What kind of legacy are you leaving for the people closest to you?
There’s another thing we need to be generous to give others—prayer. That takes time and so it’s being generous with your time.
How often does someone ask you to pray for them? It’s pretty common in our Christian circles, isn’t it? We nod and assure them we’ll be praying, and then it’s lost in our crowded minds. We forget. I try not to promise to pray for someone unless I genuinely intend to pray for them, and that means I better write it down somewhere because my short-term memory is fading. Or if appropriate, sometimes I just take time right there and pray with them about their situation.
Sitting still for long periods of time to pray just doesn’t come easily for me, maybe you, too. I’ve gotten better at praying with my eyes wide open, and as God brings people and situations to my mind, I just send up prayers all through the day. I rather think that’s what the Apostle Paul meant when he said we are to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
It’s just a matter of being in a prayer-ready state all day long, so when you talk with someone about their problem, when you hear some bad news about people you know, when you read the headlines of people who are suffering all around the world, generously and immediately pray for them. You can stop what you’re doing and verbally pray; you can multi-task and pray while you’re sitting in a meeting, driving your car, washing dishes, whatever.
Learning to pray with eyes wide open so you can pray without ceasing is one of the most generous gifts you can give someone. So, generously offer to pray for people and then be sure you do.
Leaving a legacy of generosity will make a difference for those who come behind you. Generous with your money, your time, your encouragement, and your prayers. My mother’s eight grandchildren remember to this day, 20 years after her death, how Mamaw always prayed for each of them on a certain day every week, as she left them a legacy of a praying grandmother who was very generous with her prayers. What legacy do you want to leave for the people in your life?