April 26 - Prayer - Verses - Questions to consider

April 26

Father God, I read about my ancestors in this holy book You wrote, and I have to admit, the older I get the more the previous generations mean to me. I realize they had something to say and a mission You had for them. Of course, I know many of them didn’t follow You, or if they did, they weren’t thinking about what You had for them to do. Just like I am today, I think more of what I think I need to do rather than what You have for me to do.

I do know that I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my heritage of Christian parents and grandparents. I am so thankful I had people praying for me from the time I was very young. I know I began praying for my grandkids before they were even born. I prayed for them to come to know You, love You, and represent You well. I continue to pray that, and I pray that they would marry Christians and raise their children to love You. I know one of the legacies Doug’s grandmother left her family was praying for her children and grandchildren up to the very day she died. It was very important to her to continually pray for them, and I know his cousin Ray that lives in New York attributes his salvation to her prayers.

Prayers are so important. I know sometimes I don’t realize how important it is for us to pray specifically and without ceasing, but then I see You answer prayers that have been prayed by many with very specific requests for healing. There are several in my church that I know have been healed because of prayers and Your intervention. We allow the doctors to treat us, but we know where true healing comes from. Even the doctors are surprised when You cause something that doesn’t make human sense to happen. Something they can’t explain away. I know It is You, and I thank You for those answered prayers.

I am so amazed at who You are, especially when it comes to prayer. Not that You answer prayer in ways we can’t always understand or explain, but how You hear how many millions of people are praying at any given time as if they were they only one talking to You. But that is why You are Creator and Author of the universe. You can do anything, be anywhere and everywhere at once, and we don’t have to understand, just accept it, and share it. I thank You that You give us so much to share with others. Even on my worst days, I’m so grateful that You are right there ready to hold me tight and guide me in Your ways. You never promised us things would be perfect, in fact You promised us we would have trouble, but You also promised You would always be with us, and You are. Thank You for always being there and forgive me when I don’t call on You often enough.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen!

Have you ever looked at an old family Bible at the names of your grandparents, aunts, uncles, and all their children, as well as great-great grandparents possibly?

I know many people skip over the genealogy of the Bible, but don’t forget, this was their legal record of who lived, when, how long, and the children they had. Contained in this genealogy is not only Adam and Noah, but also the man who lived longer than anyone else ever, Methuselah, who lived 969 years.

How does it make you feel to know these names listed in this list are your ancestors?

Does that make you feel a bit different about what used to be the verses you skipped over?

Do you have a family bible or book that you record births, deaths, and adoptions?

Why did many people until just the last generation or two diligently record these things in their family bibles?

April 26 Verses

5 This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man[a] when they were created. 3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. 4 The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. 5 Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.

6 When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. 7 Seth lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8 Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died.

9 When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. 10 Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died.

12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died.

15 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived after he fathered Jared 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17 Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died.

18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. 19 Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died.

21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God[b] after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not,[c] for God took him.

25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech. 26 Methuselah lived after he fathered Lamech 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27 Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.

28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son 29 and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed, this one shall bring us relief[d] from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” 30 Lamech lived after he fathered Noah 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31 Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died.

32 After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 5:1-32 ESV