Call to Action:
Moses’ instructions to Joshua were crystal clear. “Choose for us men and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand” (Exodus 17:9).
The next day, Moses stood between Aaron and Hur with his feet planted firmly on a hill overlooking Rephidim. He stared into the valley and watched as Joshua rallied his men for battle.
When Moses raised the rod over his head, the battle between the Israelites and Amalekites began. “Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed” (Exodus 17:11).
Moses’ arms grew weary, and his hands began to tremble. When Aaron and Hur saw their beloved leader falter, they rushed to his side. They placed a stone under him, so he could sit down. Then, they held up his arms and steadied his hands until the sun dropped below the horizon.
God blessed their efforts. As a result, “Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword” (Exodus 17:13).
Our Battle:
We, too, are in a battle. However, our fight isn’t “against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12), and our weapons don’t resemble the bows and arrows or slings and stones that Joshua and his men used. We are battling against the enemy and all the forces of evil; we are battling for our families.
Like Moses, we grow weary in the fight. Therefore, we need the support of other grandparents. We need them to stay with us throughout the battle, encouraging us to lift our arms in prayer. And they need us to stand alongside them, as well.
Now, more than ever, we need to be praying with other grandparents. First, we need to ask God to place a hedge of protection around our loved ones, safeguarding them against COVID-19. Then, we need to intercede on behalf of our adult children, who are grappling with pay cuts, decreased work hours and unemployment. Finally, we need to pray for our grandchildren, who are internalizing their parents’ fears and frustrations.
Our Strategy:
The question we face is social distancing. Our church doors are locked; our coffee shops are closed; and our homes are off-limits. How can grandparents get together to pray? The answer is simple. We stretch… into the 21st century. We utilize the technology, which God has placed at our fingertips, starting with our cell phones.
Two weeks ago, I had shared a powerful prayer time over the phone with the author of Pass the Legacy, Seven Keys for Grandparents Making a Difference, Cathy Jacobs. After voicing our concerns for our families, we went before the Lord in prayer. Hopefully, Cathy and I can use our cell phones again this week to come together in prayer.
But what if we want to meet with a larger prayer group, like our G@P group? It’s still possible.
Do you remember Weekly Reader? The only article I recall predicted that our phones would one day have cameras. While this claim sounded futuristic to me, the day has arrived. The lockdown is forcing grandparents like me to use online programs to connect with our families, friends and prayer partners.
If you want to meet with a larger prayer group, may I suggest using an online program such as zoom? I can attest that a virtual meeting isn’t only possible; it’s easy and effective. Trust me, if I can use technology to gather with other grandparents for prayer… you can, too.
May we serve each other in the same way that Aaron and Hur served Moses? May we lift up one another in prayer?
For more information about G@P, please see https://christiangrandparenting.net/prayer/grandparents-at-prayer/
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