie mcdermott says:

    I am blessed to be an Advanced reader for Brave Moms, Brave Kids and I say, there is now a beautiful read written for all moms that want to make a difference in their children’s lives using the power of prayer.
    Its a book with a blend of truth, real life situations and supernatural insight on how to pray on His promises!
    What a great book to gift moms for all occasions.

  82. Diane Flaherty says:

    Thank you for this great teaching. I just wish to comment in humility that to address Satan himself is not something a Christian is to address- he is ONE being who is present in only ONE place and at ONE time — unlike God who is omnipresent. He is too busy trying to direct powerful world leaders to do his evil bidding. We are dealing with the evil one’s army of wicked minions who we address as our enemy.
    Jesus was directly confronted with Satan, but we are never in direct contact with him.
    We have the authority God has given his people to command and to cast out demons who oppress people directly here in the earth realm. Jesus did not give us an example of commanding the rulers and principalities of darkness — our prayers and worship in battle should be taken to God directly who can take down their power. We can be attacked and — and severely at that —-by going outside of the earthly authority we have been given. “The heaven, even the highest heavens, belong to God, but the earth He has given to man.” Psalm 115:16
    This implies more than one heaven – the second heaven is Satan and his evil angels’ dominion.

    God bless you.

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Thanks so much for sharing, Diane.

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