Pray for Marriages (Fill the void)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Marriages are held in many different places these days, and I am no longer stunned when I hear of some of the crazier locations.  To add to the “specialness” of the ceremony, many couples want someone they know to marry them so they ask a friend to become a justice of the peace.  Perhaps it is because they no longer know a priest, minister, or rabbi because they don’t attend religious services.

How wonderful would it be if everyone decided to invite the Lord to be a witness at their wedding?!  No only that, but also decided to get married in His house!  

Why is a sacramental marriage important?  The list is lengthy, but I heard something today that made it so clear to me.  In a sacramental marriage, God occupies the space between husband and wife.  So no matter how small or great a divide may occur during the marriage, be it a crack or a canyon, it will be held together through faith in Him.

Surely, I wait for the LORD; who bends down to me and hears my cry, Draws me up from the pit of destruction out of the muddy clay, sets my feet upon rock, steadies my steps, And puts a new song in my mouth, a hymn to our God. Psalm 40:2-4

Those who fear the LORD trust in the LORD, who is their help and shield. The LORD remembers us and will bless us, Psalm 115:11-12

Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20

Please pray for couples who are engaged, that their eyes may be opened to their need for Christ and recognize the importance of inviting Him to their wedding.  Also pray for all that married couples that worry or despair over the great gulf between them. May they come to know that any gulf can be narrowed when the Lord is called upon to fill the void.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Fill the void of emptiness.  Send someone blessings and pass it on.  

Pray for Families (Crushing Crosses)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Have you every looked at an individual, a couple or a family and thought, “Wow, they have a charmed life!  I wish mine were like theirs!”  

I know in my youth that I used do think that a lot.   Luckily, with wisdom born of age, I have come to realize that everyone has a cross to carry, no matter how idyllic his or her life might seem from the outside. 

As Christ beckons us to himself, he calls us to pick up our cross and follow him. Indeed, no cross looks desirable.  While some crosses look lighter than others, be assured that those are probably rough hewn with splinters instead!  So don’t be timid. Pick up the cross that the Lord gave you. Carry your cross.  Embrace your cross. Cherish your cross.  It will lead you through the narrow gate.

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  Matthew 16:24-25

So we call, we shout, we beg the Lord to help us carry our cross(es).  Its weight is so heavy, makes us so tired, and at times feels absolutely crushing.  “Lord, we need you!” we cry, and the Lord smiles because He has known this all along. He just needed to hear it from us.

No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint. 
Isaiah 40: 30:31

Lord, help all of us to carry our crosses with faith, perseverance, and joy.  Assist us always, for we are weak in body and spirit.   Give us the grace to be joyful, knowing that carrying our crosses gives glory to you.  Strengthen us, lift us, and love us through all adversity.  Jesus we trust in You! Amen!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Find joy in encouraging and helping someone crushed by the weight of their cross.  Pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (A Model of Love)

Greeting Prayer Warriors,

I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. John 13:15

When I read this I immediately thought of marriage. What did Jesus, our bridegroom, model for us, the beloved? What a wonderful thing to contemplate! Are we modeling this behavior toward our spouse? While reflecting on His virtues, (such as love, patience, kindness, purity, faith, meekness, humility, fortitude) link them to the situations in which He exhibited them and ponder the disposition of His heart.

How might you be more Christ-like in your marriage?  Pray for the virtue that would help you most in your marriage while also praying for the virtue you think would most benefit your spouse.  If you are not married, please pray for a couple you love.

Lord, we ask for the grace to see the disposition of our hearts and our minds.  Prune away our vices, weed out our evil thoughts and desires, and sow the seeds of virtue in the garden of our hearts.  Chase away the garden snakes! While our frustration and tears may water the garden, true growth will only occur when you let your Son shine upon us.  Our hope lies in you, the Master Gardener of us all.  Make our marriages flourish so that they may become the garden of your delight!

Well done, my good and faithful servant. Come, share your master’s joy! cf Matthew 25:21

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Invite the Master Gardener into your marriage.  Pass it on!  

Pray for Families (Fatherhood)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

With Father’s Day a rapidly approaching, I am contemplating fatherhood.  It has to be one of the most important jobs/vocations ever (the other being motherhood)!  Success as a father creates a legacy that will last longer than any accolade or achievement one can receive at work. No job is MORE important to society as a whole than that of being a parent who is present and engaged.  

Let us celebrate the gift that father’s are.  Let us pray that they look to the Heavenly Father for inspiration.  May they pray, knowing that we too support them in prayer:

Our Father in heaven, teach me your ways that I may be an example of righteousness to my children as I teach them to pray.

Hallowed be your name, may I praise you always and teach my children the power of your holy name;

Your kingdom come, as I welcome you daily into my heart and into our home so that we may know your kingdom here on earth.

