Prayer Suggestions for Grandparents

The prayer of a righteous man (grandparent) is powerful and effective.  James 5:16b

Generosity

by Lillian Penner, CGN National Prayer Coordinator

Beginning this week Christian Grandparenting Network will be sending you suggestions to pray for your grandchildren each week. In James 5:16, we read that the earnest prayers of a righteous grandparent have great power and wonderful results. We want to give you suggestions each week to help you be intentional and purposeful in your prayers for your grandchildren.

This week let us pray I Timothy 6:18 for our grandchildren.

“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

“Lord, I pray ________will be rich in good deeds, that he/she will learn to be generous and willing to share with his/her siblings and friends.”

Our grandchildren are growing up in a “ME” generation. Let’s pray they will be generous and giving children and not only think of themselves.

One way we can teach them to do good deeds at this time of the year is to participate with them in the Operation Christian Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse. Millions of boys and girls around the globe live in difficult circumstances and are in desperate need of hope. It’s an excellent way to expose our grandchildren to do something for children who are less fortunate and make a difference in another child’s life.

My husband and I recently visited our granddaughters, ages 7 and 10, living in another state. We took them to the store to shop for the items to fill a shoe box. They each filled a shoe box with items for a girl their own age. The girls had fun shopping. Their enthusiasm blessed us and gave us an opportunity to talk with them about those less fortunate.

Let’s pray that God will show us how we as grandparents can encourage our grandchildren to do good deeds and be willing to share with others.

You may be able to get the needed information at your church or go to Samaritan Purse's website at www.samaritanspurse.org. The boxes will be collected Nov. 12 – 19. Therefore, you do not have much time to get involved in the project this year.

October 29, 2007

Lillian Ann Penner is a retired secretary from public high school in Bakersfield, CA. She and her husband, John, have been married 48 years and currently reside in Portland, OR.  They have three married sons and nine grandchildren.

Lillian has been active in church ministry for 45 years, and has led a "Heart to Heart" mentoring program for women, participated in a short term missions trip in Ukraine, volunteered at the Northwest Regional office of Wycliffe Translators, Jose Zayas Evangelistic Association, and Focus On the Family. Currently, she teaches a women's Bible study in her home church.