BY: TAMI GILMORE
Can you still picture a scene from childhood that has left a lasting impression on you? I can still see my grandmother, who I call Nanny, sitting at her kitchen table early in the morning. She has her bible out and she is deep in prayer.This is the image of my prayer warrior. Little did I know when I was young the impact that image would have on my life, not just as a mother but as woman after God’s heart. Her prayers were powerful in my life and in the lives of those she prayed for.
When she passed I wondered who would be the next prayer warrior? Who would continue this legacy of prayer? Throughout the years God revealed me that being a prayer warrior truly was a family legacy. I have the image of my mother sitting in the black lounge chair Bible open and deep in prayer. The legacy of prayer continued. She modeled the power of using scripture to speak truth. Every morning as we were leaving for school she prayed over us Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
As I stepped into marriage, God began to stir in my heart the need to be a prayer warrior. However, it wasn’t until I read the book Legacy of Prayer by Jennifer Kennedy Dean, that I realized the impact I could have through prayer for my husband children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and generations to follow.
It was after reading this book I realized I would be carrying on that spiritual legacy to my family, to be the prayer warrior. I know not everyone has children, but you can have impact on people’s lives through the power of prayer. James 5:16 “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” We can have powerful and effective prayers for those around us
Prayers are powerful - It tells us in Revelation 5:8 that the prayers are stored up for us! How amazing is that? “ And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints”
Just image in the heavenly places prayers are being stored up. When I pray for my husband, my children, grandchildren, family, and friends those prayers are being taken and stored. They are released into the atmosphere at God’s appointed time. That is powerful!
Prayers are limitless - Isaiah 65:24 says, “Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.” God is not bound to our time. We have liner time frames and apply that to the world around us. However, how good is our God that He is not limited to that? He will answer prayers we pray today at the right time. This even means for generations that we have yet to meet.
Prayer is powerful and prayers are limitless. Prayers are not just for today...they are for generations to come. I want my husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and the generations to come in the Gilmore family to know that as they walk through their life they are walking in and living in the answers to previous generations of prayer.
Prayer is the legacy I want to leave for my children.
I want to leave you with this promise, God is always listening to our prayers. Psalm 116:1-2 “Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!”