I stopped venting and started praying, because I don’t need sympathy, I need strength. -unknown
And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 11:19
Regardless of your child’s or grandchild‘s age, these are scriptures that you can pray over their life. To make it a little easier to remember, you might take a notecard and jot down the Scriptures and keep them around your house, in your car and in your prayer closet. Or feel free to print off the list at the bottom of the page.
It is so true that what you teach them as a child, when they are older they won’t depart from it. I don’t believe that means only things of God, though. I believe if you teach them to be disrespectful, prideful, unforgiving, greedy, lazy— those things will come natural to that child, whom will become a young adult, and one day a spouse and parent themself likely and you’ll wish you could have a do over! (And so will their spouse and children!) But, the first prayer and verse below does explain that God and His wonderful grace does give us a way out and a chance for reconciliation with Him if we will allow it. Then, He can make all things new in your child’s life and restore the years wasted! Each of us have a free will to make this choice.
It is so true that what you teach them as a child, when they are older they won’t depart from it. I don’t believe that means only things of God, though. I believe if you teach them to be disrespectful, prideful, unforgiving, greedy, lazy— those things will come natural to that child, whom will become a young adult, and one day a spouse and parent themself likely and you’ll wish you could have a do over! (And so will their spouse and children!) But, the first prayer and verse below does explain that God and His wonderful grace does give us a way out and a chance for reconciliation with Him if we will allow it. Then, He can make all things new in your child’s life and restore the years wasted! Each of us have a free will to make this choice.
I want to give a few pointers and some scripture on praying over your kids and grandkids. Before getting into those exact points, I want to make sure each person understands what prayer is.
David prayed all the time. When he was worshiping Him. When he was thanking Him. When he was in need. When he was sad. Let this be a guideline for you today.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
Psalms 18:3, 6
You can pray at anytime for your children and/or grandchildren. There is no rule to when is the time to pray or the best time. But Jesus does give us some guidelines to follow.
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
Luke 11:2-4
That is a great prayer to have your kids memorize.
Now, let’s see what Jesus said about praying for others to see and hear us.
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Matthew 6:5-7
Next, he says to reconcile with others before praying. What is sad (and scary!) is the fact that many Christians today will bow down before the Maker of the universe and bring to Him their list of needs, yet they have too much pride to reconcile with a fellow human.
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Matthew 5:23-24
Lastly. Be bold in your prayers for your kids and grandkids. And forgive others. With or without the apology- forgive. You’ll never know the glory of being forgiven by God if you aren’t willing to forgive someone else. You can forgive in your own soul even if they don’t ask for your forgiveness. It’s possible. I’ve done it. You are to work out your own salvation and I urge you today to forgive regardless the situation and circumstance. Forgive and then place that burden at the Savior’s feet.
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:24-26
**Praying over your children and grandchildren**
- Give them a young salvation. Allow them to be drawn to you and be saved at the earliest age possible. If they are grown and not saved, save them, Lord. Draw them to You. Convict them! Grant them restoration.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. Joel 2:25
- Give them a deep desire for communion with You, Lord. Let the things of this world be seen as they are, wicked. Give them a hunger and thirst for You, not the things of the world. Fill them with humility!
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
- Give them protection against the enemy and teach them to be aware of the devil’s sneaky and subtle plans to destroy them.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8
- Give them freedom from needing to please others and get their approval. Keep them from unhealthy relationships and put people in their life who will sharpen their iron.
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10
- Father, give them peace of mind, found only in trusting You. Show them how to worship, praise and thank You and trust You with every fiber of their being.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6
- I pray for strength and boldness for my children/grandchildren. I rebuke fear and anxiety from ever controlling them and for peace to flood their soul because they trust only in You.
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deuteronomy 31:6
- Give them a lifelong devotion to these commandments. Show them what it really means to love you with all their heart, soul and mind. Help me to be that example to them. Give them a desire to put others above themselves, even when they’ll get nothing in return. Give them godly character and remove pride from their lives. Give them a servant’s heart.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Matthew 22:37-39
- Teach my child AND their future (or current) spouse the basics of spiritual warfare, how to flee temptation, the way to take thoughts captive, and how to stand firm against the devil's schemes! Show them how to cast down any imagination placed in their mind that would lead them to feeling depressed or unwanted in life. Give them a great desire to please, trust and worship only You.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:7-8
I could have went on and on, but these will give you something to start with. Recently the Lord showed me that prayer is the key. In every area of my life. And that is why the devil tries so hard to keep me from being on my knees is because he knows what happens when I pray. Maybe in a later post I will feel comfortable sharing something God did in my life a few weeks ago. For now, let’s get to praying for our kids/grandkids and show satan that he has zero control over our homes and our families. Seek God today, while He may be found.
~Hannah
