A Prayer about Telling Future Generations about Jesus
Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord. Psalm 22:30
Gracious Father,
Whether we have grandchildren or not,
we admit Lord,
we can collapse into worry
about future generations.
With all of the uncertainty
about the economy, global health, politics, religious persecution,
what will life be like for them?
Faithful Lord, please recenter us
that we may let go of our worry
and pray about the matters that matter the most:
Show us how best to proclaim
your righteousness,
your goodness,
and your grace
to the future generations.
Show us how to humble ourselves
that we might show future generations
your love and delight in them.
Give us the words to tell the stories of our lives
that reveal
your kindness
and wisdom
and redemption.
Help us to live out
our complete and utter dependence on you
in a way that attracts future generations
to a life of trust in you.
As we live and pray and speak the good news of the gospel,
may future generations be drawn
to seek your face,
to trust in your salvation.
In Jesus’ child-loving name. Amen.
Read Psalm 22:25-31; Psalm 78:1-8.
Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage
author, life and legacy coach, speaker
Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage is the author of Preparing for Glory: Biblical Answers to 40 Questions on Living and Dying in Hope of Heaven.
(affiliate link)
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17
Lord,
We believe; help our unbelief.
We believe you have already come into our midst
in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
We believe you are a mighty one
who has already saved us from our sins
through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
But in the next line of this magnificent verse,
we stutter and stumble.
We think that maybe you will rejoice in us
some day in the future
when we are more holy,
that you will love us
some day in the future
when we never sin again,
that you will exult in us with loud singing
some day in the future
when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.
But that’s not what Scripture tells us.
The gospel good news
for all who trust in Jesus
is that right this minute,
you are rejoicing over us,
right this minute
you are quieting us with your love,
right this minute
and you are exulting over us with loud singing.
You saved us.
You love us.
You delight in us.
You sing extra-loud over us,
like the five-year-old who loves to sing
at the top of his lungs
because he’s so happy.
Help us today to sit quietly
and listen for the sound
of your delight in us,
and may that delight
change the way we live and love
today and every day.
In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.
Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage
author, life and legacy coach, speaker
Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage is the author of Preparing for Glory: Biblical Answers to 40 Questions on Living and Dying in Hope of Heaven.
(affiliate link)
