All in one week I received copies of these old photos. They were both taken nearly fifty years ago. I say nearly because I turned 50 this year and I was three in the picture on the top. The other picture is a photo of my husband’s parents and their nephew and was taken a little more than 50 years ago. As I look at these photos I think about the dreams and ambitions of our parents at that time. Knowing them as I do, I know that it was their earnest desire to have a home and family that would please the Lord. Their prayer was that their children would be saved and then live for the Lord. Praise the Lord, the next generation has done just that. By God’s grace, all their children and grandchildren are walking with the Lord at this time – what a blessing. What a heritage!As I read this morning in Judges 2 I read about the Israelites that had disobeyed the Lord in not driving out the enemies from the land. They allowed them to live among them and turn their hearts away from their God. Verse 10 says, “And also all that generation were gather unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.” It’s not enough to me that I’m saved and my children know the Lord, but also that my grandchildren to come would also trust in Him. When I read that verse this morning my heart cried out, “Oh Lord, don’t let that be said of my girls or their children! Keep them close to you. Help my girls to train their children to love you.” My girls aren’t even married yet, but it’s not too soon to pray for the next generation. I’ve heard preachers say that they won’t consider their parenting effective until they see what their grandchildren do. In other words, if their children pass on the Truths of salvation and sanctification, they will see that their teaching has truly influenced the lives of their children.
I often pray Colossians 1:9-14 for my children; if you have grandchildren pray it for them. God honors His Word and loves to hear it being prayed to Him. When you pray this passage you’re asking the Lord to:
- fill them with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
- help your children to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing
- allow them to be fruitful in every good work
- help them to increase in the knowledge of God
- strengthen them with all might by his glorious power
- give them patience and longsuffering with joyfulness
I pray that years from now when my family looks at our old photos they will be able to rejoice that the generations that followed that “old couple” are still loving and serving the Lord…that is my greatest desire as a mother. What a treasure that would be! It will only come by living it consistently and by much prayer. Lord, help me to faithfully do both.”
RefreshHer 
