How to Pray When you Don’t Know How to Pray

Being a grandparent is frequently called “the frosting on the cake” after raising our children. Grandmothers used to carry “Grandma’s Brag Books” with pictures, but now, grandparents have their cell phones full of pictures of their grandchildren, ready to share. 

Along with the gift of grandchildren, God has given us a responsibility to imprint a child’s life with His faithfulness. Since our world is in moral and spiritual decline, the enemy is trying to steal their faith; we are in a battle for the minds and hearts of our dear grandchildren. The enemy is trying to destroy the morals of our country, especially the family unit. 

However, prayer is the best weapon in our cultural and spiritual battle. Esther stood in the gap for the Israelites when their lives were threatened. Today, grandparents can stand in the gap with prayer for their grandchildren and their parents so they do not become victims of our culture. We must intentionally nurture, cultivate and persuade our grandchildren to embrace the authority of Scripture.

I often do not know how to pray for my grandchildren because I don’t know their needs, especially since I am a long-distance grandmother. I thank God for 

Romans 8:26, 27, I have learned that the Holy Spirit intercedes when I don’t know what or how to pray for my grandchildren. The Holy Spirit knows their needs, so I ask him to intercede according to His will. I feel blessed to know I can put my concerns in God’s hands instead of carrying them myself, and it keeps me from telling God how to answer my prayer. Often, my prayers are not answered on my timetable, but God does amazing things in my heart in the waiting. Asking the Holy Spirit to make intercession for me according to God’s will has given me new meaning in praying for my family and myself. I thank God for this verse.

Grandparents, I want to encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to make intercession for you as you pray for your grandchildren when you don’t know their specific needs. I also ask the parents of the younger children how we can pray for them and ask the older children how they would like for us to pray for them.  

May God bless you as you pray for your dear grandchildren,

Lillian Penner, pennerlp@gmail.com
Prayer Director for Christian Grandparenting, www.christiangrandparenting.com