Pray for Marriages (Sanctification)

Dear Prayer Warriors,

On this day of All Hallow’s Eve, perhaps it’s a good time to think about some spiritual housekeeping in your marriage or other relationships. Are there any cobwebs on you heart? Ghoulish behaviors that you need to make amends for? Are there skeletons in your closet? Has your tone been one of a screeching cat? Is a cauldron of negativity brewing?

On this eve of celebrating the saints, make a resolution to become one. Do an examination of conscience. Seek reconciliation. Ask the saints to pray for you. Be renewed. Die to self and live like the saints. For tomorrow is a new day: All Saints Day.

Set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, “Be holy because I [am] holy.”
1 Peter:13-16

Pray for your spouse, or if single, a loved one. Ask the Lord to help them become a saint. Then ask the angels and the communion of saints to pray for the sanctification of all marriages.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Be a saint, pass on this treat.

Pray for Families (Discerning His Will)

Greetings dear Prayer Warriors,

When I was young and in school, people who were in love with our Lord and stood on street corners with signs proclaiming ” John 3:16” were called “Jesus freaks”. I couldn’t understand the passion that drove them.

The apostles rejoiced that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. cf. Acts 5:41

As an adult, and through the grace of God, I look at things a bit differently now. I understand passion for the Lord. While we may not all be called to stand on the street corners directing the passersby to scripture verses, it is important to discern what we are called to do. Perhaps you are called to witness to your own families, even if they think YOU are a Jesus freak. Perhaps, you are emboldened to pray outside an abortion clinic during the 40 days for Life™ campaign, holding signs silently pleading for an end to abortion. Or maybe, you are called to a quiet witness of the virtues: fortitude, temperance, prudence, justice, faith, hope, and love.

Spend some time in prayer today, discerning God’s role for you in your nuclear family, as well as in His universal family. Through your “yes” to Him, all families will be strengthened.

Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God. 2 Cor 4:15

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Call someone to action. Pass it on.

Pray for Marriages (Unashamed)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Sometimes you read something that you just want to share because it’s powerful and puts into words what is hard to express. Thus I am sharing the following and it is worth reading in full. Imagine what marriages would be like, not to mention the rest of our lives, if we were to all live this ideal.

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE UNASHAMED
(Author unknown)

I AM A PART of the Fellowship of the Unashamed.

The die has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is in God’s hands. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, the bare minimum, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, frivolous living, selfish giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, applause, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, the best, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith. I lean on Christ’s presence. I love with patience, live by prayer, and labor with the power of God’s grace.

My face is set. My gait is fast, my goal is heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, and my mission is clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and spoken up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I am a Catholic. I must go until He comes, give until I drop, speak out until all know, and work until He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no difficulty recognizing me. My banner is clear: I am a part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed.

Adapted from the original (author unknown) by Patrick Madrid

Since you have purified yourselves by obedience to the truth for sincere mutual love, love one another intensely from a [pure] heart. 1 Peter 1:22

Lord, may you transform our hearts and minds that we may unashamedly praise you in all things. And for those struggling in their marriages, may each sacrifice be offered for the glory of your name and thus turn sorrow to joy. Bless them with wisdom and endurance, for all things are possible for those who have faith.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Pass it on.

Pray for Families (Forgiveness)

Greetings Prayer Warriors!

We all love to be forgiven. Forgiving others? Easier said than done.

Those who know Christ rejoice in the forgiveness and mercy he showed us through the sacrifice of the cross. We too are called to forgive, but too often we get comfortable with our lack of forgiveness, instead holding on to old hurts like they are weapons to save for the right opportunity.

Today and this weekend, pray for the grace to see from whom you are consciously or unconsciously withholding forgiveness. You may be surprised. Perhaps you are still holding on to anger from childhood. Are there hurts and disappointments that still bubble to the surface?

In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. Ephesians 1:7-8

A lack of forgiveness keeps YOU in bondage. Kneel before the Lord and pray. Start by forgiving yourself for your weaknesses and failings. Then let go of old hurts such as lack of love, disappointments, hurtful words, repeated absences, etc. caused by members within your family. Rotate through your family members: mother, father, sisters, brothers, spouse, children, etc. Pray “Lord, I forgive ________ for __________. I release this old hurt to you.”

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, our kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions. Matthew 6:9-15

Break the chains. Find peace in your heart. Pray for your family and those of others.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Help others out of bondage. Pass it on.

