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In Part 1, we introduced 7 wonderful mothers and grandmothers who have over 670 years of experience in praying for their children and grandchildren.
In Part 2, we considered the first two questions posed to each mother and grandmother about their practices in praying for their children and grandchildren.
What keeps you consistent in praying for your children/grandchildren?
Kathy – What keeps me consistent in praying for my kids and grandkids is honestly probably worry! Although worry drives me to prayer, I try to not pray in the spirit of worry, but in trust.
Linita – The consistency in praying for our children/grandchild comes from the recognition that they are a “gift from the Lord” and there will never come a time, in this life, where we are not their parents. We certainly understand that they must have their own relationship with the Lord and walk out their faith before Him themselves, but we will continue to cover them in prayer as well.
Kayla-What keeps me consistent in my prayers for my children is the need I see for myself. I feel the Lord shows me so much of my own weaknesses and faults through my children. Things my children struggle with I see in myself sometimes at 32 years old. Things I have trouble releasing, my kids are also experiencing on a much smaller scale. I want them to know they have the key and the power to over rule any thought or action with God’s Word and His truths. I look around and see the world my children are going to grow up in and I want them to be prepared for any challenge or battle they may face. We have always prayed for our children to come to know the Lord at a young age and start to acknowledge His truths and His goodness. I want my boys and my daughter to be equipped with God’s Words and not the world’s words. I want my children to know whose they are and what they stand for. I want them to live boldly and confidently because they have Christ in them.
Monica – I think what keeps me consistent in praying for them is seeing what faithful prayer has done and continues do in my family.
Jamie – One thing that keeps me consistent in my prayer for them is seeing the needs in their lives as well as seeing my shortcomings as a mom. I know that I cannot do this on my own and I also know that I need to consistently be praying for them.
Is there any specific verse(s) that you pray for them?
Joyce – For salvation: John 3:16, Acts 4:12, Mark 10:15; for protection: Psalm 31; for wisdom, all of Proverbs; for hearts to be pure, generous & humble, Philippians 4:8.
Linita – Through the years I have prayed verses for the children according to “the season” of their lives—from salvation at an early age, to the need for very young children to manifest the “Fruit of the Spirit”, (as I prayed the same for myself!) to young adults needing wisdom, guidance and direction from the Lord.
Monica – Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you” – this is the Lord’s declaration – “plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” This one I have especially prayed over Tori, 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love and sound judgment.” This last one has been on my mind for a while now for my children in these crazy times, that they seek him for guidance in their plans, Proverbs 16: 9 – “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.”
Jamie – Deuteronomy 6:5, Joshua 1:9, Proverbs. 3:5-6, Matthew 5:16
Kayla– We recite Numbers 6:24-26 to our children each night before bed:
“ May the Lord bless you and keep you, May the Lord make his face shine upon you, may the Lord lift up His countenance and give you peace”.
We have also been working on scripture memory with our children as they are getting older. It’s so amazing to see our kids memorize God’s word and practice it throughout the day!
Julie – Deuteronomy 6:1-9, Colossians 1:9-10, 3 John 1:4
Is there any specific story regarding an answer to prayer that you would like to share?
Joyce – There are 2 stories in regard to answered prayer that immediately come to mind: 1. When Addison was a young grade schooler, one of her eyes got infected and the first doctors she saw told us she would be going blind or that she possibly had a brain tumor. Much prayer later and the second doctor gave us much more hope. Her eyesight returned and she was healed! 2. Our youngest grandchild – oh my! You must see the video that his parents posted about our miraculous prayer answer. (https://vimeo.com/241950594?ref=em-share)
Kayla– One answer to prayer would be the delivery and health of our three children we are currently experiencing life with. Our biggest praise would be that both of our sons have asked, acknowledged, and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. They are currently learning what God’s word says and trying to understand and apply it to their little lives.
