Prayer Tip--Generation to Generation
Daily Scripture
Genesis 45: 24-26, 28
Then he sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Do not quarrel along the way.” So, they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. And they told him, “Joseph is still alive! He is even ruler over all the land of Egypt.” He was stunned; he could not believe them. Israel said, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I must go and see him before I die.”
Prayer Tip
Jennifer Creager
Jennifer Creagar has loved her 21 years at Resurrection. She enjoys time with her family, writing, reading, and being outdoors.
This week’s sermon and GPS looks at something that often sends us to God in prayer – families! Joseph’s family is estranged and far apart geographically and emotionally. Their relationships have been marked by anger, jealousy, and hearts torn by abandonment and loss. Joseph, and the rest of his family, carry the burden of their own sins, and the sins committed towards them. It’s a big burden.
I know that many of you reading this today can identify with Joseph and his family. God wants to hear it all – what happened, how you feel, what burdens you carry, prayers for healing, prayers for understanding and honest prayers where you admit you are lost in the maze of family dynamics.* God also wants to hear your dreams regarding these relationships, even if you feel that you won’t ever see one of them come true. God most of all wants you to address your own sins where family dynamics are concerned, because your heart can’t really be healed until you do.
God hears our prayers for ourselves and the burdens that our family may have put on us, the hurts that have been handed out, the misunderstanding, the pain we may carry.* God also wants to hear our prayers of confession and requests for forgiveness for things we have said or done. God has promised healing for our spirits, the internal healing that helps us understand others and save ourselves from the pain.
Oh God, who gave us our family, and knows that we sometimes struggle to count that as a blessing, please hear our prayers and help us bring our hurts, anger, and all of our struggles with our family to you in prayer. Show us how to be healers to others, and how to allow You to heal our own hearts. Help us to remember, no matter what is going on in our family, You offer us unconditional love, grace, and healing. Amen.
