Cultivating a Spiritual Legacy

The word cultivate is used in farming. It is what farmers do when they plant seeds in the right soil, pull weeds, and expect a day of harvest. As mothers and fathers, we cultivate an environment in our homes to give emotional and spiritual growth to our children. A place of faith and trust in God. We come with an attitude of prayer, asking God to help nurture a legacy around us.

How are you doing to cultivate your home, your marriage, and an environment that doesn’t just know the Bible and a few verses but believes the Word of God? Have you created a life of prayer and faith around you?

In 1 Samuel 1, we are introduced to a woman named Hannah, who is deeply distraught because she is unable to have children. She is in a place of deep, deep anguish and heartache. Scripture says, “She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly” (1 Samuel 1:10, ESV).

Hannah prayed to the Lord and made a vow that if he gave her a son, she would give him in service to the Lord. So she dedicated him to the Lord’s purposes and his kingdom (see 1 Samuel 1:11).

Like Hannah, God often works through our brokenness and difficulty to produce something for his kingdom. In times of brokenness and distress, God will stir our hearts to pray a prayer of faith and believe God for our families, children, and our nation.

Today, I want you to know that if you are walking with God and cultivating an environment of faith, he will answer. Perhaps it’s a prayer for biological children or grandchildren who are far away from God. Perhaps it’s a prayer for God to bring biological or spiritual children into your life. Your situation may seem impossible, but I urge you to pray like Hannah, who poured out her soul to the Lord.

The idea of dedicating our children to the Lord originates from this story. Through prayer, Hannah broke through to God from a place of desperation. As Christians, we must cultivate a spiritual life that will help our children, spouses, and families walk with God. It is an act of worship and our highest calling to cultivate an environment that fosters spiritual growth in our homes!

^{John Bailey is the chief missions officer of World Challenge, Inc. and founding pastor of The Springs Church in Jacksonville, Florida. John has served the Lord in pastoral ministry for 35 years, ministering the gospel in over 50 nations, particularly as a pastor and evangelist in Cork, Ireland.}