Kathy – Once I was particularly burdened for my kids. My husband was taking a seminary class, so he suggested that we have a family reading time where we all read different books together. The book I chose was The Power of a Praying Parent. I was going through the book, praying for the things suggested in the book. One of the suggestions was to pray that my kids would eat healthy foods. I thought that was kind of funny because I was most concerned about their spiritual lives. But I am also concerned for their health, so I prayed that they would make healthy choices. Minutes later I literally heard my most junk food eating kid turning down dessert behind me because he had started a work-out program. I had never heard him say anything like that before! It was an amazing answer to prayer.
Linita – My husband and I have trusted the Lord with the size of our family. Several years ago, we sensed that with 4 children, who were 14, 13, 10 and 7 years old at the time, we were “finished”. Imagine our surprise when we discovered that we were expecting another baby and I was 40 years old! After the shock wore off, we settled in to prepare for a new little one with great expectation. Our family and friends were excited for us as well. My husband and I endured many jokes and references to “Abraham and Sarah” but we truly were overjoyed. As my pregnancy entered the beginning of the fourth month, we were completely caught off guard when I suffered a devastating miscarriage at home. The children were heartbroken as we grieved the loss of a precious baby boy, but God carried us all through the sadness and covered us with His abundant grace.
But God, who always has a greater plan, surprised us once again. It was as if the Lord said, “You thought 40 was old? Is anything too difficult for me? How about having a baby when you’re 43 years old?!” We were thrilled! As the family celebrated together, we realized that this baby girl was an answer to prayer—but it was the prayers of our eldest daughter, who shared, “I KNEW you would have another baby—I asked the Lord for her!” Our “quiver was full” and our hearts were too.
Many people have commented through the years that our youngest child is “an accident”, or an “oops baby”, but it gives me an opportunity to share the goodness of the Lord when I reply, “No indeed, she is an answer to prayer”!
Monica – The Lord answered our prayer of allowing Zach to come out of the NICU healthy after being born 2 1/2 months premature, and weighing only 2lbs 8.6 oz. He was in the NICU for only a month and a half.
Jamie – Last year I was praying for one of our daughters to truly experience the joy of the Lord. Not only did I see that prayer answered in her life, but there were also two small times when the Lord clearly reminded me of what He was doing in her life. One time was when she went to a birthday party where they were decorating a small bulletin board, and the word she chose to put on hers was ‘Joy’. Another time was after she came back from summer camp. On a small notecard from camp she wrote “What God taught me: Joy!” It was so special to see tangible examples to remind me how the Lord was answering my prayers.
Julie – I have so many stories but my biggest answer to prayer is that all my children and their spouses and all of my grandchildren have received Jesus as their Savior!
And we can see why Julie mentioned in a previous answer that she loves 3 John 1:4, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” Isn’t that a wonderful answer to prayer?
To have included all the answers from these ladies would result in almost a full book! But I have tried to give you a few snapshots of what it looks like to pray for your children and grandchildren. What an inspiration these ladies are to me, to their families, and I pray they will be to you as well.
Our Harvesting Home readers and I would love to hear from you as well. If you have a particular insight or practice that would be helpful to others, please share in the comments below!
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Some of the following resources might be a blessing to you, or an encouraging gift for a friend or family member!
This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Resources for Moms and Grandmothers:
Expecting: Praying for Your Child’s Development―Body and Soul: https://amzn.to/3jl4DT8
Praying the Scriptures for Your Children: https://amzn.to/30Nq0UX
Praying the Scriptures for Your Teens: https://amzn.to/2OI72Jp
Praying the Scriptures for Your Adult Children: https://amzn.to/2ZLETaN
The Power of a Praying® Parent Deluxe Edition: https://amzn.to/32Fp1IJ
The Power of a Praying® Grandparent Large Print https://amzn.to/30wbfpj
Resources to teach your children to pray:
I Can Pray Every Day: https://amzn.to/30A3NcM
Indescribable: 100 Devotions for Kids About God and Science: https://amzn.to/2Cqh8fO
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