Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren
I am the National Prayer Coordinator for Christian Grandparenting Network. I would like to share my thoughts with you as a grandparent about my concern for my twelve grandchildren.
Recently I read an excellent grandparenting book, Grandparenting Through Obstacles. The authors, Renee Gray Wilburn and Dianne E. Butts write about the role of grandparenting, which I would like to share with you.
“We live in a time of extraordinary circumstances and events. We all, our society, our nation, our world—need grandparents actively influencing their grandchildren for Christ. We need to be intentional. It takes an effort. It takes prayer. It takes you.
Your role as a grandparent in the lives of our grandchildren is unique and powerful. Your influence is incredibly important. No one else has the power or the influence that you do in the lives of the young people in your life.
Never forget that no matter who you are or what your situation is, God is in it with you. He has the power to make your efforts for His kingdom take root and bear fruit. He just needs you to stay involved. Show up. Be there. Stay in the game. Or get in the fight. Then watch what God does through you to reach your grandchild for Him.” ¹
“It is likely that your grandchildren’s friends and classmates will only serve to undermine the spiritual values you’ve tried to impart. Receiving godly influence from their family will be an important step in your grandchildren’s spiritual growth.” ²
However, even though it seems discouraging at times, we have an wesome God who is always there for us. He is waiting for us to bring our concerns to Him. Paul writes in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”. What a wonderful privilege we have to partner with Him in prayer for our dear loved ones.
Christian Grandparenting Network has formed Grandparents @ Prayer (G@P) intercessory prayer groups as a way to call grandparents together to pray for each other’s grandchildren and their families.
My challenge to you is to take up the call to start a Grandparents @ Prayer group in your area this year. Ask God whom you could invite to link arms with you and form a group to intercede for the next generations, or start with just another grandparent.
Next week I will be giving more details about the prayer groups but start praying now for God’s direction. However, if you cannot wait go to http://www.christiangrandparenting.net/prayer/grandparents-prayer/introduction-to-g-p or email me at lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net
“The power of focused prayer can change a generation” Author unknown
Don’t miss next weeks blog for more information about Grandparents @ Prayer.
¹ Renee Gray Wilburn
and Dianne E. Butts, Grandparenting
Through Obstacles, (Canton, GA, Pix-N-Pens
Publishing, 2012), p. 291-292.
² Ibid, p. 5.
Grandparenting Through Obstacles is available at Amazon.com
Thanks, Lillian. I really appreciate all you’re doing to help grandparents unite in prayer for their grandkids. It is so necessary! I want to encourage your readers to check out our book, as it has many ideas for prayer, staying connected to your grandkids, and helping them grow closer to God even in the midst of difficult family situations. Keep up the good work at CGN!
Thanks for the timely reminder. We carry our grandchildren and their parents in our hearts and prayers daily. May the Lord’s will be done in each of their lives as well as ours.
Love to you in 2013, Ele
This is the first opportunity as I opened the website tonight for the first time to get involved. What a needed encouragement I am experiencing. I want to read the book, and invite other grandparents to my home to pray. Now I just need information on the “how to”. My favorite scripture on prayer is the one mentioned in Lillian Penner’s introduction. I shall believe that whole heartedly.
My grandchildren range in age 22 down to 8. At each age, they have spiritual needs not being met by their parents. I am blessed to have the mightiest power at hand—prayer.