Pray For Them By Name

“The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” (John 10:2-3, NLT)

In the parable of the Good Shepherd, the sheep know Jesus’ voice. That’s not surprising. What is surprising is that He calls them by name. Do sheep have names? Apparently so!

In any case, your grandchildren have names. Do you pray for them by name? Do you lift them up as individuals? Your intervention on their behalf is one way you can help them discover their unique gifts and talents. Picture each face. Imagine what they are doing this very minute. It doesn’t matter whether they are down the street, across the country, on some mission field, or even playing video games in the basement of your own crowded house.

Every child you’re thinking of right now faces critical turning points during every season of life. That’s the nature of this fallen world. Babies and toddlers are learning about love, trust, and fear. Your school-age grandchildren are surrounded by conflicting values. Older grandchildren may feel pressure trying to fit in at the big state university or finding the time and energy to tuck their own kids into bed.

Stop right now and pray that God will hold each of your precious grandchildren in the palm of His hand. It’s worth remembering that He loves them even more than you do.

I’m convinced that visualizing each grandchild and praying in specifics helps you track how and when each prayer is answered, as well as helps you reflect on how you may be part of the answer to that prayer. Picturing each sweet, smirky, smudged, grimacing, or shining face as you pray will connect your heart to their heart and to the heart of Jesus.

This doesn’t have to be some long, laborious burden. It’s just an exercise in staying aware of what your grandchildren are going through and turning your heart and theirs to God. Maybe pray something like this:

Dear Lord, please help Zachary in his moral choices. Help Makayla discover her gifts. Help Peyton see You as the God of second chances. Help Wyatt feel Your unconditional love. Help Cooper come face-to-face with the sin in his life. Bless Lily and Mason’s upcoming wedding and marriage. If Savannah is called to a life of singleness, help her and her parents know that can be a God-honoring choice. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Can you do this? Can you lift each grandchild up by name, picture each face, imagine where they are this very moment, and be part of the process that covers them with God’s love? Those fifteen minutes could be the most rewarding part of your day...and theirs.