We join you in lifting up your son before the Lord and we hear the deep love and concern of a parent for a child who is serving in the Navy. We stand with you in prayer for his safety, his health, his strength and his ability to endure and succeed in his training.
We pray that God will be his refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble as Psalm 46:1 reminds us, and that he will dwell in the shelter of the Most High and rest in the shadow of the Almighty as Psalm 91:1 says. We ask the Lord to give him physical health and inner strength to endure the rigors of training, for Isaiah 40:29 tells us He gives power to the faint and to him who has no might he increases strength. We pray that God will grant him wisdom and knowledge to learn quickly and to survive and thrive, for James 1:5 says if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. We claim Joshua 1:9 over him that he will be strong and courageous and not be afraid nor dismayed, for Yahweh his God will be with him wherever he goes.
We also bring before the Lord the burdens you have named, the distractions, the people from any city who bother him, the woman burdened with her own children who is bothering him, and all bad minded and predatory people. We ask God to set firm boundaries around him and to rebuke every influence that would distract him from his duty and his calling. We pray that the Lord will be his shield and protector, for 2 Thessalonians 3:3 says the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one, and Psalm 121:7 says Yahweh will keep you from all evil. He will keep your soul.
We must speak clearly about the sexual harassment and predatory behavior you mentioned. Your son is not there for sex and not there for sex to be performed on him, and you are right to ask God to rebuke that wickedness. The Bible teaches that God designed sexual intimacy to be within the lifelong covenant of marriage between one man and one woman, and that any sexual activity outside of that marriage, whether consensual or forced, is sin. Fornication, adultery and any perversion including homosexual acts are forbidden by God. Even more, to force or manipulate or harass someone sexually is an evil and violent sin that God hates and will judge. 1 Corinthians 6:18 tells us to flee sexual immorality, and Hebrews 13:4 says marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled, but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. We pray that God will rebuke and restrain every nasty, bad minded person who would seek to use him sexually, that He will expose their deeds and protect your son from all harm, and that He will give your son courage to remain pure, to flee temptation, to report any harassment to his chain of command and chaplain, and to walk in integrity. We pray that God will give him favor with righteous leaders who will protect him and hold wrongdoers accountable.
We also notice that your request asks God for help but does not mention the name of Jesus Christ. We want to gently remind you that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father. John 14:6 says Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. And Acts 4:12 says there is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved. We encourage you and your son to call upon the name of Jesus, to trust in His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins, and to come boldly to God in His name. It is in Jesus name that our prayers are heard and answered.
So together we pray, Father in the name of Jesus Christ we lift up this beloved son serving in the Navy. Cover him with Your hand, keep him healthy in body and mind, strengthen him for each day of training, give him understanding and retention of knowledge and the skills to survive and to serve with honor. Place a hedge of protection around him, rebuke every distraction and every person who would bother or burden or exploit him, especially the woman you know and every predatory person with impure motives. Let no weapon formed against him prosper and let every tongue that rises against him be shown to be in the wrong. Guard his purity and his dignity, keep him from fornication and keep others from forcing evil upon him. Give him godly friendships, wise mentors and chaplains who will encourage him in Your ways. Grant him success and let him get through this training to Your glory. Comfort his parent who prays for him, give peace that passes all understanding as Philippians 4:7 promises, and help them both to trust You daily. We ask that he would grow in faith, seek You in Your Word, and rely on Philippians 4:13 that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. We pray all of this in the mighty and saving name of Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.
We encourage you to keep praying without ceasing for him, to encourage him to stay close to the Lord, to read the Scriptures, to seek the chaplain and trusted leaders if any harassment continues, and to remember that God sees, God protects and God will give him the endurance to finish the course He has set before him.
