Pray for Families (Crushed by Storms)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

God loved us so much, he wished for none of us to be alone in life.  In his infinite wisdom, he designed new life to be born within a family, the unit meant to reflect his love for us, be our comfort, and provide us support. Thus it follows that He should want his only begotten Son to come into the world through this same beautiful portal and want to provide him with the love and support of a family.   So he created the most perfect woman, Mary, to be his mother and the most holy man, Joseph, to be His foster father.  Not being spared from the storms of life, the Holy Family remained steadfast in their faith, stayed humble and loving, and was perfectly obedient to the Father.  They are our blueprints for a holy life.

Comparatively, we are easily crushed by the waves, pushed off course by the currents, and often found shipwrecked on the shores of life, tattered and weary.   But as children of God, we are buoyed by the life preserver of grace.  Like the Holy Family, all that the Lord asks of us is to be open to his grace and grab hold of the life preserver!

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

Lord, we pray for the families in most need of your grace; those feeling deeply buried in the sand, immobilized by the weight of their worries; those caught in the undercurrents of our culture, too weak to pull away from their vices; those whose overwhelming responsibilities make them feel like they will never find solid ground; those approaching despair; those who don’t even know you yet. Reach out your hand that they may feel it’s immutable strength, its unwavering protection, and its gentle caress.  Infuse them with your grace.  Keep their hope alive.  Jesus we trust in you!

He will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. On that day it will be said: “Indeed, this is our God; we looked to him, and he saved us! This is the LORD to whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!” Isaiah 25: 8-9

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Throw someone a life preserver of prayer.  Pray for them and pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (One House)

Greetings Prayer Warriors!

In a sacramental marriage, two become one flesh.  Hard to comprehend. Even harder to execute on! I think this is where most marriages get tripped up.  It is not that easy to think as one, act as one, collaborate as one. Our self pride leads us to wanting things our way.   As verbal battles rage, maybe even physical, does one ever see that they are destroying there own "house"?

And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.  Mark 3:25

Let us pray for the unification of marriages.  

Lord may you be the foundation on which married couples build. May they structure their day in prayer, as they erect the framework of their lives.  Insulate them with your love, so that words are soft and actions are constructive.  May our prayer for them create a roof of peace, and thus a dwelling place where there are no divisions. May your grace be the air they breathe and your forever blessing. Come, dwell with them! amen.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Pray for marital unity.   Pass it on!

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Loneliness.  It immediately triggers some memory, doesn’t it?  Today I would like to pray for the lonely.

Everyone has experienced it at some time in their lives.  But ironically, one can feel lonely even when surrounded by family and friends.  Perhaps this is the most painful kind of exile, feeling alone in this crowded world.

Perhaps the Lord allows such loneliness, because often it is in such darkness that we call for Him.   He is compassionate, because he understands it so well.  As you pray for the lonely, meditate on Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, left alone even after asking his disciples to stay awake with him.  Take a moment to FEEL his loneliness as he feels the weight of all that awaits him.  As he turns for support, look with him as he sees his beloved friends asleep.   Hear His prayers to the Father as He asks for His presence on the journey. 

Look upon me, have pity on me, for I am alone and afflicted.  Relieve the troubles of my heart; bring me out of my distress. Psalm 25: 16-17

Softly pray that the Lord will walk with the lonely, comfort them with His embrace, and resurrect them from the darkness.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Share a hug.  Pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (Sacred in the Lord)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Everyone loves the euphoria of falling in love.   Did you ever wonder how two people who can’t imagine the world without each other, and pledge to honor their vow “as long as we both shall live” or “until death do us part”, ever fall out of love?  Is it that something gets in the way of that love, or rather Love gets pushed out for other passions?  Or perhaps the foundation was never built upon True Love?

You are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. 

Ephesians 2:21-22

Lord, many marriages are struggling.  As one’s hindsight becomes 20-20, please have compassion on each spouse’s struggles.  Give each the grace to open their heart to you with trust, allowing you to heal the wounds inflicted.  Call each to you so that through you, their union can be strengthened.  Incinerate despair, inspire hope, and immerse them in your Love, for Love conquers all.  Bless them, send your Spirit upon them, and bring them peace.  Humbly we pray, in the most precious name of Jesus. Amen. 

That their hearts may be encouraged as they are brought together in love, to have all the richness of fully assured understanding, for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2-3

For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. Luke 12:34

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Incinerate despair, inspire hope.  Pass it on! 

Pray for Families (Change the tide)

Greetings Prayer Warriors!

Look around.  Do you see what I see?  Bowed heads everywhere!  On the streets, in restaurants, amusement parks, businesses, dinner tables, schoolyards, & churches.  Could it be we are becoming a world where everyone is praying??    Well, not yet.  Actually, most people are bowing endlessly over smartphones, tablets, and laptops.  While we are blessed by the innovation of such tools, when the use of them begins to preclude real dialogue, focused listening, and real intimacy, not just with our family and others, but with the Lord, then the “blessing” becomes more of a curse.

But here’s the challenge.  While everyone is not bowing in prayer just yet, we can change the tide and restore the balance. Every time you see someone including yourself “bowing over a screen”, use it as a cue to say a prayer of praise, thanks, or petition.  For example:

I love you, Jesus!

Bless our family!

Have mercy on us all!

You are faithful!

I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God!

Holy, holy, holy are You!

Guide my children.

Thank you Lord for the blessings of this day.

Sanctify me.

Heal our family divisions.

O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! Psalm 95:6

Before you know it, all “bowing” will have a prayer attached.  You will be surprised by the change in your prayer life, and the change in your family life.   

Then David told the whole assembly, “Now bless the LORD your God!” And the whole assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their ancestors, bowing down in homage before the LORD and before the king. 1 Chronicle 29:20

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Encourage a greater prayer life.  Pass it on.