Praying for People Around YouChikamu

Seniors

The older generation is full of so much wisdom and practical experience, yet they’re the same voices we so often ignore. Today, we want to train our hearts and minds to view them differently. We want to remind ourselves of the immense value that those who have lived more life than us have.

Whether you’re praying for a grandparent, or whether you have a few retirees living in your neighborhood, think about the life they’ve lived. Think about the experiences they’ve had and what they’ve learned along the way.

Pray that God would use their life as an image of his love and glory—pray that he would let you see what he has done in and through them! And lastly, pray that God would provide them with peace and comfort during the final season of life...

God, I pray for the older generation living in our communities. They have so much experience and wisdom to offer and yet they are not always valued in our culture. Some of them are widows or widowers, living by themselves, struggling with loneliness. Their children may live far away, and they aren’t particularly close to their neighbors. Help me remember that someday I may be in their place. God, may this community be a place where men and women of all ages thrive. Stir up the older men and women who love you to encourage those around them. Give them a vigor like Caleb, who at eighty-five, rode out on his horse to tackle new challenges (Joshua 14:6–13). May this be a place where elders proclaim your power to this new generation. Amen.