Are you a Prayer Warrior for Your Family?

The Calling of a “Babushka”

Guest blog written by Catherine H. Jacobs

Joni Eareckson Tada tells the story of a visit she once had to Russia. While there, she befriended an old woman who cleaned the hotel lobby floors. Through an interpreter, Joni became friends with the elderly lady by praising her on her excellent care of the floor. This lady was aged, wrinkled but had rosy cheeks framed with a tightly knotted, colorful scarf. Standing in the hotel lobby with her broom in hand, she seemed out of place. Joni felt perhaps that was what attracted her to the woman.

While in Russia, Joni actually met many Russian “babushkas” like her. People call these women “the praying grandmothers”. They were the rock-solid saints that Stalin aimed to eliminate. He realized that if he could get rid of these “old women”, he had an opportunity to get the Russian youth into his hands

Praise God, Stalin failed! And thank the Lord for these praying grandmothers. They connected a generation lost to atheism to a new generation of people who today are asking questions about Jesus.

A vital part of being a Godly grandparent is prayer. Just as these babushkas provided a spiritual wall of protection over their young, a praying grandparent can do the same today.

Can you imagine what it was like for these women in the 1930’s and 40’s? They witnessed Stalin’s army marching into the center of their small villages. The soldiers would come directly into their homes where they would capture the Russian sons and grandsons. Then the soldiers physically carried off to war the men and boys. The babushkas watched their loved ones be forced out of town knowing that probably they would never see their loved ones again.

What kind of prayers do you think these women uttered as they fell to their knees on behalf of their sons and grandsons? Was it a quick, fleeting prayer? Or was it a deep, daily time of crying out desperately to the Lord?

There is no doubt that the days of Stalin and Hitler were terrible. But we also live in a time of fierce spiritual battle. The Bible tells us “… our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12) Yet scripture is also clear that “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (I John 4:4)

There is an urgent need today for grandparents to “stand in the gap” and pray fervently for their children and grandchildren. The Lord has issued to us a high calling for a deep level of prayers.

Yes, we are in a spiritual battle that requires spiritual weapons. Babushka-strong prayers are such a weapon. This is a challenge, not for the faint-hearted, but for passionate, intentional grandparents who are willing to get on their knees daily to intercede passionately for their loved ones.

God has placed your children and grandchildren in your lives and under your care. These loved ones are maneuvering through a world that is hostile to the ways of God. We must become their “babushka-prayer warriors”. God has given us the awesome opportunity to partner with Him on behalf of these dear ones. This is not an accident. Nor is it incidental. Rather, it is intentional on His part. So let us rise — or should we say, “fall” — to this important calling on all grandparents.

May each of us find the “babushka” within us as we storm the gates of Heaven on behalf of our children and grandchildren?

Written by Catherine H. Jacobs, Founder and Executive Director, Pass the Legacy Ministry, www.passthelegacy.comcathy@passthelegacy.com