Pray for Marriages (Unite!)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

We know intuitively that there is strength in numbers. So too it is with marriage. Two standing together as one to achieve a common goal is stronger that two divided. To achieve oneness, one must loosen the grip on one's self-will and unite for the good of the whole.

I recently read the following, and when filtered through the lens of marriage, found it quite impactful. Take some time to reflect on it.

"No matter what your personal preferences may be, try to understand that a small result which is really achieved is worth more than a greater one that is not achieved; that there is no strength without union, no union without self-sacrifice. The triumph of the common cause is to be preferred to the triumph of one’s personal ideas."*

If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves. Phil 2:1-3

Pray that the union of marriage may be fortified and strengthened through our oneness if prayer. For when prayer warriors unite with one voice to our one Lord, we will always triumph.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Fortify our army. Invite someone to become a warrior. Pass it on.

* -taken from My Ideal, Jesus Son of Mary

Pray for Families (Increase Virtue)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

I don’t usually spend much time reading the dictionary, but it can provide incredible light. After reading it’s definition in the Oxford Dictionary,

sin (sin) noun
an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law

I think I understand now why the word is so seldom used anymore. Most “acts” aren’t considered immoral by this culture.

When looking at the definition of the word “virtue”, who knew that virginity and chastity were considered “archaic” virtues?

virtue(vir·tue) noun
1. behavior showing high moral standards: paragons of virtue
• a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person:
patience is a virtue
• archaic virginity or chastity, especially of a woman.

Why become virtuous? To help us avoid the slippery slope of immorality and so that we may receive our heavenly reward and spend eternity with God.

For healing in our families, we need to revisit the moral virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and self-control. By praying for an increase in grace, and cooperating with this grace, we can take the first steps in growing in virtue. If everyone begins to practice these habits and dispositions in an effort to joyfully do good, perhaps we can begin to impact not only our families, but our culture. Pray for an outpouring of God’s grace on families, that through an increase in virtue, they may become beacons of God’s light for all.

If one loves righteousness, whose works are virtues, She teaches moderation and prudence, righteousness and fortitude, and nothing in life is more useful than these. Wisdom 8:7

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Help someone grow in virtue. Pass it on.

Pray for Marriages (Imitating Christ)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Love is something we constantly seek, yet ironically, we aren’t so generous in the giving of it. Love multiplies when given away, so imagine what our lives, our marriages, our families, and the world would be like if we were less self-seeking of love and instead focused on being loving toward all.

If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. 1 John 4:12

If you want to be more loving, spend more time with Love itself. Meditate on Christ, imitate His behavior, and pray to be transformed into Love.

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Become a Love Warrior and pray for marriages that have forgotten how to love. Ask Christ to make Himself present in that marriage. May hearts be transformed, and a may a spark of love given freely from a generous heart, create an inferno.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Ignite love. Pass it on.

Pray for Families (Prayer Sustains)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Worry drains, prayer sustains.

Have you ever been worn out with worry about a family member? You just didn't know what to do once you realized how little control you truly had over the situation?

Worry only serves to drain you. How do you contain the drain? Prayer.

When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I will listen to you. Jer 29:12

By seeking out the Lord, we can plug the drain and instead, be filled with peace and hope. The Lord hears each prayer and uses it for good. Nothing is wasted. He gives us what we need in His time, and sustains us.

As for me, far be it from me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you and to teach you the good and right way. 1 Sam 12:23

Take some time today to say a personalized prayer for each and every family member by name. Ask that the Lord blesses them with whatever they need, as well as with the grace to know, love, and serve Him. Take comfort in the fact that all the prayer warriors are praying with you.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Recruit more warriors to join you in prayer. Pass it on.

Pray for Marriages (Mature Love)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

For those who are married, do you remember the excitement you had as you were preparing for marriage, holding on to dreams of a perfect life together? Once married, do you remember at what point fantasy faded and reality began?

Marriage is a life-long journey. It is a series of transitions that begin with romance, move toward disillusionment, and climax with mature love. Perhaps if couples realized that disillusionment was something you pass through rather than end in, they would be more willing to stay in their marriages.

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4

Cast all your worries upon (God) because he cares for you. 1Peter 5:7

Let us pray for all marriages languishing in disillusionment. May God give them the grace to persevere so that they may one day know the joy of mature and lasting love.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Help a friend move beyond disillusionment. Pray with them. Pass it on.