Grandparents Day of Prayer

Join Us in Making

September 10, 2023

(National Grandparents’ Day)

A Grandparents’ Day of Prayer

Are you a praying grandparent who believes in the power of prayer on behalf of your grandchildren?

What is Grandparents’ Day of Prayer?

Several years ago, the prayer ministry of Christian Grandparenting Network (CGN) saw the urgency to establish a day for grandparents to unite in prayer. Under the leadership of Lillian Penner, the second Sunday of September was named Grandparents’ Day of Prayer. This day coincides with the National Grandparents’ Day in the United States.

The purpose of Grandparents’ Day of Prayer is to raise an awareness of prayer among today’s Christian grandparents. Prior to the pandemic, this day was celebrated in churches, homes and Christian schools. Church leaders, school principles and individual grandparents enthusiastically responded by hosting events such as grandparent prayer breakfasts, luncheons and afternoon teas.

With the rise in COVID cases diminishing and government regulations lifting, we want to encourage you to consider participating in Grandparents Day of Prayer.

Why is Grandparents’ Day of Prayer important?

The Gospel Message is under assault everywhere, including our schools, political arenas, marketplaces and churches. It’s not easy navigating a world hostile to truth in this post-Christian culture. Satan is relentless in his aggressive attack to desensitize mankind to the truth about God’s grace and plan for salvation through Christ Jesus. We find ourselves involved in a spiritual tug-of-war for the hearts, minds and souls of our children and grandchildren.

Spiritual battles require spiritual weapons. The strongest weapon in our arsenal is prayer.  We need to get on our knees, humble ourselves, seek God’s face, repent of our sin and intercede on behalf of our children, and grandchildren. Then having done all, we must stand firm in our faith that God has heard and will answer our prayers according to His will.

Scripture tells us…

“Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed . . .  for the battle is not yours but God’s”
(2 Chronicle 20:15).

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matthew 18:20).

Steps for Celebrating Grandparents’ Day of Prayer

Prior to September 10th:

  1. Join us for the 30-Day Prayer Challenge beginning on Saturday, August 12th.
  2. Mark Grandparents’ Day of Prayer, September 10th, on your calendar
  3. Make plans to host an event (no matter how big or small).
  4. Invite other grandparents to pray with you.

On September 10th:

  1. Make praying for your grandchildren a priority on this special day.
  2. Encourage others to join you.

After September 10th:

  1. Sign up to receive the 52 Weeks of Prayer, newly updated by Christian Grandparenting Network.
  2. Regularly contact your grandchildren and let them know you are praying for them.
  3. Consider meeting monthly to pray with other grandparents for a year.
  4. Let Christian Grandparenting Network help you start a Grandparents @ Prayer (G@P) group.

What are ways to celebrate Grandparents Day of Prayer?

Step-up your prayer life:

  • Join other grandparents by participating in the 30-Day Prayer Challenge being offered by Christian Grandparenting Network. The challenge begins Saturday, August 14, and culminates on Grandparents’ Day of Prayer.
  • Give thanks for your grandchildren and pray for their new school year. Write out a prayer for each of your grandchildren. This prayer/ writing can take any form. Write them as poems, journal entries, letters or whatever style is most comfortable for you. (Grandchildren love to receive mail from their grandparents; therefore, you may want to send it to them via “Snail Mail.”)
  • List the names of your grandchildren on a piece of paper. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you a Bible verse for each grandchild and record this verse next to each name. Incorporate these verses into your prayers for your grandchildren during September. (For more help praying Scripture, download any of the Prayer Cards on our Free Resources page.).

Host an event:

  • In the past, united prayer has bridged the gap between a great need and a great awakening! Our hope is that thousands of churches, community groups and individual grandparents will host a prayer event for this special day.
  • The event could be held in your church, home, retirement complex or any meeting location you choose. It can be as simple or complex as you want it to be.
  • You may want to ask your pastor to acknowledge and pray for the grandparents in your congregation during corporate worship; set aside the Sunday school hour to pray for children and grandchildren; or gather in your home for prayer.
  • Some churches host a prayer breakfast or a luncheon following their morning worship. Others offer an afternoon tea or evening dessert, either in the fellowship hall or in the homes of individual grandparents. Food is optional; prayer is key!

Model prayer for the next generation:

  • Text your grandchildren and ask if they have any prayer requests. If your grandchildren are too young, you can ask their parents. Make this a weekly habit.
  • Text your grandchildren and let them know that you prayed for them on Grandparents’ Day of Prayer.
  • Teach your grandchildren how to Pray the Alphabet: Working from A to Z, pray one specific thing for each letter.  Leave the focus of the prayer wide-open or identify a focus before you begin. For example, you and your grandchildren might choose to pray for things related to school, their relationships, struggles, or the development of Godly character traits.
Lillian Penner
Grandparents’ Day of Prayer Coordinator
Christian Grandparenting Network
Email: lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net
BLOG: Grandparenting with a Purpose

A PRAYER FOR GRANDPARENTS’ DAY OF PRAYER

Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children (Lamentations 2:19).

