When we see the daffodils and tulips blooming during springtime, we often think of preparing our gardens. I grew up on a farm in the Midwest, and we always had a garden to grow our potatoes and vegetables. As I was thinking about sowing seeds in the garden, I was reminded of the fruit of the Spirit in (Galatians 5:22, 23 TLB) “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
When we invite Christ into our lives, the seed for the fruit of the Spirit is sown into our hearts. A life controlled by the Holy Spirit will exhibit the character traits of the fruit of the Spirit.
To produce a profitable crop the seeds, need watering, sunshine, weeding, and pruning. When our grandchildren enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes into their hearts, preparing the soil for the seed of the fruit to be sown in their hearts. Along with the sun, the ground needs watering with God’s Word for the seed to sprout and grow. Jesus, the Son of God, must shine on their heart for the plants to grow. After the weeding and pruning have taken place, the seeds will produce a good crop.
We can aggressively pray, knowing it is God’s will, for the godly seed to be sown in the lives of our children, grandchildren, and future generations. The seeds of prayer we plant today will yield a harvest of blessing in the future. God has given us a powerful resource in the avenue of prayer to bring power and blessing to their lives as well as ours. Just as God told the Israelites, “I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants” (Isaiah 44:3), God will pour out his blessings on our lives when we sow seeds of prayer.
Pray:
- Your grandchildren will allow God to prepare the soil of their hearts.
- Your grandchildren will invite Jesus Christ into their hearts.
- Their hearts will be watered with God’s Word for the seed to grow.
- They will allow the Holy Spirit to control their hearts.
- They will experience God’s presence and love in their hearts when being weeded and pruned with disappointments in the challenges of life.
Personal Reflection:
- What needs to happen before life will exhibit the character traits of the fruit of the Spirit?
- What results will the seeds of prayer bring to us?
- Have you used God’s Word when praying for your grandchildren?
The seeds of intentional prayer you sow today
will yield a harvest of blessings in the future
for your grandchildren and yourself.
This blog is taken from the book Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren, available on this website.
Written by Lillian Penner
Comments
Heavenly Father,
You are the Generational God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You are our God and our children's and children's children's God too.
We pray for our adult children and our grandchildren's hearts and minds to be open to You and closed to all that You don't want.
Place Your desires in their hearts and Your thoughts in their minds.
Let Your Word live in them richly.
Let Your Spirit work out the will of God in their lives and Your purposes for them be fulfilled.
Guard their hearts and minds in Your love and truth, especially when they experience disappointments and pain of their lives.
Help them to always choose wisely - the wisdom that only You can give.
Please God! Thank You God!
In the Name of Jesus Christ we pray, amen.