“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children.” Deuteronomy 4:9 (ESV)
Did you ever get lost and end up somewhere you never wanted to be? I remember when my GPS led me to a gravel back road in the middle of nowhere trying to find Moses Cone Memorial Park. (The worst part was I was leading the caravan!)
After God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He instructed Moses to warn the Israelites to teach their children and grandchildren the Laws God gave them. Moses said, “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children” (Deuteronomy 4:9 ESV).
My parents followed God’s instructions (as my dad’s parents did for their children too). We attended church, read the Bible, and worshipped God. However, when I left home for college, I ignored my upbringing and escaped church once and for all. Many bad choices led me to a place in my life I never wanted to be.
Mark Batterson, author of The Circle Maker, wrote about his grandfather, who prayed for Mark and his family even before Mark was born. His grandfather died when Mark was only six years old. He called the constant prayers of his grandfather, his “spiritual inheritance.” Mark wrote, “There have been moments in my life when the Spirit of God has whispered to my spirit, Mark, the prayers of your grandfather are being answered in your life right now.”1
When I read that story, unexpected tears flowed. The Holy Spirit revealed my mom and dad prayed for me all those years I denied God and made so many bad choices in my life. After my diagnosis of cancer, I found my way back to God. However, my daddy did not live long enough to see his prayers answered. I am sure he knows they were, and we will celebrate together in heaven one day. Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!
John with his firstborn, ME 
John and Pat, my mom and dad
If you have a child or grandchild making bad choices and denying God’s power in their life, keep praying. We never know when God will answer. Our prayers live on after we are gone.
We finally found the park after a stop to ask some friendly people for directions. The beautiful view of the Blue Ridge Mountains was worth the trip, despite our roundabout route. I learned another lesson — GPS might be useless in the mountains.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (ESV)
Reference
- Batterson, Mark. Circle Maker. Zondervan, 2016.
Beautiful post! I love the pictures and the truth about timeless prayers. Thank you for this meaningful post. 🥰
Thank you, Pam! I love that—timeless prayers is a good way to describe them. God transcends our time limits. (Sometimes we forget that!)
I don’t think I remember this photo of you and daddy. (I wasn’t born yet, lol). Thanks for the reminder that they prayed for us and we didn’t really know it.
Thank you for your comment, Mary Anne. Yes, I think you were “a bun in the oven” so to speak. I was still the only child and daddy’s girl.
Susan, I love this post. How often do I treat my prayers as just a fleeting remark to God when He has already said they are a fragrant incense to Him. Thanks for this awesome reminder of the absolute importance of praying. Also, my husband still uses in his little 2000 Chevy truck a Garmin that is attached his vent. The problem is that he doesn’t update it to the current software provided. Much like your mountain drive-around Joe gets lost on our little county backroads here in the flatlands! Love you Susan.
Thank you for your comment, Jackie. I appreciate your support. Even though the GPS can be unreliable at times, it’s hard to remember what we did before. Oh yes, we read a map!