Our grandchildren are back in school. They may face many changes from their last school experience, such as new school, new teachers, new classmates, and new influences in their lives. Adjusting to new situations can sometimes be frightening and intimidating. Often, poor decisions are made from feeling insecure.
Life will be full of choices and decisions for our grandchildren. Peer pressure from friends can make it hard to make the right choices even though they know what is right and best. It’s important our grandchildren learn at an early age that Jesus is always with them and wants to help them to make the right choices. They just need to ask Jesus to help them. Encouraging them to learn God’s Word will help them to stand firm for what they know is right and refuse the wrong. Knowing God’s Word will help them see the difference of right and wrong.
It is never too early for us to pray for our grandchildren regarding crucial choices and turning points in their lives, especially as they become teenagers. From our experience, we know how early decisions shape a person’s life in important ways: choice of friends, educational choices, career moves, marriage partners, which church to attend.
Our grandchildren must make deliberate choices to avoid the ungodly attitudes and influences of this world. A discerning heart is one that is perceptive to godly choices.
Most of us, in either our immediate or extended families, have dealt with painful situations caused by wrong choices: an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, a drug charge, a car accident caused by drunken driving, intimidation by gang members, failing grades due to negative influence of peers, school discipline problems due to rebellious behavior.

“Sometimes grandparents tend to think they know how things should turn out for their children or grandchildren. Only God knows what truly is best for those we love. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to guide our prayers according to his plan for them as they make important choices.” ¹ We need to pray for them, however, they have to choose to cooperate with God.
As grandparents, we influence our grandchildren, even though we are not aware of it. Ask God to show you how you can be a positive influence in their lives, encouraging them to make wise choices by reflecting godly qualities in your lives that differentiate you from the world in today’s godless society.
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Pray your grandchildren:
•    will choose to have a personal relationship with God.
•    will guard their hearts.
•    .will find God’s purpose for their lives.
•    will live in such a way they will find favor with God and man.
•    will be careful how they live and make godly choices.
•    won’t be deceived by the evil one
•    will choose what is right and reject what is wrong.

¹Quin Sherrer & Ruthanne Garlock, Grandma, I Need Your Prayers, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 165-166.
© 2009 Lillian Penner