A Prayer to Honor Grandparents - Your Daily Prayer - September 7

A Prayer to Honor Grandparents
By Lynette Kittle

Bible Reading:
“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children” - Proverbs 17:6

Listen or Read Below:

Grandparents, just the word invokes a rush of pleasant memories for many individuals who, while growing up, spent time with grandparents who loved, cared for, and shared their wisdom with them.

No wonder either, because God has given grandparents a place of honor in the family, where they are to be treasured and respected by their families, as they offer their lifetime experience and wisdom to the following generations.

As well, grandchildren benefit from the love, care, affection, and attention they receive by spending time with their grandparents, whose schedules often offer more opportunity for them to spend time with their grandchildren than they had with their own children growing up.

Likewise, most grandparents relish the time God gives them with their grandchildren, a true blessing and gift from Him.

Yet, sadly, some grandparents are being left out of the lives of their grandchildren for various reasons, whether by distance or family fallouts and disagreements. But this type of family fracture breaks the heart of God, who created and treasures the family lineage He designed.

Just look in the Bible to see how the family line is not lost on God and how He doesn’t discount those who come before us. Genesis 50:22-23 describes how “Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.”

Grandparents play a vital role in families. As the Apostle Paul honorably refers to in 2 Timothy 1:5, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

So for grandparents who may be feeling left out on Grandparents’ Day, the following are three ways to help you through the sorrow of missing your grandchildren.

1. Praise God for His faithfulness in your life and in the lives of your grandchildren and their parents. Even if your family doesn’t remember to include you or has turned their backs on you, Psalm 119:90 assures us, God remembers. “Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established the earth, and it endures.”

You can take comfort in knowing God remembers and cares for you because He is a faithful Father.

2. Pray for your grandchildren and their parents, asking God to soften their hearts towards Him and towards you. Also, ask Him to bring reconciliation and restoration to your relationship with your grandchildren.

For many grandparents, communication and contact have been lost or cut off between them and their grandchildren. Instead of feeling despair over the situation, feeling like your hands are tied, grandparents are able to pray effective and powerful prayers on behalf of their families.

As James 5:16 assures us, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

3. Bless your grandchildren and their parents. It’s way too easy for bitterness and resentment to fill your minds and hearts during divided family situations with children and grandchildren.

But rather than let these destructive emotions consume you, follow what Jesus urges in Luke 6:28, “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” and this includes children and grandchildren who may have abandoned and turned their backs on you.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Father,
For every grandparent who is heartbroken and suffering today, missing their grandchildren in their lives, cover them with your peace and comfort, letting them know You love them and see their sorrow.
Let each grandparent know that it’s Your will for grandparents to be treasured and given a place of honor in their families.
Heal the deep wounds of rejection within their hearts today with Your healing balm. Encourage them that they are loved and treasured by You, regardless of how their families may currently be treating them.

Help each hurting grandparent to be able to forgive their children and grandchildren for knowingly or unknowingly causing pain in their lives by ignoring, devaluing, discarding, or disrespecting them.
Strengthen grandparents to forgive their families, leading them to turn their sorrow into prayer and blessing towards their children and grandchildren.
Keep grandparents’ hearts tender towards You, their children, and grandchildren, and let them praise You daily for Your faithfulness in their lives and as their heavenly Father.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.

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