Prayer – the Legacy of the Future
E. M. Bounds on Prayer was published in 1997 by Whitaker House, 30 Hunt Valley Circle, New Kensington, PA 15068. In Chapter 1, “The Force that Shapes the World” of Book One, Purpose in Prayer, page 13, E.M. Bounds states, “The man who has prayed many acceptable prayers has done the truest and greatest service to the incoming generation.” In other words God allows us to pray ahead for future generations that we may never see in our lifetime. “The prayers of God’s saints strengthen the unborn generation against the desolating waves of sin and evil. Woe to the generation of sons whose fathers have been too busy or too unbelieving to pray. They whose fathers and mothers have left them a wealthy legacy of prayer are very fortunate, indeed.”
One of my dad’s sisters traced our family roots to my great-grandfather born in 1839, who moved his family from Germany to America, because he did not want his sons to serve in the German wars of the1800s. I do not know how or what great-grandfather Peters prayed, but not one of his 471 descendants listed in the 1982 chart my aunt compiled served in war. Dad and his brothers were exempt from service during World War II because they were farmers. Three of my younger brothers could have been drafted during the Vietnam War, but the Lord worked it out so their lottery number or schooling prevented their service. My brother, Dr. Frank, a nephew and I served in the military voluntarily but none of us experienced war. If we as parents or grandparents will start today, praying in tongues for the future generations, we can be certain that God will bless our future descendants because as old prayer warriors we left a legacy of prayer then let’s pray some more, way more!
More spiritual fathers are needed in the world today
When E.M. Bounds mentioned fathers who pray, the Lord reminded me of the men who have fathered me into prayer or mentored me towards leadership. These “fathers” have given me a dual inheritance. My spiritual father, Morris Means, taught me to pray. He walked and prayed with me on a “prayer” road near his house. If he felt I was losing my focus on prayer, he would drop me off on the desolate open fields of West Texas in the morning with the instructions to pray a full day. He always sent me to Jesus for answers.
In the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, the directors taught me by example how to give a personal testimony. When directors came to a chapter meeting or the regional conventions we had in Lubbock or Amarillo, it was always to encourage and support our efforts. They would make it a point to introduce me to directors from other parts of the country which encouraged me. Demos Shakarian was the spiritual father to all in the Fellowship. I never heard Demos speak badly about any person or organization. He always encouraged everyone he met. When I got back from Pakistan and told him that 5,000 people had come to the Lord, Demos was more excited than I was. He was the only person who encouraged me about Pakistan. Demos felt that we were called to take nations for Jesus. Be a diligent father or mother with regards to the legacy of prayer.
Terry H Peters DC
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