Daily devotional: Grandparents
Grandparents & seniors. One verse, a short thought, a question, and a prayer. The whole family reads the same verse each day.
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All 31 days
Day 1: Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
You've watched many seasons come and go, and God made every one of them. The same Lord who set the stars in place has held your whole life.
Ask: What seasons of your life show God's care most clearly?
Pray: Faithful Creator, thank You for every year You have given me. Keep me in Your care to the end. Amen.
Day 2: Psalm 23:1
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
David may have written this psalm as an old king remembering his shepherd days. The Lord who led you when you were young still leads you now.
Ask: Which line of Psalm 23 means the most to you today?
Pray: Shepherd of my soul, lead me beside still waters all my days. Amen.
Day 3: John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Maybe this was the first verse you ever memorized. It's still the heart of everything: God loves you and has given you everlasting life in Jesus.
Ask: Who first taught you John 3:16?
Pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for everlasting life. Let me pass this good news to my grandchildren. Amen.
Day 4: Proverbs 3:5
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Looking back, you can likely see how God worked when you couldn't see it at the time. That memory is a gift to share.
Ask: When did God lead you in a way you only understood later?
Pray: Lord, You have been faithful all my life. Help me trust You for the days ahead. Amen.
Day 5: Matthew 19:14
“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Grandparents can bring children to Jesus too, through a story, a prayer, or a ride to church. Your faith is a doorway for them.
Ask: How can you point a grandchild toward Jesus this month?
Pray: Jesus, use me to bring my grandchildren to You. Amen.
Day 6: Philippians 4:6
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Health, money and family can all bring worry in later years. God invites you to bring every one of them to Him with thanksgiving.
Ask: What are you most thankful for today?
Pray: Lord, I give You my worries about tomorrow. Thank You for today. Amen.
Day 7: Ephesians 6:1
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.”
Your example of honoring your own parents still teaches. Grandchildren notice how you speak of the generation before you.
Ask: What did your parents teach you that you want your grandchildren to know?
Pray: Father, thank You for my parents. Help me honor them by how I live. Amen.
Day 8: Joshua 1:9
“Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Change can be hard in later years: new homes, new limits, new losses. The Lord goes with you into every one.
Ask: What change are you facing that needs God's courage?
Pray: Lord, be with me in every change. Make me strong in You. Amen.
Day 9: Psalm 119:105
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
You may have carried a Bible for decades. Its words have been your lamp in many dark places, and they still are.
Ask: Which Bible verse has carried you through the most?
Pray: Thank You, Lord, for Your Word that has lit my whole life. Amen.
Day 10: 1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Some old regrets can linger for years. God's promise is for those too. He is faithful and just to forgive.
Ask: Is there an old regret you need to bring to God again?
Pray: Faithful Lord, I lay my regrets at the cross. Thank You for Your forgiveness. Amen.
Day 11: Matthew 28:20
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
'Even unto the end of the world' includes the end of your own life. Jesus will be with you through it all.
Ask: How has Jesus' presence comforted you?
Pray: Lord, stay with me always, to the very end. Amen.
Day 12: Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Older saints often show the fruit of the Spirit most beautifully because God has been pruning them for years. Your gentleness is a sermon.
Ask: Who in your life showed you the fruit of the Spirit?
Pray: Lord, let my life show Your fruit to those who come after me. Amen.
Day 13: Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
With many years behind you, you can testify how God wove painful threads into something good. That testimony is a treasure for the young.
Ask: What hard chapter did God use for good in your life?
Pray: Lord, thank You for working all things for good in my life. Amen.
Day 14: Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
In hospital rooms and lonely nights, God is a very present help. You never face trouble alone.
Ask: What trouble do you need God's strength for today?
Pray: Mighty Fortress, be my refuge and strength. Amen.
Day 15: Luke 2:52
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
You can keep growing in wisdom and in favor with God at every age. It's never too late to learn more of Him.
