Pray for Marriages (A flood of faith)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not apparent. Genesis 15:5

I’ve decided we have a faith crisis in this world.  Perhaps it is because God has been brushed aside, shutout, dropped from our speech, and put in a closet until we need Him to sweep up our messes. 

• We have no faith He will provide, so we hoard our riches here on earth. 
• We have no faith we can have marital joy without material goods, so we live together before marriage until we can afford everything.  
• We have no faith He can give us the love we are seeking, so we look elsewhere.
• We have not faith in His goodness and generosity, so we are blind to all He gives us.
• We have no faith He can heal relationships that are broken, so we give up.  

We have all lacked faith at one time or another.  Let us pray not just for an abundance of faith, but a tidal wave of faith!  Ask the Lord to drown all in His mercy for the many times we were lacking in faith.   Then let us overwhelm the Lord with prayers of petition, seeking abundant grace on marriages, engaged couples, and couples contemplating marriage.

May our total faith in His response glorify Him!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

I have faith in you!  Pass it on!  

Pray for Families (Help for the poor)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

In the spirit of St Vincent de Paul, and on today his feast day, I’d like to pray for those who are not just financially poor, but those who are spiritually impoverished. 

Many people recognize an interior longing, but not the source of that longing.  In hopes of satisfying it, they search for love, money, fame, success, physical gratification, drug-induced highs; anything in hopes of quenching this unidentified desire.  Yet it remains. 

“There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty -- it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There's a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.”  -Blessed Mother Teresa 

Only Love Himself can feed one’s true hunger, however often the Lord calls us to be His presence in the world.  Are we listening?

Do you know someone who is lonely?  Is wealthy in cash, but poor in spirit? Feels unloved, unappreciated, or hopeless?  Is rich in the Lord, but financially devastated? Is approaching despair? Just needs someone to listen?  In addition to prayer, how might you help them?  Where is the Lord calling you to reflect His light and share His love?  Where is He calling you to share your resources? 

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

Spend some time with your family “listening” in prayer.   Where might God be directing you?  Your family?   While you listen, I will pray for you. 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Share your time. talent, or treasure.  Pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (Marital Suffering)

Greetings sweet warriors so faithful to prayer,

Every now and then I stumble upon something so powerful, that I know it must be shared. And when my finding it is so entirely random, I know it's definitely not coincidence but God-incidence.  Here is a prayer I ask you to share with someone in deep marital pain.  May it act like a soothing balm to their ravaged heart.

Prayer in time of marital suffering*

O Lord, you raised marriage to the dignity of a sacrament, a sacred sign of love and unity between yourself and your spouse, the Church. You give married couples the grace they need to live together in love and harmony. 

Yet, that grace seems out of reach for the one I loved and married and for me. Our love has vanished, our marriage has faltered and our children have certainly been harmed. According to the measure of our faith, teach each of us how to regain what has been lost, to change all that can be changed and to accept whatever cannot be changed. 

If we cannot be restored to a life together, keep us from deep regret, resentment and great fear. I come to you now in prayer, O Lord, asking for your divine mercy upon my children, my spouse and me. Heal us so that we may be reassured that your love and forgiveness remain with each one of us.  

Grant that the problems that led to this grave situation may be the occasion for growth in both of us, greater respect for each other, mutual pardon and deeper faith. 

Draw from this messy pain true good for our children, my spouse and myself. Especially, I pray for our children. Hold them in the palm of your hand and teach my spouse and me how to care for them as you do. 

Give us strength, wisdom, healing and understanding dear Lord. Lavish them on us in great measure. Cause each one of us to respond generously to these graces. 

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you.  1 Peter 5:7, 10

Pray and fast for those marriages suffering the most.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Sooth a suffering soul.  Pass it on. 

* taken from Prayers in Laudate (the app)

Pray for Families (Light in the Darkness)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

When a child is afraid of the dark, they instinctively know that the light will chase away their fears.  As adults, sometimes there exists a darkness in our lives and one doesn’t know what to do about it.   One may feel it in their heart, soul, or mind. Or perhaps the circumstances of one’s life make them feel like they are constantly under a dark cloud.   When one experiences the storms of life, they should never despair.  Be “childlike” and seek the Light; He who is the Light.

“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”  Mark 6:50

  He can calm the storms and illuminate the darkness.

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

If your whole body is full of light, and no part of it is in darkness, then it will be as full of light as a lamp illuminating you with its brightness.” Luke 11:36

Pray this day, this week, for family members lost in the darkness.  Then pray for your spiritual brothers and sisters, that all may one day be drawn to the Light.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Bring hope. Bring the Light.  Pass it on!