Establish Thou the Work of My Hands

Some years ago, as I was reading the Psalms, a verse jumped out at me, articulating a deep desire that had been rumbling within my heart. It was Psalm 71:18, "O God, forsake me not when I am old and grey headed until I have shown Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to everyone that is to come." My mother made a framed plaque for me with that verse. It sits on my desk and is the prayer of my heart as I work with my precious children, the downtown Bethlehem Baptist Class of 2021.

This week as I was praying for my children, I thought, "What do I have to offer the children spiritually?" There are so many truths I wish I could emulate before them, but I feel so inadequate, as though I were a wheel-chair bound child trying to teach other children how to run. Yet, mercifully, God has not called me to perfection before answering His call to ministry. There are a few things that I see God consistently building in my life that I long to pass along to my children. I want them to know and love God for who he is, to have joy-filled hearts that sing readily and eagerly to their God, and to need and depend on the Word of God even as the air they breathe. 

Tonight, during leader prayer time at our first night of Wednesday Kids Connection 2011/12, God gave me a special Word. Our team leader provided verses for us that we each chose at random. We would read the verse, then another leader would pray that verse for us. When I read my verse, tears came to my eyes and I almost had to stop reading for the emotion I felt. The verse was Isaiah 59:21.

" 'And as for me, this is my covenant with them,' say the LORD: 'My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring,' says the LORD, 'from this time forth and forevermore.' "

Thank you, Almighty Gracious God, that your Word is faithful and true for me, for my children, and for my children's children. More than I had even thought to ask. Let me ask then for a thousand generations.