A Generational, Global Landmark Event
“For I know him [Abraham], that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment [righteousness and justice]; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him” (KJV, Genesis 18:19).
Heavenly Father knew that Abraham would be the father of faith – and that he would lead his family spiritually first. All this sounds like old news to us. Yet, it was outrageously beyond all that could be imagined on earth at that momentous point in time: To follow Father on a wing and a prayer, and to establish one’s family on the spiritual foundation of Christ (prophetically by faith) rather than the global foundation of idolatry.
It’s what He calls us to do, too.
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (NASB, Ephesians 6:4).
A Personal Testimony
Today, I’m sharing a true story of the journey to a major hope fulfilled.
Do it again, Father, do it for them!
Here we go.
Each generation is called to build longer, wider, higher, and deeper than the previous ones have in Christ, honoring those who have gone before in the faith while at the same time creating a better future by walking out their own faith with Heavenly Father.
How that applied to us is this: My husband and I discovered a ground-breaking teaching on ministering to babies in the womb in time to apply it for our sons. The Lord grew us in understanding of blessing their spirits and applying the spiritual foundation first – and we began writing blessings for the spirit and investing them in families. I had great hope for a good future for us all.
As time progressed, and during critical periods in my sons’ development along the way, our family endured battles on just about every front. Many of these battles we didn’t recognize because they disguised themselves in daily life or life events. Also, we bit off some warfare that Father did not intend. Further, there was the refining fire of the Lord in the mix, and sometimes the combination thereof feels like a blizzard in which all directional markers disappear.
When my friend the prophet came to our home and said in effect, What you’re doing isn’t working because “this” is the actual state of your family (all this was said from a heart of love), I crashed. My husband and I were pressing with everything we had to make it through the day while nurturing and protecting our family and investing in their spiritual foundation first. In very real ways, it appeared that all we’d lovingly and painstakingly invested had failed – and hope evaporated.
From that moment, I dropped all extraneous work and any extra commitments in order to give myself space and grace to breathe. Additionally, my mind and heart turned to Father with an openness to learn what I obviously did not know.
That moment marked a line of demarcation in which the Lord had room to teach me all kinds of wisdom and insight, spiritually and physically, that I previously did not know. He also ushered in spiritual help in prayer and encouragement at just the right moments. I began feeling better physically because I was not pushing so hard to “keep it all together.”
A ripple effect happened.
Time and space opened for me to “hear” what my sons actually meant behind their words. Instead of my trying so hard to “get it right” and “not mess up,” grace happened! The Lord dropped revelation and insight into my spirit and my husband’s to highlight what each of our sons needed at specific moments of time to overcome the battles that raged for their futures.
This is a significant key: We “heard” where we injured our sons in “ways” and responses which were not Heavenly Father’s ways, and we humbly asked their forgiveness.
As it unfolded, Father was teaching me to walk in my spirit with His Spirit.
That time turned out to be a grace period from Heavenly Father to recover, to heal our relationships, and to finish building what needed to be built in their lives and ours during those specific times.
The change I hoped for started with me.
That initiated a cascading impact of the changes Father directed us for our family and sons spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically — in His grace and not my effort. We did have to take the next right steps with Him, be that prayer and/or action, but those steps were moving in grace and not in strain and toil.
Fast forward.
These heart desires (which were Father’s objectives) were accomplished through His grace and not in my strength or ability, but in partnership with Him:
– to know Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, and His Word
– to build their life on the foundation of Christ
– to nurture their identity in Christ
– to develop their God-given potential
– to move through their growing-up years and to nurture/maintain a good relationship with them
To my great joy, all my sons have entered their manhood, and they love the Lord. They each have their own personal relationship with Him and their own personal faith independent of their parents. And, Father placed the icing on the cake – we have very good relationships with each one. Hope restored! All glory to God!
Prayer for You
Heavenly Father, I’m releasing this testimony of how You walked my family through to hope fulfilled with thanks and praise and honor and glory to You! You did it for us, do it again – intervene, give them grace, grace periods, and grace to seize that divine moment of time which You open, fulfill their hopes, and restore their children and grandchildren’s hearts to You and to each other, no matter what season of life they’re in. Restore and do much more in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen!
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Hope Streams
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