Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren
The parents of our grandchildren have a great responsibility parenting our grandchildren in these insecure, unstable times we live in. In today’s broken world, we see the family unit very fragileliving in the midst of a busy and evil environment filled with many moral and spiritual battles. Young families are busy with their jobs, and find many distractions in their marriages, parenting and responsibilities.
Jeff Keaton writes in his article, “The Battle is Hot, but not Hope,
In John 10:10 we read where Jesus said to his disciples, “The thief comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have abundant life.” The enemy is determined and relentless to distract and steal the faithof our grandchildren and their parents as our media-driven culture has pushed the boundaries of right and wrong.The movies, music, TV, video games, and Internet are desensitizing our grandchildren. They are also faced with legal recreational marijuana, other drugs, sex trafficking, alcohol, sexual identity confusion, homosexuality, pornography, pre-martial sex and more.
Grandparents need to intentionally pray the parents will not be distracted and overwhelmed by the influence of a culture hostile to the truth. The enemy is watching for vulnerable spots and the unguarded doors of each of our hearts. Standing in the gap, praying for the spiritual, emotional and physical protection of these who are under attack.It’s imperative to pray God will give their parents wisdom and time management in their monumental task of guiding our grandchildren in the ways of the Lord.
To pray effectively, we need to know their frustrations, fears, concerns, and expectations the parents have for our grandchildren. Ask them, “What are the issues you are dealing with, andhow can we pray for you?”
When I don’t know how to pray for my grandchildren and/or their parents I ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for me. The Holy Spirit knows their needs, so I ask him to intercede for me according to God’s will.1This keeps me from giving God my agenda of how to answer my prayers and comforts me to know I can put my concerns in God’s hands instead of carrying them myself.
Often, my prayers aren’t answered on my timetable, in waiting God does amazing things, both in my life and in the lives of my grandchildren and their parents. However, God will acknowledge our intercessory prayers and answer them at just the right time.
According to God’s Word, praying for our grandchildren and their parents should be a high priority for grandparents.Therefore, pray the parents of your grandchildren will experience the abundant life Jesus offers and pass it on the their children to follow Jesus.
Prayer for my Grandchildren’s parents
Dear Lord, I want to thank you for the parents of my grandchildren. I pray you will help them to value my grandchildren in the same way You value them.
I pray they will commit to the responsibility You have given them to
Help them to be fair and understand my grandchildren as You understand us. Pour out your Spirit upon them as they parent my dear grandchildren.
May God bless them richly as they grandparent with a purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
By Lillian Penner, Co-Prayer Director for Christian Grandparenting Network, lpenner@chrisrtiangrandparenting.net
1. Romans 8:26
PS: Additional prayer helps: I have developed “Thirty-one Scriptures to Pray for Grandchildren”. Many grandparents are using these Scripture to pray for their grandchildren. Just by joining the mailing list on the right side of this page you will receive grandparenting blogs and prayer suggestions to pray for your grandchildren regularly. I will send you a free downloadable copy of “Thirty-one Scriptures to Pray for your Grandchildren”.
You have hit upon a topic close to my heart, too, Lillian! Praying for the parents of our grandchildren to lead them according to God’s guidance in their parenting has long been a regular daily prayer of mine. Thank you for highlighting this, for indeed, the challenges in opposition to Godly parenting are so profoundly prevalent in our secular culture today! WHAT a challenge it is to parent according to God’s plan, and not the world’s plan! May God richly bless and guide today’s Christian parents!
Gwen,
Your comment did come through. Thank you for your response to the blog. I really appreciate it.
The parents of our grandchildren have a great influence on our dear grandchildren. They need a lot of prayers to make the right decisions and guide the children to love Jesus.
I hope you and your husband are doing well an d enjoying life. May God continue to bless you richly.