I don’t remember exactly when my dad gave his life to the Lord because we grew up attending church.
But I remember when his life began to change.
He became fiery in faith.
He organized meetings and daylong prayer rallies. He attended seminars and preached the word of God. He didn’t mind his name being dragged through the mud or threats of excommunication from church.
He’d always been rather headstrong (to put it rather mildly) and the challenges worked right into his nature.
Dad went to be with the Lord five years ago.
In the last days at the hospital, he requested to meet with us (kids) individually.
He probed, asked questions, queried decisions and directions, advised and counseled.
Much later, we realized he wanted a feel of where everyone was. His last days were prayer-soaked days.
After he passed away, incredible things began to happen.
Mind-blowing breakthroughs and blessings began to flow into our lives.
Child of A Righteous Man
Last week I was praying about some needs and was reading David (the Psalmist) words aloud.
“I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” Psalm 37:25 (emphasis mine)
I realized that my confidence in God does not lie in my ‘righteousness’ alone.
I have what I call a “double blessing” – my dad’s legacy and my own relationship with God.
The kind of life I enjoy now did not begin with me.
It began with my father.
He put his life in order first and then handed over the baton.
The Power of Parental Blessing.
What you do with your life now will echo down generations to come.
Am not just talking about typical parenting, but parenting in the spiritual sense as well. Or any other place we have direct influence or authority.
We don’t always see the impact of our actions and lives. Especially not the hard times.
Like any family, ours was not a perfect home. We had issues like everyone else. But God remained in our midst.
It’s not about the perfect times, but the imperfect ones. Those hard times when you grit your teeth and do what needs to get done.
Intentional Blessing
A great legacy is intentional.
An inheritance for your children does not come from squandering opportunities and vain living.
Blessings need to perch on your before you can pass them on.
You may not see how chasing your dreams, pursuing purpose, switching off the TV, going to church, standing up for truth e.t.c affects your legacy.
Yet those simple – and not so simple – intentional acts do.
It becomes harder for those that come after you to make room for God (and all He stands for) when you don’t make room for Him first.
Today I can confidently say “I am a child a righteous man, I will not beg bread“.
What a powerful thing for a child to be able to say!
When your seed sees the faithfulness of God to you and to His word, they will want to serve Him.
When they see what God has done for you, they will be encouraged in their walk of faith when things get tough (cos they will).
They will desire to walk in your steps, for they have witnessed what God does for the righteous.
Proverbs 13:22a “A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children..”
Question – What are your thoughts on generational blessings?
beautiful…just so beautiful and true..it begs just one question..what legacy will i leave when i am called home? did i live right?
Sheila
That’s the big one Sheila. May it be that we left a bigger legacy than was passed on to us…that we grew and build. Thank you so much for reading and sharing.
Your dad sounds like a great man. He reminds me of my own- This Oct my dad will have been with the Lord for 4 years. This is always a stressful time of year for me as I remember the days leading up to his passing. Yet, each year God shows me more and more about how my dad is still with me. My dad taught me about faith and trusting in God. From time to time I can still hear him telling me to trust God more. It’s amazing. My dad gave me a great legacy of Christianity. I pray I pass it on.
Amen TC, we have such great legacies. I feel you, anniversaries aren’t the easiest time. The early years were harder, i think the grace increases as the years go by :). My prayer too is to carry on this great legacy and build on it. Thank you for sharing and God bless
It does seem to get easier as the years pass but only because of God and His wondrous love and the promise I have of one day being reunited with my family.
Ngina, this is a timely post. I didn’t get through this post with a dry eye. Just last night my wife and me ans sat down are two youngest daughters 12, and 15. We asked them questions about their walk with the Lord. We began to encourage the to get into God’s word and to pray. But more importantly to have a true relationship with Christ. I want to be intentional in everything I do in the lives of my daughters. I want them to love the Lord with all their heart, because that’s what they want to do, but because they also saw mom and dad loving Jesus as well. This post also struck me, because I’ve been burdened for my dad. He is 77 years old, is a good man, but human standards, but I fear that he’s never a true relationship with the Lord. I didn’t grow up with so I don’t know much about his personal, private life. I’ve been asking the Lord to just give me right words and time to ask my dad about his relationship with the Lord. I pray that I can muster the words. God bless.
I’ll be praying for you and your dad Juan. I understand the struggle you are facing as I face a similar challenge with someone I love as well.
I trust God will guide us both and prepare their hearts to hear the message. But ultimately it is their choice and that is so hard to deal with.
I’ll also be praying God brings more than one person into your dad’s life to share the love of Christ.
God bless.
Am sorry for this late reply Juan, had something that kept me away from my computer.
I am so blessed by your comment…truly God is amazing in all He does. Your daughters are so blessed! (i know it may take a couple of years for that revelation to truly sink in 🙂 – when i was young, i didn’t always appreciate my dad’s efforts to see me grounded in God) The fact that you and your wife love Jesus and model that relationship before them every day – that’s something they can’t get away from. I am so glad that you are intentional in this..i personally believe that there is no greater inheritance a parent can leave a child than bringing them up to know God.
i will pray for you and your dad, that God will give you wisdom and as @TCAvey:disqus also adds, that godly connections will be sent his way as well. I have family members that don’t know the Lord, and it’s not easy. The hardest part sometimes is leaving them to their choices. But our part must be done first.
Thank you dropping in and sharing. You have so blessed me 😉 God bless
What a great story Ngina. It’s been great hearing more and more about your story. I really like your statement, “A great legacy is intentional.” So powerful and true.
I’m setting a new generational standard within my family by serving God and moving toward my God given purpose. I can’t wait to see the positive results with my son and his kids.
Amen Dan…you are doing an amazing thing. Your son and coming generation will be forever blessed. You and my dad are alike in that regard…he set the standard. I am glad you are enjoying the posts. Sometimes we ‘hung’ ourselves out there and encouraging feedback like yours is water for the soul :). thank you so much.
Wow, Ngina, this is such an inspiring and encouraging post. And how blessed you are to have a dad like that.
I know Barb, God is so very good.
That’s awesome. I too had a dad that lived a life that passed blessings on to me and my siblings. While I do pretty well, I have room for God to improve for my children… I’ll use this as a reminder and encouragement… I need to be more like my dad…
Floyd, I believe God honors the heart of the parent, deeper than we can even fathom. My upbringing was far from perfect. Yet God was always looking at the heart of my dad, his prayers and longing, even when his actions were off. i think your heart is in the right place and God has a way of filling up the “holes and gaps”. That’s the only way i can explain Dad’s full legacy 🙂
This is critical in today’s society because as you see growing up what your father did for you by being so steadfast on Christ it Lead you to be the person you are today. Its important that we live a Godly example for our children to see. Awesome Post.
So true Lincoln, our society needs this more than ever before. it’s in dire need of godly parenting. Thank you for sharing