Dearest Lord Jesus,

We come to you today, praying for each of our grandchildren and their parents. While these loved ones are precious to us, they are more adored by You, their Lord and Savior. 

We pray You bless them with good health, sound minds, healthy emotions and loving hearts.  Please guide and guard them in this challenging world. Let them know You intimately, love You passionately and serve You faithfully all the days of their lives. And when the time comes for them to leave this earth, please bring them home to You so that we may live together eternally. 

We pray You equip us to be the godly grandparents, which You envisioned when You created us. May we always love our grandchildren as You love them. May we understand them as You understand them and view them as You view them.

Lord Jesus, we now place our thanksgivings and prayer request for our grandchildren and their parents at the foot of the cross… (Please mention your children and grandchildren by name, giving thanks and offering special prayer requests.)

All this, we ask in Your precious and powerful Name, Jesus! 

Amen.

(A special thanks to Cathy Jacobs and Cheryl Cargill for giving us permission to adapt and use this prayer for this year’s Grandparents’ Day of Prayer. Cathy is the founder of Pass the Legacy and author of Pass the Legacy: 7 Keys for Grandparents Making a Difference. Cheryl serves as the SC GrandCamp registrar and editor of the newsletter, Grandparents on the Go.)

The Legacy Coalition is honored to join the Christian Grandparenting Network in promoting Grandparents Day 2020 as a day devoted to praying for grandchildren. We strongly recommend that in our churches and in our homes, we take this day to encourage grandparents to intentionally exercise this powerful spiritual discipline.” We commend CGN for their leadership in encouraging grandparents everywhere to participate in the Grandparents’ Day of Prayer, and we will be enthusiastically supporting their efforts.

Larry Fowler

Founder and Executive Director of Legacy Coalition

Grandparents of every nationality, ethnicity and economy demonstrate their love for their grandchildren by showing everyone they meet a slew of photos, taking the kids out for ice cream, and buying them untold unnecessary presents. With one exception. Grandparents who know Christ also pray for their grandchildren.

Christian grandparents recognize National Grandparents Day as an opportunity to pray for (and we hope, with) their grandchildren. Mark your calendar. Set your minder on your smart phone. Invite others to pray on Grandparents’ Day of Prayer.

Phil Miglioratti

Coordinator, PrayNetwork.org and #LOVE2020.com

It is with great joy that I have the opportunity to recommend to you the Grandparent day of prayer. Grandparents that have lived their lives in Christ believing that the transforming love of God, the convicting and confirming ministry of the Holy Spirit and power of the Gospel will change their grandchildren’s lives and can impact an entire community. Whether providing full-time care or working on a deeply supportive relationship, grandparents will have influence over a longer period of their grandchildren’s lives than ever before due to increased longevity and better health. I recommend all Grandparents who own a passion for their grandchildren, to join with other Grandparents for this important event.
Jere Vincent

President, Family Builders Ministries, Durham, NH

For the last 2 years we have celebrated Grandparents Day Of Prayer in our worship service. Last year I spoke (briefly) about the importance of a grandparent’s spiritual legacy and followed it with a unison intentional prayer. It was neat to have to pause until everyone had finished naming his or her grandchildren and then continue on with the prayer. I am grateful to Christian Grandparenting Network for the resources supplied to make this ministry possible. Thank you, Lord for connecting us.
Pat Whisler

Elwood City, PA

I like to say that God saved the best for last when He gave us grandchildren! I celebrate being Grammie to our eleven precious grandchildren by praying for them daily, so I was delighted to learn of the Grandparents’ Day of Prayer. I’ve been surprised how many grandparents don’t know there is a National Grandparents’ Day set aside to honor them. I use the Christian Grandparenting Network’s resources to help grandparents bless their grandchildren by praying for them on this day–and hopefully every day. Our precious grandchildren are growing up in a secular world we could have never imagined. They desperately need our prayers. Won’t you join grandparents across America in flooding the heavenlies with prayers.
Janet Thompson

Speaker and award-winning author of 17 books, including Woman to Woman Mentoring Resources and Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter.

Grandparent’s Day is an amazing way to celebrate “GRAND parents”! In such a fast-paced culture, it is wonderful to have this day designated to honor and inspire grand parents. But more importantly, it is a holy calling to all grand parents everywhere to fall to their knees as strong prayer warriors on behalf of their loved ones. If we don’t do this, then who will? Join many other grandparents around the world in a time of celebration and prayer.
Catherine Jacobs

Executive Director, Pass the Legacy Ministry