Is God Listening? How to Partner in Parenting with our Abba Father
We believe keeping track of prayer requests. Sometimes we might wonder if God is listening, so let me share one prayer request I made for my son Brock when he was a baby. The prayer went like this:
God, give Brock the courage to stand alone for You. Give him the integrity and wisdom to choose well in his relationships, lead him to the godly woman he will marry someday.
Does God answer when we partner with Him in prayer? You be the judge.
My husband Bill and I sat in the stands of the first football game where Brock was chosen to be starting Varsity quarterback. We were already very proud of our son that day. Brock was only a junior, but God had already used him to bring many of his friends to faith in Christ. Two years prior, during his freshman year, Brock decided he wanted to make a positive difference at his school. So we encouraged him to host three pizza parties for his three sports teams. At each party, Brock shared his personal testimony and the Gospel before giving each of his new friends an opportunity to meet Christ.
By the end of his freshman year, thirty-four of his friends had made decisions for Christ. Realizing the need for long term follow-up so these new Christians could grow with God, Brock contacted Fellowship of Christian Athletes and launched a club on the campus. All this by his sophomore year!
Now that Brock had risen to starting quarterback status, he wanted to make another public statement for his faith. So he called up his buddies on the team and said, “This week, after we beat Fallbrook, I’m going to the 50 yard line to pray. Will you join me?”
They all replied, “ We’re there for ya, man!”
Bill and I prayed for and with Brock that morning followed by prayers from my Moms In Touch prayer group.
That night, Brock’s team lost 38-0.
Deflated, all the guys just wandered off the field — all except Brock who went straight to the 50 yard line where he knelt down, alone.
Standing near my husband, I asked, “Should I run down and pray with him?”
My wise husband replied, “Oh yeah, Pam, that’s what the Varsity quarterback wants — his mommy to come rescue him!”
Just then I remembered the prayer we prayed years ago. Help him stand alone for you, God. And now he was.
God answers prayer.
It wasn’t long before three players from the opposing team joined Brock at the fifty and prayed with him. After the game, some of Brock’s youth leaders from Student Venture and Fellowship of Christian Athletes went down to encourage Brock. Then we made our way to the field.
I threw my arms around Brock. Reaching up, I took his face in my hands and said, “I have never been more proud of you than I am at this moment. I know tonight was one of the hardest nights of your life -- but you kept your word to God. Remember what we always tell you, “Those who honor God, God honors. Brock, I don’t know how and I don’t know when, but God will honor you for this.”
God has continued to be true to his promise in Psalms 84:11, “No good thing does God withhold from those who walk uprightly . . .” Let me give you a glimpse of Brock’s senior year. He was named:
*Athlete of the Year
*National Hall of Fame for Football for a Scholar Leader, Athlete award
*San Diego Citizen of the Year (and that came with a commendation from the governor and a scholarship from the NFL Retired Player’s Association).
He was also given our local high school’s highest award for servant leadership, “Knight of the Year.” The faculty votes on it, and when they gave him the award, they gave him a standing ovation. God answers prayer!
Brock went on to attend a junior college that he selected because the Coach was a committed believer, who was active in FCA and took time to mentor his players. During junior college, Brock helped teach a Bible study for 18 months while attending a class that helped him learn how to defend his faith. He caught the heart for helping people find answers to their spiritual questions.
God answers prayer.
Brock was named MVP, Mission conference player of the year and All State Player honors.
God answers prayers!
We sent Brock’s profile to all the Div 1 and Div 1A A schools. Being a 6’ quarterback meant he needed a miracle to get a scholarship despite his record breaking throwing. In addition, Bill had experienced some health issues and was in the middle of a career transition so we too needed that miracle scholarship. One night, God woke me up with the impression: “Send Brock’s resume to Liberty tonight.” The very next day the coach from Liberty phoned Brock’s coach. We had never seen him so excited as when he signed that Letter of Intent. God answers prayer!
Since Brock’s birth, we have prayed for his future bride. When Brock had been at Liberty just a few days, I spoke in Phoenix and did a book signing for Amazing Grace Christian Bookstore. While there, I struck up a conversation with the bookstore owner and his wife. Sheryl asked me, “Where did you say Brock got his scholarship?”
“He’s the quarterback of Liberty University.”
“My Hannah goes to Liberty!”
We gave the kids the other’s phone number and our two strong-willed, firstborn kids decided to go on a date! Following eighteen months of dating and a week in prayer, Brock took Hannah on a tour of their relationship. They had not even kissed yet to safeguard their purity. At the place they first met he gave her nails, at the place they first talked seriously, he gave her a hammer, at the place they first prayed, he gave her a piece of wood, and at the home she was living in with friends, he gave her a second piece of wood which they hammered together to form a cross. He knelt on one knee next to the cross and said, “I want our relationship to start at the foot of the cross. Hannah will you marry me? Hannah, can I kiss you? ”
On July 25, 2005, Brock and Hannah tied the knot and became husband and wife. God answers prayer.
Today Brock is a football coach, equipping young men. He us happily married to Hannah and the proud dad of our first granddaughter, Eden —so the prayers for our grandchild have begun!
Pam Farrel is mom to three, and wife to Bill. Together they have penned over 27 books including 10 Best Decisions a Parent Can Make. Pam also co-authored Got Teens? with Hearts at Home Founder, Jill Savage. Pam offers many free relationship resources for marriage and family at www.farrelcommunications.com . Bill and Pam will be featured in an interview on Focus on the Family Jan 6 and 7.
Originally published December 29, 2008.
