Today’s review comes to us straight from the keyboard clicks of Michelle Armbrust. She is a quiet contemplater whose path crossed mine, thankfully, at our church in Chesapeake, Virginia. There’s a depth to Michelle, as well as her writing, that is peaceful and beautiful. It’s a type of communication that has its roots in the Lord. She is a sweetheart, and I do hope you’ll enjoy her insight into this wonderful book on prayer.
“What legacy do you want to leave?”
This was the question that was posed to me by my youth pastor, as I was getting ready to enter my senior year of high school. At 17, I was thinking more about what I would get out of my senior year than about what impact I would make on anyone else. However, 17 years later, in the midst of raising children, what impact I have on others, my children especially, is heavy on my mind. So when I came across the idea of leaving a prayer legacy, I was intrigued.
Mark Batterson says in his book, The Circle Maker, “prayer is the inheritance we receive and the legacy we leave.” In another book by Batterson, Praying circles around Your Children, he says that “every blessing, every breakthrough, every miracle traces back to the prayers that were prayed for you.”
When I began considering these two statements, I knew that they were true in my own life. I think about all the people who prayed for me as I was growing up—parents, youth leaders, teachers, and pastors—and I know my strong desire to follow Jesus traces back to the prayers they prayed over me. I think about my children, one who we adopted after more than 6 years of infertility, and one I became pregnant with after 7 ½ years of infertility. I know I am a mother because of the prayers of my family and friends.
So how do we leave a legacy of prayer?
In his book, Batterson breaks it up into three parts.
* Dream Big. Pray for a God sized dream. Dreaming big means dreaming of something we couldn’t do on our own, something we can only accomplish in God’s power. It keeps you on your knees seeking Jesus daily. My God sized dream is to minister and speak to women. People who know me would know this is a God dream because I have always been known for being quiet and shy.
* Pray Hard. 1 Thessalonians 5:7 say to “pray without ceasing.” Pray continually. Don’t ever stop praying for the things that God has put in your heart. I never stopped praying for God to make me a mother, and He answered that prayer in His timing.
*Think Long. Think in terms of eternity. Have you ever heard the phrase “Begin with the end in mind?” When praying for anything, consider what the end goal is. Be sure that it is in line with God’s will. Consider how it will affect you and those involved for eternity. According to Batterson “Each prayer is like a seed that gets planted in the ground. It disappears for a season, but it eventually bears fruit that blesses future generations. In fact, our prayers bear fruit forever.”
What kind of prayer legacy do you want to leave?
Ask God to give you big dreams for yourself, your spouse, and your children.
Begin praying for them to be fulfilled. Don’t ever give up praying for them. You never know when God may decide it is time to answer your prayer with a “Yes.”
About Michelle ~
Michelle is, first and foremost, daughter of the King, wife to a hard-working entrepreneur, and homeschool mom to 2 precious gifts from God. She loves Jesus and is learning what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Christ. Her blog is an attempt to share His love by sharing her heart and how He is changing her from the inside out. The thing she wants you most to know is that Jesus loves you more than you can fathom, and He longs to give you the joyful and abundant life that can only be found in following Him.
Michelle lives in Chesapeake, Virginia, and blogs at A Heart Revealed.
Dear Michelle, I loved this book … And your insights on it are so profound. Thank you for sharing your heart : )
Michelle,
I love this. I’m encouraged. praying for my grand babies brings so much joy as I watch God grow their hearts. Thanks for sharing♡
Thank you both Crystal and Jamie! I have had a totally different perspective on prayer since reading this book!