Pray for Marriages (Discern to Love)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Scripture speaks a lot about judgement. But it also esteems discernment. 

Judgment is about criticizing and forming negative opinions, lowering others, and in essence, elevating ourselves. Whereas discernment is more thoughtful, focusing on what is right, appropriate, or beneficial to an individual, seeking understanding while retaining boundaries.

Thus, we should not judge, especially in our marriages (where it can come too easily)!

Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37

Wise words. However, marriage does call for discernment, so that we may respond and act in a manner appropriate to the situation.

The wise of heart is esteemed for discernment. Proverbs 16:21

Wisdom can remain silent in the discerning heart, but among fools she must make herself known. Proverbs 14:33

In marriage, focus on discerning while seeking to mitigate any judgement. Be gentle with your spouse and yourself, pondering each situation in life, just as our Blessed Mother did.  

Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. 

Psalm 19:12

Lord, bless us in our marriages, that we may reflect more our own actions rather than those of others. In prayer, help us see the way. Take us by the hand and guide us.

It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself. 1 Corinthians 4:3

Love remains the answer!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Love, pray, and pass it on! 

Pray for Families (In Service of Self and Others)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

We are spiritual and corporeal beings who help and provide for others. We can easily be in perpetual motion caring for their children, parents, and spouse. Slowing down may appear impossible.

Don’t neglect yourself in service of others. No one benefits.

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Romans 13:9 (Emphasis added)

Take care of yourself, so you can be of greater service to others. Nourish yourself both physically and spiritually so the Spirit can work through you. 

This sounds easy, but I imagine at times it can be unimaginably challenging. Ask yourself, “What prevents me from taking care of my own needs so that I can be of greater service to my family, others? Is that hindrance something I can impact?” Ask the Lord to show you. (Note, doing a Lenten penance isn’t neglecting yourself, it’s strengthening you spiritually!)

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 

1 Corinthians 6:19

Come Holy Spirit, enlighten us! Help us all to be good stewards of the physical and spiritual gifts you have bestowed upon us. Out of love for you, may we self-minister, preparing ourselves to utilize our blessings on behalf of others, especially our families. With you, we can accomplish anything. May we always remember we have you to lean on!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Contemplate, meditate, and pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (A New Heart)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

Lent is a great time for self-reflection, which can be painful. It is so much more pleasant (but not nice) to evaluate areas for improvement in others! Instead, reflect on what you are and aren’t bringing to your marriage. Where might you find a few opportunities for improvement?  

If you mind draws a blank, I am sure your spouse can help you!  

Additionally, spend some time in prayer, asking God how you might be a better wife or husband. Ask Him to show you, and He most likely will!

And we have this confidence in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours. 1 John 5:14-15

Lord, we ask for your light, that we may truly see ourselves as we truly are. We ask for the courage to critically assess our deeply ingrained behaviors, our thoughtless words, and our daily actions or omissions. Grant us the grace to become the person and the partner you created us to be. Jesus, we trust in You!

I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

A good practice for Lent is to praise God and pass it on! 

Pray for Families (Sacrificial Perseverance)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Lent has begun and maybe you are off to a great start!  Honestly though, it’s easy enough to stumble out of the starting gate. Or maybe you weren’t even paying attention, or were apathetic to begin with and never even left the gate. No need to beat yourself up, but rather just reset and start now to get on course. 

Not sure what to do or sacrifice?

Offer praise as your sacrifice to God; fulfill your vows to the Most High. Psalms 50:14

To keep the law is to make many offerings; whoever observes the commandments sacrifices a peace offering. and one who gives alms presents a sacrifice of praise. To refrain from evil pleases the Lord, and to avoid injustice is atonement. Sirach 35:1-2,4-5

Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking off every yoke? Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh?  Isaiah 58:6-7

What would prevent you from any of the above? Whatever it is, that’s what you need to give up!

Most importantly,  offer all of your sacrifices to God  on behalf of yourself and your family. What a beautiful prayer of love. 

Finally, pray for one another for perseverance in our Lenten promises!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Lead with gratitude. Pray and pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Protection and Healing)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Each of you holds intentions for marriages close to your heart. Perhaps it’s for you or some dear friends or relatives. Today our intention is a ‘warriors’ choice”, your personal marriage intention. As we pray for one another’s intentions, may all find comfort knowing that others are praying for exactly what you desire, while providing a canopy of protection for marriages.  

Let me dwell in your tent forever, take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Psalm 61:5

As a community, our prayers form a beautiful bouquet of gratitude for the Lord, as with faith and trust, we place our petitions before Him. Open your hearts and lift up your voices!

Pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. James 5:16

Harness your power! Pray without ceasing!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Don’t let up! Pass it on! 

Pray for Families (Seeking Trust During Loss)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

When contemplating where our prayers should focus, I was directed to loss. In pondering loss, I realized that it is a wide umbrella. Consider those who have lost a family member, those who have an estranged relative, those who may be losing a foster child, and those feeling the emptiness of a loved one that moved far away. Then there are those experiencing the fear of potential loss– a sick child, a terminal relative, upcoming “reductions in force", potential bankruptcy, probable foreclosure, a teetering  business– the list goes on.  

Yet the Lord always reassures us, and asks us to trust in Him.

Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Matthew 6:27

Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil. Matthew 6:34

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 

I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. John 10:10

 

Lord, it is obvious that we don’t trust you enough. Surrendering to your will, your providence, your plan, is very scary for us, as we like to have control. You continually beg us to jump into your arms for safety, yet we live in fear that you will drop us, desert us, or take things away from us. We wrongly equate suffering with rejection, yet only you can transform sadness into joy.  Grant us the grace of faith and hope, that we may with confidence imitate the faith-filled words of Job:

“Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!” Job 1:21

Blessed are you, Heavenly Father, for you are the giver of all good gifts, including our crosses! Protect our families, fill our hearts with love, guide our steps, and grant us the humility to accept your Divine Will with trust. 

For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Continue to encourage one another. Pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (Works of the Spirit)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

There is no shortage of intentions to pray for in marriage. For each one of you has a unique intention, if not for your own marriage, for another’s. More likely, you have multiple intentions,, so, let us focus on those!  

Humbly place yourself before the Lord and pray. Ask that the Lord heal each person of their woundedness, those deep wounds that fester if left unattended. Pray for the unshackling of hearts. May hurts and resentments be released, allowing the Holy Spirit to move in. 

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

Lord, we are a wounded people. Give us the fortitude, resolve, initiative, and desire, to first look within and ask for you to mend our brokenness. Help us persevere in prayer for our spouses and for other marriages as well.  Pour your grace upon us, so that the fruits of your Spirit may live fully within us and serve to transform the hearts of those around us. Jesus, we trust in You!

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-33, 25

In you Lord, we can be beacons of love, as love heals!  Thank you for loving us first. 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Pray for you, pray for your spouse, and pray for us all! Pass it on!