Your Whispered Prayers Will Shape Generations
MARK BATTERSON
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“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
One of my earliest memories is hearing my grandfather, Elmer Johnson, pray for me. He would kneel next to his bed at night, take off his hearing aids, and pray for his family. He couldn’t hear himself, but everybody else in the house could!
My grandfather died when I was 6, but his prayers did not. When I’ve received blessings I did nothing to deserve, the Holy Spirit has whispered to me: The prayers of your grandfather are being answered in your life right now!
In a sense, my Grandpa Johnson’s legacy is my destiny. I can’t tell my story without telling his. Legacy is not what we accomplish; it’s what others accomplish because of us. Prayer invites parents and grandparents to help shape the destiny of their children and grandchildren.
Throughout Scripture, we see how God can use the faith of one individual to transform others’ lives. The Apostle Paul, for example, ended his epistle to the Romans by naming 28 people who influenced his life: Phoebe, Priscilla, and Aquilla … and then there’s Rufus.
“Greet Rufus, whom the Lord picked out to be his very own …” (Romans 16:13, NLT).
Most scholars believe this is the same Rufus mentioned in Mark’s Gospel. His father, Simon of Cyrene, carried the cross of Christ:
“A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross” (Mark 15:21, NIV).
Alexander and Rufus may have witnessed what happened that day. If so, there is no way they forgot it. Perhaps watching their father carry the cross, then seeing Jesus hang on it, left a permanent imprint on their souls.
Be encouraged today that your whispered prayers, your quiet acts of faith, and your faithful love for God are not wasted. Not only does God see you, but others are watching in ways you might not even realize — ways that will produce fruit generations from now.
God thinks about future generations. We see this in the promise of Jeremiah 29:11: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” This promise was given to the Israelites while they were prisoners of war in Babylon. Jeremiah told the Israelites they would be in Babylon for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11) and urged them to “build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce” (Jeremiah 29:5, NIV).
The average lifespan in the sixth century B.C. was 35 years. So a 20-year vision represented two generations. God was telling these exiles to act with the third generation in mind. Because that’s what super generations do: They do things today that will make a difference 70 years from now.
That’s what you are doing today when you live and speak with the long vision in mind. Just as my grandfather’s prayers still bear fruit in my life, your faithfulness will point generations yet unborn toward the goodness of God.
Lord, give me faith to keep sowing even when I can’t see the harvest. May my life point others to You, now and for generations to come. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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FOR DEEPER STUDY
Psalm 145:4, “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts” (NIV).
What can you specifically do today that reflects a “long vision”? Share with us in the comments!
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Proverbs 31 Ministries
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