In his book “Fearless” by Max Lucado writes, “Prayer is the saucer into which parental fears are poured to cool. Jesus says so little about our parenting, makes no comments about spanking, breast-feeding, sibling rivalry, or schooling. Yet his actions speak volumes about prayer. . .  Bring your children to me. Raise them in a greenhouse of prayer.”¹

A greenhouse is a glass structure for the growing of tender plants. The glass lets in the warmth of the sun to keep the tender plants warm. Just so, the lives of the parents and grandparents can allow the love of Jesus to shine on the lives of our tender grandchildren so they will grow strong, developing godly character, as they are being watered with God’s Word.

Parents and grandparents cannot protect their children from every threat that comes into their lives, however if we are believers in Jesus Christ we know the source to which we can take each need. We can bring our grandchildren into the greenhouse of prayer as they are growing up during these crucial years. One way we can do that is by being in communication with their parents about their needs so we can pray specifically for them.

We place plants in a greenhouse to protect them from the severe cold weather. When the storms of life are hitting our grandchildren, they need a safe place. Place them in the “greenhouse of prayer” to protect them from the evil one who is seeking to destroy their faith.

We read in Proverbs 20:7 (MSG), “God-loyal people, living honest lives, make it much easier for their children.” Pray for their parents to be God-loyal trustworthy, living honest lives, having wisdom to teach them to develop godly character. It is easier to teach children godly character when they are young than when they grow older.

Take your grandchildren to the “greenhouse of prayer” every day so they will grow to be strong godly men and women.

¹ Max Lucado, Fearless, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishing, 2009), p. 60.

©2010 Lillian Penner