Part 1 in the Series – Praying Scripture Over the Grandchildren
I will never forget the first time I held my eldest grandson in my arms. He was absolutely beautiful! As I gently caressed his tiny fingers and gazed into his bright blue eyes, I was overwhelmed with the wonder of life and in speechless awe of the Creator who gave it. At the same time, I was surprised by the wave of apprehension that suddenly swept over me. I prayed, “Oh God…he’s so fragile, so innocent, so vulnerable. Please watch over him every day of his life. Give his parents the desire and the ability to love him, protect him, provide for him, and teach him Your ways.”
Twenty-two years later, I now have nine precious grandchildren – each perfect in their own individual ways. (What else can I say? I’m their grandma!) I have prayed over each one since the moment they took their first breath. But naturally, over time, my prayers have changed with each new season of life – as times of growing pains, relational struggles, future uncertainties, testings, doubts, confusion, brokenness, and uninvited pain sometimes shook the very foundation of their lives. And too often (for this grandma’s heart) what should have been was not and what should never have been became their reality.
In such seasons, I earnestly turned to my Bible and prayed scripture over my grandchildren, as I had done in the past, revisiting my list of “go to” verses. (We all have them.) Verses such as:
- “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in time of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
- “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you: I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
- “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22)
Other times, I would just pour out my heart like water before the Lord of all the earth on their behalf – trusting the inaudible cries of my heart would find their way to heaven’s mercy seat. I had no doubt God would answer my prayers, whether I prayed through a Bible verse or not – because I knew prayer was not about using the “right” template in prayer. It was, however, about the attitude of my heart. And I knew that as my loving Father, His ear was always attuned to the cries of my heart – no matter what form of speech I used.
But unlike previous seasons, there came a time when my intercession felt woefully insufficient for the fierce spiritual battles at hand. I wondered if my intercession was truly up to the challenge. Were my prayers enough to slay the giants in the land as God had promised? Could my prayers really turn the days of sorrow and mourning into mornings songs of deliverance and joy?
My fears and doubts were certainly the work of the enemy, but what Satan meant for evil, God meant for good. Instead of throwing up my hands in defeat, I was driven deeper and deeper into God’s Word for strength – not just for personal encouragement and faith – but for greater power in prayer.
As I searched the Word, the Lord led me to revisit the model prayer Jesus gave His disciples when they asked, “Lord, teach us to pray,” found in Matthew 6:5-13.
In studying this prayer afresh, I realized I didn’t just want my grandchildren to know God was their heavenly Father. I wanted them to know that because of His great love for them, He had adopted them individually, specifically – purposefully chosen them to be in His forever family. I wanted them to know that He was a holy Father, unlike any earthly father they had ever known. I wanted them to know that He would never forsake them nor abandon them – that nothing they could ever do would diminish His love for them or cause Him to disinherit them. I wanted God’s kingdom, not the kingdoms of this world, to be the preeminent reality in their lives. I wanted God’s perfect will to be done, not man’s self-centered will. I wanted them to know their heavenly Father would always provide for their daily needs because He still not only knew exactly what they needed, but was committed to their faithful care. I wanted them to know their transgressions had been forgiven in Christ – past, present, and future. And I wanted them to have the will and courage to forgive those who had caused them such pain.
In short, I began to realize the benefit of praying systematically through the entire prayer of Jesus – honoring the context in which it was given – rather than just picking and choosing those verses which seemed good for the moment. Don’t misunderstand me. God’s Word is God’s Word, and all scripture is inspired by God. It’s all God-breathed – living and active and sharper than a two-edged sword. But in this season of personal doubt and dispair, my grandchildren needed the whole counsel of God prayed over their lives. So did I.
Thus began the “Praying through the Word” ministry focus. “Praying the Lord’s Prayer for the Grandchildren: Praying through Matthew 6:5-13” is the first book of several books to come in this unique series on prayer. Rather than another book about the benefits of prayer, this is a book of prayers – conversational, personal, intensely intimate – giving grandparents relatable examples of how they can turn Scripture into intercessory prayer on behalf of their beloved grandchildren.
If you’re a grandparent and are desperately looking for a way to make a difference in the lives of those you love the most, you’re not alone – and you’re not powerless!
Let “Praying the Lord’s Prayer for the Grandchildren” show you how to get started today praying through the life-giving words of Jesus Christ for your precious grandchildren. Then stand and watch what our Mighty Lord will do on their behalf – and yours.
“I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.” (Psalms 63:4)
I hope you’ll join me for Part 2 of this series entitled, “Powerful Prayers Begin With Scripture: Here’s Why” to learn more.
If you’d like to download free resources, receive regular emails with Scripture-based prayers, and news of future blog posts and book releases, please Subscribe. I promise to honor your privacy. And as my gift for subscribing, I will email you a link to download my free booklet, “Praying Through Psalm 119:33-35.“ This booklet will show you how easy it is to transform your prayer life using God’s Word. I hope it blesses you.
Thank you for sharing these few moments with me. Until next time, may the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you, and give you His peace.
© 2025 Donna Farris. All rights reserved.