Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren
For many, becoming a grandparent for the first time is an incredible feeling. You’re holding a new little life, and you’re the person able to shower this little individual with additional love. It’s a beautiful feeling. And as your grandchild grows up, you’re able to play, teach, and nurture in a way different from the way you raised your children. You, as grandparents, have experience with childrearing and you’ve learned from your mistakes as a parent. It’s the best of both worlds. The Bible speaks confidently about the role and importance of grandparents for answered Prayer.
Pray according to the will of God
Obeying biblical principles that do not fail nurtures faith that God will answer my prayers. They are available to all believers; however, praying according to God’s will is one of those important principles.
How do we determine the will of God so we can pray with confidence? First, we must have familiarity with God’s Word. We must fill our hearts with divine instruction from the Bible in order to be in tune with the will of God. Familiarity with the Word of God and praying from the perspective of His Word produce remarkable changes both in our praying and our day-to-day living. Praying according to the will of God changes things. It enables us to accept the will of God even if His will is different from what we may have originally hoped.
Jesus said, “If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you”. (John 15:7) When the words of our Lord find their home within our hearts, our will becomes one with HI in conforming our will to the Father that we know our prayers will be answered.
Praying in the Name of Jesus
We read in God’s Word that the name of Jesus is above every name; it speaks of power and authority. To pray in His name is to pray with confidence that everything His name represents will bring God’s answers to our needs. In effect, when Jesus told us to pray in His name he was giving us the power of attorney to stand for Him, and all He possesses. To pray in the name of Jesus is to pray in the full understanding of who He is, what He stands for, what He is able to do, and what He wants.
What a pleasure it is to know that we can pray with His authority, as it is exampled by His name. Six times in the gospels Jesus reiterated the importance of praying in His name. At the mention of his name, hen spoken in faith, the demons will flee.
He has given us the legal right to use His name because we are His representatives here on earth. God’s power is unleashed in the believer’s life when he uses the name of Jesus in full realization of who He is, what He has accomplished and wheat He will do. Through proper use of HIS name in prayer, we will achieve great things and the Father will be glorified.
John 16:23-24 Living Bible (TLB)
23 At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything, for you can go directly to the Father and ask him, and he will give you what you ask for because you use my name. 24 You haven’t tried this before, but begin now. [a] Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and your cup of joy will overflow. Jesus wants us to experience fullness of joy! Notice how praying in His name brings this to pass: You will receive and your joy will be full.
Praying Steadfast in Faith
James 1:6-8 Living Bible (TLB)
6 But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you, for a doubtful mind will be as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind; 7-8 and every decision you then make will be uncertain, as you turn first this way and then that. If you don’t ask with faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer.
There is no doubt about it when we pray we much ask in faith, not doubting. The Scriptures are clear in Hebrews 11:6, Hebrews 11:6 Living Bible (TLB)
6” You can never please God without faith, without depending on him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him.” God has given us many promises. Our responsibility is to respond to His ability to do what He says. Unless we activate that faith in our hearts, God is not able to answer.
You may ask, “How do I obtain unwavering faith? It is with being familiar with God’s Word, knowing His will in the situation and praying in His name.
Not just grandmothers in the Bible showered their grandchildren with love. Upon his departure, “Laban arose and kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned home.” Genesis 31:55. From the Old Testament times, loving your grandchildren has been a natural response.
Yet, even as grandparents there is more to your role than cuddling and loving on your sweet grandbaby. Consider 2 Timothy 1:5, where Paul reminds Timothy, of his Christian heritage with “a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.” Timothy’s grandmother played a vital role in his life and influenced his Christian faith very strongly. As grandparents, you have the opportunity to be teaching your grandchildren even more about your Christian faith, just like Lois taught Eunice and Timothy.
As grandparents, you’re doubly blessed with the love and care of a Heavenly Father, and the ability to love and care for your grandchildren. May you instruct them, so they too can know the joy of your faith.
Written by Lillian Penner, Christian Grandparenting Network, p3ennerlp@gmail.com
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