Ask: What have you learned about God recently?
Pray: Lord, keep me growing in You all my days. Amen.
Day 16: Isaiah 40:31
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Some days you may only 'walk and not faint,' and that is victory too. God gives the strength each day needs.
Ask: What does strength look like for you today?
Pray: Lord, give me strength to walk with You today. Amen.
Day 17: Colossians 3:13
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
Old family hurts can last for decades. Christ's forgiveness gives you power to forgive even long-held wounds.
Ask: Is there an old family wound you could bring to Christ?
Pray: Lord, help me forgive old hurts as You forgave me. Amen.
Day 18: Psalm 139:14
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
Aging bodies change, but you are still fearfully and wonderfully made. Your worth hasn't faded.
Ask: How does God see you at this stage of life?
Pray: Lord, thank You for making me and keeping me. Amen.
Day 19: Micah 6:8
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
Walking humbly with God is a lifelong journey. You've walked far. Keep walking.
Ask: How has your walk with God changed over the years?
Pray: Lord, help me keep walking humbly with You. Amen.
Day 20: Matthew 6:33
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Over a lifetime you've seen what lasts and what doesn't. Seeking God first is the treasure that remains.
Ask: What would you tell younger people about priorities?
Pray: Lord, thank You for providing as I sought You. Amen.
Day 21: Hebrews 13:5
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Friends move away and loved ones go home to the Lord. But God has said, 'I will never leave thee.'
Ask: When have you felt God's faithful presence most?
Pray: Lord, You have never left me. Thank You. Amen.
Day 22: Romans 3:23-24
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Your standing before God rests on Jesus, not on a lifetime of good works. That is peace for the end of life.
Ask: How does grace give you peace today?
Pray: Lord Jesus, I rest in Your grace alone. Amen.
Day 23: 1 Corinthians 13:4
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.”
A lifetime of love includes much longsuffering. Thank God for the people who loved you patiently.
Ask: Who loved you patiently?
Pray: Lord, thank You for those who loved me. Help me love patiently still. Amen.
Day 24: Deuteronomy 6:6-7
“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children.”
Grandparents are part of this command too (Deut. 4:9). Your stories of God's faithfulness can teach a new generation.
Ask: What story of faith can you tell a grandchild?
Pray: Lord, help me teach Your words to my children's children. Amen.
Day 25: Lamentations 3:22-23
“It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
Countless mornings have shown God's faithfulness. Each one was a gift, and today is too.
Ask: What morning habit has kept you close to God?
Pray: Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, morning by morning. Amen.
Day 26: John 14:6
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Jesus spoke these words to comfort disciples facing loss (14:1-3). He is the way home to the Father.
Ask: How does this verse comfort you as you think of heaven?
Pray: Lord Jesus, lead me home to the Father. Amen.
Day 27: Psalm 118:24
“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Every day is a gift, and more precious as the years go by. Rejoice in today.
Ask: What joy has God given you today?
Pray: Thank You, Lord, for this day. I will rejoice in it. Amen.
Day 28: Matthew 11:28
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Burdens of grief, illness or loneliness are heavy. Jesus still says, 'Come unto me.'
Ask: What heavy thing can you bring to Jesus today?
Pray: Lord Jesus, I come to You. Give me rest. Amen.
Day 29: Acts 2:38
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
God's promises span generations: to you, to your children, and to all that are afar off.
Ask: Whose faith are you praying for?
Pray: Lord, keep Your promises to my children and grandchildren. Amen.
Day 30: Romans 12:12
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.”
Your prayers for your family matter more than you know. Keep praying.
Ask: Who are you faithfully praying for?
Pray: Lord, keep me faithful in prayer for those I love. Amen.
Day 31: Revelation 21:4
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.”
This promise grows dearer with every loss. In Christ, the last word is not death but life.
Ask: Whom are you looking forward to seeing again?
Pray: Lord, wipe away my tears and bring me to Your new creation. Amen.