Pray for God’s Armor of Protection for our grandchildren in School

By Lillian Penner

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the whole armor of God so that you may take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10, 11).

As grandparents, we need to pray our grandchildren will grow strong in their walk with the Lord and learn to put on the armor of God because our culture is challenging their faith. Our younger grandchildren have challenges with lying, cheating, disobedience to parents, etc. Our older teenage grandchildren and our young adult grandchildren need protection, as they tend to push the boundaries of godly lifestyles. The devil is deceptive and he tries to distract them from walking with the Lord.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is” (Romans 12:2 NLT).

Our grandchildren are living in conflict with two worlds, the godly and the worldly. The world is giving them loud and glaring messages to copy its behavior and lifestyle. It is urging them to establish their identity in the things of the world.

However, God has given our grandchildren a way to transform their lives, giving them a godly identity. When they invite Jesus Christ into their lives, they are transformed into new people. Their ways of thinking change as they grow in their relationships with the Lord. Our grandchildren often feel the principles and boundaries God has given are hemming them in or holding them back. Even our young grandchildren struggle with the behaviors and customs of the world exhibited through the media, as well as by their friends and peers, especially as they enter school. However, God’s principles protect them from a potentially dangerous lifestyle and give them freedom within the boundaries of the principles God has set up for us in his Word. As they spend time in the Word of God and grow in their relationship with Him, they will know how good and perfect His will really is for them.

Study Guide

Personal reflection or group discussion

• • Do you think your grandchildren need an extra amount of prayer as they go back to school?
  • How can you communicate to them you are praying for them as they go back to school?
  • Discuss all the adult influences your grandchildren have as they go back to school.
  • Pray they will be known by their positive behavior.
  • Discuss why it is important that they are successful in school.
  • Discuss the importance for them to learn to control their tongues.

Pray your grandchildren will:

• • Recognize the deception of the world.
  • Put on the whole armor of God so they are ready to fight their daily temptations.
  • Arm themselves with Christ’s righteousness by repenting of their sins.
  • Stand firm with the belt of truth (God’s Word).
  • Hold the shield of faith to recognize and extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
  • Memorize the Word of God so the Holy Spirit can use it when needed to withstand the enemy.
  • Be alert, self-controlled, and stand firm in their faith.

Lillian Penner is the author of Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for Your Grandchildren in English and Spanish. She is on staff with the Christian Grandparenting Network prayer ministry, developing prayer cards, grandparents@Prayer groups, and the Grandparenting Day of Prayer. She has a passion for praying intentionally for her grandchildren and desires to share that passion with other grandparents. An avid blogger, Lillian breaks into smiles if you ask about her thirteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She and her husband, John, live in Portland, Oregon, where they are active in church ministries. They were both raised in Christian homes and desire to pass their godly heritage to their future generations. She and her husband enjoy traveling, Southern Gospel music but most of all, enjoy spending time with their family.

Feature Photo by Max Fischer