Are you in the winter season in your prayer life for your grandkids?

We become very aware of the spring season if we live in the areas where we experience the four seasons. Spring reminds us of new life, seeing new buds on the dormant winter trees, and seeing the bulbs popping out of the ground almost overnight. 

During the winter, many areas experience very cold harsh weather. However, as spring approaches it gives us the hope of warmth, beautiful gardens and landscapes. As it warms our spirit, we become alive and more energetic.  

We often go through seasons in our prayer lives where we do not take the time to read and meditate on God’s Word or to pray intentionally for our grandchildren or ourselves, as we should. We pray, but our prayers may become humdrum, repetitive, or pointless.

That was my experience a number of years ago when I felt the prayers for my grandchildren were very general and superficial. 

God Gave Wisdom

However, that all changed after I asked God to give me wisdom and insight how I could pray for them intentionally. Praying intentionally means a determination to pray in a certain way, done by intention or design. However, after I asked God for direction, read several books about prayer, I was encouraged, and I gained some tools to help me to pray intentionally and regularly for my grandchildren and their parents.   

In her book Jennifer Kennedy Dean writes, “Prayer is simply opening our lives to God, acknowledging our total dependence on Him. . . .It is living in the presence of God, always in the process of being reshaped and recreated by Him.”^[1] When I pray according to God’s Word, claim His promises I am in line with His will. It enables me to pray with direction, power, and wisdom. As I claim God’s promises and personalize the Scriptures, I experience more confidence and boldness in my praying.   ^W

^{We read in Isaiah 55:10-11
10} “The rain and snow come down from the heavens
    and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
    producing seed for the farmer
    and bread for the hungry.
¹¹ It is the same with my word.
    I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
    and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

In praying Scripture, I not only find myself in intimate communication with God, but my mind is being renewed to think His thoughts about the situation for which I am praying, instead of my own thoughts. Ultimately, God shrinks the situation that I thought was overwhelming and impossible to a viable possibility. He gives me peace as I wait for His answer. 

Nothing threatens the enemy (Satan) more than when we are intentionally praying God’s Word for our children, grandchildren, and ourselves. If you are in a WINTER season in your prayer life and you have not been spending time with the Lord regularly in prayer, allow the spring season to bring new life to your prayers.  

Dear Father, as I am reading your Word, show me the scriptures I can pray for my family and myself. Help me to set an appointment with you each day and show me how you would like me to be an intentional prayer warrior for my family. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This blog is taken from the book, Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren. The book is available on this website for a discounted price of $15.00 including shipping. The book will encourage you, challenge you, and give you many Scriptures and suggestions to intentionally pray for your dear grandchildren of all ages.

Written by Lillian Penner, Author of Grandparenting with a Purpose, Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren.

^[1] Jennifer Kennedy Dean, Live A Prayer Life. (Birmingham, New Hope Publishers, 2003), p.31.