My husband and I were attending an adult Sunday school class when our pastor reminded us that one of the most important prayers we can pray for our children and grandchildren is that they receive the Holy Spirit. 

Wow! Really? I started to investigate.

Jesus said, “I will ask the Father, and he will send you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit… he lives with you now and later he will be in you… you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” John 14:16-20 (NLT)

Oh yes, I want my children and grandchildren to receive the Holy Spirit.

How should I pray?

1. Ask God for His Spirit to open the door.
2. Ask God that they will want to talk to him.
3. Ask that when he speaks, they will listen.
4. Ask God to give them discernment. Put mature Christians in their lives. Bring the awareness of God’s peace in their hearts.
5. Ask God to give them the courage to trust, obey, and praise him.

What if your children and/or grandchildren are non-believers? Some of mine believe and some are still seeking.

I pray that they will:

1.   Be curious.
2.   Take an initial leap of faith. 
3.   Depend on God.
4.   Experience the joy of a full relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

I first felt the presence of the Holy Spirit 33 years ago when my daughter was an infant. I was worried about her health and sent a quick “please help” prayer to God. I immediately felt a peace in my heart that erased my fears. During the next 20 years, I would feel this peace again, usually when I sent a quick “help” prayer. Feeling the amazing peace and love of the Holy Spirit always surprised me.

As my faith grew stronger, I came to have a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit. I thank the Lord for Jesus’ words in John 15:4: “Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” (ESV)

So yes, one of my most important prayers is that my children and grandchildren come to know the Holy Spirit. Through him, they will know the love of the Father, and the grace of Jesus.