Today’s Grandchildren Need Intentional Praying Grandparents

Why a Grandparents’ Day of Prayer?

Where has time flown by? Many of our grandchildren will be heading off to school next month. Summer will be gone before we know it. We need to uphold them in prayeras the church is becoming less significant today in our everyday lives, a moral influence becomes more important as they go back to school. Culture tends to shape our grandchildren by what it presents as normal, which is very different from the normal in which we grew up. Grandparents who love the Lord can help them and their parents navigate their worldly culture with prayer and godly counsel. 

 I am going to share with you the story of Daniel because he was shaped by a godly example by his parents to obey God growing up in Judea.

Daniel’s story

Daniel was taken from his home country in Judea to captivity into Babylon, a very ungodly environment. Daniel was to be trained to serve in the king’s palace. However, he resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. King Darius made a decree that no one could pray to anyone other than him for 30 days. Daniel went to his room and prayed three times a day facing Jerusalem, giving thanks and praying as he always did to his God. He did not allow the worldly king to transform him into the patterns of Babylon. As a result, Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den. God closed the mouths of the lions, and he was brought out unscathed because Daniel trusted God. King Darius acknowledged that the God of Daniel was a living God. Daniel was taught to trust and obey God while living in an ungodly culture.

I am sharing a brief summary of the culture our grandchildren, and their parents are navigating today.

Today’s cultural norm

Porn:  Pray that God will protect the eyes of our dear grandchildren and give them the strength to flee from the temptation when they are enticed.

Alcohol and drug addictionis a result of the emptiness of the soul; it doesn’t take away the pain. Only their faith in Jesus Christ will give them fulfillment.

Entertainment vies for the souls of our grandchildren in the movies, television, music, and video games.

Affluence & commercialism:  Our grandchildren are exposed and influenced by a world of opulence, commercialism, and entitlement by our media today. Our goal should be to not shower them with material wealth but teach them to work and earn the things they want.

Sexual orientation: The Gay, Lesbian, Transgender Movement is an issue today. Our children are exposed to it at an early age in their families, in school, media, and peers. Homosexuality attempts to exchange their God-identity with self-identify.

Witchcraft:Wicca is among the fast-growing religions. Wicca has effectively repackaged witchcraft for millennial consumption. Wicca’s website is one of the most visited religious sites on the Internet.All forms of witchcraft are strictly forbidden in the Bible as being tied to the occult and the work and the world of the evil one.

Jesus prays for his disciples

Shortly before Jesus was arrested, He prays for his disciples asking God to protect them, and I believe it is for us, too. Jesus prayed, “I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one”.John 17:15 (NLT)  

Again, Christian Grandparenting Network (CGN) along with Legacy Coalition invites you to be a part of this movement to intentionally pray for our grandchildren, our families, our nation, and our world making September a Grandparents’ Month of Prayer.This year we see such an URGENT NEED in our culture and ungodly environment to declare the month of September as “Grandparents’ Month of Prayer”. We believe the battle for the hearts and mindsof our dear grandchildren and their parents can be won by praying grandparents who sense the urgency and unite to do battle in prayer and give Godly counsel.

In the past, united prayer has always bridged the gap between a great need and a great awakening!We are praying many churches and groups will participate in prayer around the world for this intentional day of prayer on behalf of the next generation.

Let’s make the National Grandparents Day on September 8 a Day of Prayer for our grandchildren and their parents.

This event could be in your church, in your home, in a retirement complex, or any meeting location you choose. CGN will provide step-by-step guidelines, resources, and online tools to help you create a successful event that will engage grandparents in prayer for your event. If it doesn’t fit your schedule to meet with other grandparents or plan an event on September 8, due to the urgency do it any time in September. 

You may want to host a prayer breakfast or a luncheon following your morning worship. Or you may want to offer an afternoon tea or evening dessert in your home. Perhaps your minister is willing to address the importance of praying grandparents and set aside a particular prayer time during the worship service. The possibilities are endless.It is imperative; however, grandparents gather to pray for their grandchildren. 

To learn more or indicate participation in the movement and/or organize a time of prayer for grandparents go to the website www.grandparentsdayofprayer.com. You will learn more on our website with endorsements, testimonials and promotional materials and free downloads or email me. 

We are looking for grandparents who believe in the power of prayerto participate in this event. Will you help us call grandparents to join us in prayer on Grandparents’ Monmth of Prayer.

By Lillian Penner, lpenner@christiangrandparenting.com Sherry Schumann  sherry@christiangrandparenting.com Debrorah Haddix Deborah@deborahhaddix.com Grandparents’ Day of Prayer Coordinators