Families have a Tremendous Need for Prayer Part #1 of #3

Cultural pressures are increasing on our grandchildren and their parents. However, grandparents can help the next generation navigate these cultural issues. Just as Esther stood in the gap for her people, the Jews, when they were threatened, physically, we can stand in the gap with prayer for our families as the enemy threatens their spiritual lives.   

Our culture is whittling away at our godly heritage, as they have removed prayer from the school, Christians are being scorned, and mentioning Jesus is unacceptable. The world calls wrong right and right wrong, live for self in an entitlement society where no one wins and authority is challenged, not respected. We are living in a time where the enemy is going around roaring like a lion seeking those he can distract from trusting Jesus.  However, the battle is not ours, it is the Lords.  

So what do we do when we live in a culture of spiritual, social, and moral decay? Are we completely without hope and at the mercy of the merciless and the politically correct?   No, We are not without hope. We read in Psalms 46:1, “We have a God who is our refuge and strength, our stronghold in times of trouble”.  

God has given us a powerful resource in the avenue of prayer to bring power and blessing to their lives, it is a gift from God, it’s not a production; it is a personal intimate conversation with God, the creator of the universe, Prayer is the most important thing we can do for ourselves and our loved ones. We read in Jeremiah 33:3, where God told Jeremiah “Call to me and I will show you great and mighty things…”   

We read in John 10:10, where Jesus said, “The thief comes only to kill and destroy; I am come that they may have life and have it to the full”. In today’s broken world, we see the family unit very fragile, I believe we have an enemy who is desperately trying to distract and destroy the family. It’s important that we cover our families with prayer that they will recognize the distractions from the enemy and not allow him to destroy our families.   

Our grandchildren are greatly influenced by the movies, music, TV, video games, and Internet. Today’s media desensitizes our grandchildren. They are faced with legal recreational marijuana, drugs, sex trafficking, alcohol, sexual identity, homosexuality, pornography, pre-martial sex and more.  Our prayers should be that they recognize the evil in the world and ask God to place a hedge of protection around them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. 

Occasionally, ask the parents, “What are some of the issues you are dealing with right now andhow can we pray for you?”  To pray effectively, we as parents and grandparents need to know the frustrations, fears, concerns, and expectations of the children.

Next week I will post Families need our Prayers #2  “How I learned to pray for my grandchildren”

By Lillian Penner, Co-prayer director for Christian Grandparenting Network