Praying Grandparents are Joyful Grandparents!

Grandparents can have a wonderful impact on their grandchildren by praying for them. This short devotion offers insights and practical ways to effectively pray.


Being a joyful, deliberate grandparent means taking our role seriously.


In Part 1, we discussed Sharing Our Gifts. In Part 2, we discussed Sharing Our Faith.  And a third way to have an important impact is to Pray For Our Grandchildren.

Our age, experience, and love give us special wisdom in praying specifically for our grandchildren’s hearts and lives.

Here are some ideas to make your prayers more regular and effective:
    1. Pray Scripture. 
      For example, use Philippians 1:9-11 filling in your grandchild's name:

      "And this is my prayer: that           's   love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that           may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."

      This 1-minute devotion explains more: The Benefits of Praying Philippians 1:9-11

      To better understand why Scripture prayers can be so powerful, check out this 1-minute devotion: Passages and Prayers.

      For other good Scriptures to pray over your grandchildren, see these 1-minute devotions:
      6 Reasons to Pray Colossians 1:9
      10 Prayers from Psalms
      6 Good Prayers from the Epistles

      Grandparents can have a wonderful impact on their grandchildren by praying for them. This short devotion offers insights and practical ways to effectively pray.

      2. Pray for the specific challenges related to your grandchildren's ages and stages in life.
       

      This is easier to do if you've been deliberate about getting to know your grandchildren and asking them good questions.

      3. Give yourself reminders.

      Keep a wallet photo of your grandchildren in your Bible, purse, or pocket and pull it out as a reminder to pray for them while waiting for appointments. Each time you pass their framed photos on your wall, say a quick prayer. Set your alarm for the hour they start or finish school and pray for their schoolwork and relationships. When they sleep over, spend time in prayer for them after they've fallen asleep.

      For encouragement and inspiration see this collection of 1-minute devotions about effective prayers: Prayer Series.

      4. Form a Grandparents Prayer Group.
      Plan to meet each week with other grandparents to pray for your grandchildren. This will help you remember to pray regularly.

      5.Pray often.
      Prayer for our grandchildren is one of our most important ministries at this stage of our lives...let's do it deliberately and regularly.

      What are some creative ways you pray for your grandchildren? Please leave a comment and share your ideas with me and other readers.


      This is one of my special posts for grandparents, but I'd love to have you sign up for a free subscription to my 1-minute devotions. Find out more here: A Way to Add Jesus to Your Busy Day.

      This is part of an article that was published in Reach Out Columbia, September 2012.

      7 comments:

      1. Praying for my grandkids often is definitely one thing I do right. Maybe to excess. Is that possible? :-D Thank you so much for sharingthis in the GRAND Social! ♥

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        1. No, Lisa, I don't think you can pray in excess : )
          Keep it up!

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      2. So thankful to have you as a wonderful Grammy praying for my kids! What a blessing. :) Love you mom!

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      3. Visiting from Faith Filled Friday - such good reminders and ideas for praying for our grandchildren! Enjoyed my visit here again - and am continually wanting to be reminded of the importance of praying for our families, and for others.

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      4. Oh I love this! I was so struck by your term 'deliberate grandparenting'. That's what I want to do....thank you so much for this post and for linking with me :)

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      5. I started out reading the post you linked up over at WholeHearted Home and then started skipping around to all your posts about grandparents. What a blessing. You have challenged me to pray more. I pray but it is never enough, is it?! You are such a blessing, Gail, thanks so much for always putting out such warm and encouraging posts as I look to this season of my life.

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