Praying God's Word
Won't God lead us to the exact scriptures He would have us to pray? You know, sometimes it seems as though God's Word is brand new. It's not new, but it is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12). It breathes on us. A few days ago, the LORD led me to Genesis 10. My Bible is open to that page and I sat down to read it again, just a little while ago. Do you know this verse?
Now this is the history of the generations of the sons of Noah and of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood. (Genesis 10:1 WEB)
This time as I read it, I felt God inviting me to insert my name into the text to make some declarations over my family line. Have you ever done that?
It's easy, really. This verse would say, "Now this is the history of the generations of the sons of Sallie. Sons were born to them after the flood."
Something about saying that out loud brought me to tears. The Lord was inviting me to dream with Him. What would you say about your generations? Do you say what God says about the generations of those who love Him?
Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him? (James 2:5 WEB)
Daniel used that phrase in Daniel 9:4-5 (NKJV), "And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments."
Deuteronomy 7:9-10 (AMPC) says this, "And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “Know, recognize, and understand therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations, And repays those who hate Him to their face, by destroying them; He will not be slack to him who hates Him, but will requite him to his face."
And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]! (Isaiah 30:18 AMPC)
Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor’s] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:2 AMPC)
Are you starting to see how this works? We align our prayers with God's Word. The Lord highlighted Genesis 10:1 to me regarding "the history of the generations." God has already spoken to us through His Word. I want to declare the history of my generations aligned with what God says about them. Let's get a few more scriptures to work with. Ask the Lord to direct your steps.
"The rainbow will be in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” (Genesis 9:16-17)
For he will be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green, and will not be concerned in the year of drought. It won’t cease from yielding fruit. (Jeremiah 17:8 WEB)
"By the river on its bank, on this side and on that side, will grow every tree for food, whose leaf won’t wither, neither will its fruit fail. It will produce new fruit every month, because its waters issue out of the sanctuary. Its fruit will be for food, and its leaf for healing.” (Ezekiel 47:12 WEB)
Here's how I prayed:
Father God, we thank You for the gift of Your Word. Lord, hear these words for all the generations. That the history of the generations of the sons of Sallie, and those born after the flood. Thank You, Lord, for the rainbow that shines in the clouds as a token of Your everlasting covenant.
Lord, I and my sons confess bloodline sins and iniquity. We have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Lord, we ask your forgiveness. You, Lord, are our great and awesome God, who keeps Your covenant and mercy with those who love You, and with those who keep Your commandments. Lord, thank You for teaching us Your commands to love you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Lord, heal us and we will be made whole. Heal us and fill us with Your Spirit to empower us to love You as You deserve to be loved. Fully possess us as Your own.
Lord, we thank You for the fullness of salvation and sanctification for all our generations. Lord, equip us to be a people who leave a legacy of hope, faith, and love. Lord, Your steadfast love and mercy is poured out upon those who love You and keep Your commandments, to a thousand generations.
Father God, You have been gracious to all our generations, showing us mercy and loving-kindness. We are blessed by Your matchless, unbroken companionship, and the victory of Your love.
Our generations are as trees planted by the waters, spreading out their roots of steadfast love by the river. We do not fear when heat comes, but our leaves are ever green, and we never cease from yielding fruit. We are like trees that produce new fruit every month, because the source of our waters come straight from Your Sanctuary. Our fruit is for food, and our leaves for healing- not only for us but for the nations.
All the generations of our bloodline are blessed. We are rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom. We are patient under trial and stand up under temptation, for You Lord, have strengthened us to withstand life's tests. Therefore, we have been approved and will receive the victor’s crown of life which You have promised to those who love You. It's all for Your glory, and the fame of Your Name. You are the Faithful God, and You have taught us to be faithful, too. We praise You, Lord. We long for Your return. It's in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.
Do you see how this works? This is praying according to God's Word, and we know God's Word will not return to Him void, but will accomplish that which He pleases and will prosper in the thing He sent it to do. (Isaiah 55:10-11)
Be blessed!
