I believe every one of us is called to be a legacy shifter for our family, our church, and our nation. It is within reach. We all have the power to make choices that will change the potential, the opportunities, and the level of blessing experienced by our families and the generations.
“Mark the blameless man (who is spiritually complete), and behold the upright (who walks in moral integrity); There is a (good) future for the man of peace (because a life of honor blesses one’s descendants.”
— Psalms 37:37 (AMP)
At the heart of becoming a legacy shifter is learning to be a person of faith. We want to look at Abraham as an example in Hebrews 11:8-20.
Observations from Abraham’s life about legacy
It was because of his faith the nations were blessed. Legacy is at the heart of the purpose God wants us to discover for our lives.
Life is not just about me or you; it’s about what God does to bless and change the lives of others because of us. Every choice impacts that. What we say, choose, or do becomes either wings or a weight to us and others.
“None of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.”
— Romans 14:7 (NKJV)
“An inheritance is something you leave to your children or others; a legacy is something you leave in your children and others.
We give our kids a holy head-start or a deep hole to climb out of.
Legacy will matter most to us in eternity. So much of the plan of God for our life is not individual; it is generational! A good legacy is not automatic; it is always intentional.
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
— Galatians 6:7-8 (NKJV)
“Even when our kids won’t listen to us, God will listen to us on behalf of our kids.” — Gerald Brooks
Key ways to build a legacy of faith that blesses the generations
1. Receive God’s grace and forgiveness. You don’t shift a legacy by being right but by being redeemed. “Ninety percent of the words “well done” we will hear will be for just accepting God’s grace.”
“Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
— Romans 4:3 (NKJV)
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”
— I Peter 1:18-19 (NIV)
2. Take the risk to obey God even when you look crazy doing it.
“…And he went out not knowing where he was going.”
— Hebrews 11:8b (NKJV)
3. Don’t quit, keep believing by faith God will work even when you face sabotage, suffering, and setbacks. Faith is believing for great things even when it seems only bad things are happening.
“And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.”
— Hebrews 11:11 (NIV)
"Never doubt in the dark, what God promised you in the light."
4. We shift a legacy not by doing something big but by doing something faithful by faith because we believe it’s the will of God.
“And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand of the seashore.”
— Hebrews 11:12 (NIV)
5. We shift legacy by being a spiritual father or mother to others and investing in praying prayers of faith with and for our descendants even when it doesn’t look good.
“For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” — I Corinthians 4:15 (NKJV)
“And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.”
— Genesis 19:29 (NKJV)
“Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.”
— 2 Timothy 1:3
“When you pray before the problem you will be able to pray less in the problems.” — G. Brooks
Truths about how prayers create legacy:
“You can choose to worry or pray, fight them or stand against the devil. Pray more, talk less.” — Gerald Brooks
Good Dads play with their kids; great Dads play and pray with their kids. Praying with your kids creates a spiritual atmosphere in which your faith becomes imparted.
“Pray for your kids as if you truly believe they are the greatest gift you will ever give the world.” — Gerald Brooks
“Jesus blessed kids every time someone brought them to Him, bring your kids to Jesus every day for a blessing.” — G. Brooks
Prayer is the safety net. In the present culture, good parenting is not enough to raise godly kids, only prayer and good parenting will do it.
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