“…God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you:
but I will teach you the good and the right way” (1 Samuel 12:23).
Next to inviting people to “Come to Jesus,” the deepest desire of Adrian Rogers’ heart was leaving a godly legacy through his children and grandchildren. One of his favorite Scriptures was Psalm 112:1-2: “…Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in His commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.”
How can you leave behind a godly legacy? In this very personal message, speaking from his heart, Dr. Rogers shared specific instructions.
It’s an incredible thing to pray from the Bible, because you know your prayer is in the will of God if it comes out of the Word of God. Every morning Joyce and I have prayed for our children and grandchildren by name. Every day. I encourage you to pray morning and evening, over and over again. Pray not that they’ll be rich or famous but they’ll know and love God with all their heart.
PRAY THE SCRIPTURES
Let me give you a prayer for your children right from the Word of God.
"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That He would grant [insert your child’s name here], according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:14-19)
It was Paul’s prayer for the church at Ephesus, but what a prayer for a dad or mom to pray for a child!
PERSIST IN PRAYER
Hannah, Samuel’s mother, is an example for every parent. She persisted. “And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord…” (1 Samuel 1:12). In dark days she continued, “Lord, I want him to serve You,” both before and after he was born.
We are told to wait upon God. If you’ve asked and haven’t received, remember He’s not finished yet! Sometimes the answer is delayed. No matter how dark, desolate, or difficult—pray and keep on praying. I’ve seen Joyce with unwavering determination pray our children through so many things, waiting and asking God.
PITCH OUT SUBSTITUTES
Some things have a substitute, but not prayer. Enthusiasm, intellect, energy, ingenuity—none substitutes for prayer. Why are some Christians powerless? Prayerlessness!
Only God knows how many blessings we might have had if only we’d asked. “…yet ye have not, because ye ask not” (James 4:2). Unoffered prayer is not only a tragedy, it is a sin.
PURPOSE OF PRAYER
If God just gave us what we need without asking, would we pray? Why does God want us to ask? Not to impress Him—He’s not impressed with our rhetoric. Not to inform Him. He already knows our needs. Then why pray? To invite Him. Prayer is fellowship with God. Working with God. “We then, as workers together with Him…” (2 Corinthians 6:1). He wants us to grow, and we grow when we pray.
PRIORITY OF PRAYER
Because God is good, God is wise, God is able, and God knows what we need, He will hear. When I pray, I have a Father Who will hear me, and I have a King Who can answer me. Isn’t that great? I have the sympathy of a Father and the sovereignty of a King. No one should ever try to be a mother or father who doesn’t know how to pray. If you desire to leave a heritage, learn to pray.
