GrandPause: Prayer is the command center for our warfare. –C. Harper

Prayer is easy to talk about, but not as consistently practiced by many Christians. Is that because we don’t really believe that prayer is important? After all, we can’t see God and so talking to Him might seem unproductive or difficult. And anyway, God knows my heart, right? So why do I need to pray?

The fact that very few people show up for church prayer meetings says a great deal about the value and importance we place on prayer. Yet, the question that must be answered is, “Is prayer really important, and why?”

It’s interesting that when a national or personal crisis occurs and we feel helpless and vulnerable, one of the first things we do is call for prayer. So, deep in our souls we know that prayer is important, at least when we have no other options.

The truth is that we have a crisis right now that concerns the hearts and minds and eternal destiny of our grandchildren. Is that important enough to pray?

Jesus, who came from the Father, believed prayer was important and spent a great deal of time in prayer when he lived on this earth. So, if our Lord and Savior believed it was important and even taught His disciples how to pray, do you think their might be a reason for us to consider just how important it really is? The Bible says, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).

At CGN we believe prayer is vital and the most powerful weapon we have to resist and fight the destruction efforts of the enemy to capture the hearts and minds of our grandchildren. That is why we encourage the creation of G@P (Grandparents@Prayer) groups and participation in our annual Grandparents’ Day of Prayer. This year Grandparents’ Day of Prayer in on September 13^th, and I encourage you to get involved in some way. Why? Because prayer is essential in our battle for the hearts and minds of another generation.

Lillian Penner, our National Prayer Coordinator, heads up this amazing ministry. Let me share her own words about the importance of prayer and linking arms with other grandparents to pray for our children, grandchildren and the world they must navigate.

A few years ago on a sunny autumn day, my husband and I were traveling in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado. We frequently saw rugged snow-covered mountains and golden aspen trees reflecting in a lake. As I pondered these awesome sights, I could not help but ask myself: Does God’s love reflect from my life to my children and grandchildren like the mountains reflect on the lake? Do they see Jesus in me?

Considering these questions and the possible answers led me to realize that the sun needs to shine on the water for there to be a reflection. In order for God’s love to reflect from my life, the love of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, must shine in my heart.

We are living in challenging times as the world is sinking into spiritual depravity. The media-driven culture is desensitizing our grandchildren to the truth, and many of their role models are disappointing them.

However, God has given us a sacred trust, an opportunity to imprint a child’s life with God’s faithfulness. Just as Esther stood in the gap for her people, the Israelites, when their lives were threatened, we can stand in the gap for our grandchildren with our example and our prayer. By reflecting our love for God, we share how He has blessed us as we have walked with Him and are continuing to grow in our relationship with Him.

It is urgent that we stand in the gap to pray for the spiritual, emotional, and physical protection of our grandchildren and their parents so they do not become victims of our culture. I invite you to pray intentionally and deliberately reflecting the face of God to your grandchildren. I challenge you to be your grandchildren’s prayer warrior and ask Jesus Christ to do great works in their lives.

Join us on September 13, 2015, National Grandparents’ Day, for a Grandparents’ Day of Prayer. Visit our web site at www.grandparentsdayofprayer.com to learn more.

Prayer is important, and there is no more important reason to pray than our grandchildren. Let’s come together in this great task and opportunity to reflect our commitment to stand in the gap on their behalf. It is essential that we do!