Your will be done, so that I may experience the true freedom of obedience to You. Conform me to your will, my Lord!

On earth as in heaven, may the angels and saints pray for me as I try to lead my family down the narrow path to heaven.

Give us today our daily bread and help me to trust that you will always help me provide for the needs of my family. May I never neglect them because I am working for my wants.

And forgive us our debts, and I will promise to teach my family about the depths of your mercy.

As we forgive our debtors, may I always imitate your mercy as an example to my children.

And do not subject us to the final test, for we are weak and in need of your saving grace.

But deliver us from the evil one, for you are protective, compassionate, kind, and loving.  Please work in me, so that my children can speak of the unimaginable depths of a father’s love.   I love you my dearest Father.  Thank you for your eternal love.  Amen.

Matthew 6:9

Happy Father’s Day!  We are praying for you!

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

The gift of prayer is priceless. Pass this on to a special father.    

Pray for Marriages (The Abused and Oppressed)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Some marriages exist under dire circumstances: abuse (both verbal and physical), oppression, alcoholism, drug use, infidelity, pornography, and so on.  Spouses can feel and may actually be in a situation, with no apparent escape or solution.   It is for these marriages that we fervently pray, that the Lord may illuminate their minds and show them the way they should walk.

In the morning let me hear of your mercy, for in you I trust. Show me the path I should walk, for I entrust my life to you. Rescue me, LORD, from my foes, for I seek refuge in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your kind spirit guide me on ground that is level. For your name’s sake, LORD, give me life; in your righteousness lead my soul out of distress. In your mercy put an end to my foes; all those who are oppressing my soul, for I am your servant. Psalm 143:8-12

Lord, in your infinite mercy guide those who see no hope in their marriages.  Extricate them from abuse, lift them out of their oppression, and shine your brilliant light upon their darkness.  Bring them to new life in you.  Protect the children by filtering what they see, what they hear, and what they experience. May your goodness and kindness to all forever glorify the Lord!  Amen.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Bring hope to the hopeless. Let them know they are in your prayers.  Pass it on!  

Pray for Families (The Joy of Eternal Love)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

How our hearts ache for love!  We seek it from the moment we enter this world.  We want to be loved and to love.  It is why we were created.  We were made for Love.

My soul yearns for thee in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks thee. Isaiah 26:9

When we are loved and know that we are desired, there is nothing better.  But human attempts at love can be fleeting, superficial, self-seeking, and impure. Listen closely.  You are loved and desired each day and each moment, by our Lord Jesus Christ.  He wants you to spend time with Him each day.  He wants to hear your joys and your sorrows.  He wants to embrace you with His love; not a fleeting, superficial love, but a pure, deep, abiding love.  He chose to create you.  While someone else may be annoyed by your idiosyncrasies, he adores them because it’s what makes you, you! 

Because you are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you!  

Isaiah 43:4

Let us love and adore His sweet and Sacred Heart! 

As we live out our wonderful gift of being loved into existence, let us celebrate the “gifts” (family and friends!) around us by loving them as Christ loves us.  The purest form of love is to pray for someone.  Love them eternally.

Give thanks to the LORD, who is good, whose love endures forever! 

1 Chronicles 16:34

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Share the joy of loving and being loved!  Pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (The Road Trip of a Lifetime)

Greetings Prayer Angels,

Have you ever been on a long road trip?  While preparing for one they sound so exciting and adventurous!  Just think of the joy of having so much time together!  Imagine all the places we’ll see! Consider all the interesting people we'll meet!  Oh the stories we will have to share!  Once on the journey, unexpected “roadblocks” or events often occur such as flat tires, getting lost and driving miles out of the way, arguments about who’s right and who’s wrong, frustration about unexpected expenses, and complaints about being cramped in a small space with the same person for too long!  However, sometimes all it takes is the encouragement of strangers to snap you out of your negativity loop, make you laugh, and ultimately motivate you to finish your journey.

 

Marriage is a LOT like a road trip.   It always begins with big dreams consisting of how you will spend your life together, where you will travel, and what you will do!  The dreams keep building: How many children will we have?  Where will we live?  How will we financially make it happen? Then the unanticipated “roadblocks” occur and suddenly the journey isn’t so much fun anymore.  Without encouragement (prayer) from friends, family, or strangers, these couples fail to complete the journey.  They just walk away thinking next time the journey will be different. 

These couples are the ones we pray for!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For as Christ’s sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Be the voice of Christ to hurting couples by encouraging them to continue their journey.  Let your voices rise to our Father in heaven, with prayers and petitions on behalf of all marriages.  Then exalt Him with praise and thanksgiving, for He is kind and compassionate to those who seek his help!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Pass it on and raise the decibel of prayer!  Seek and encourage new voices!  

Pray for Families (A Return to the Light)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Many of my friends as well as people that I’ve met carry a tangible sadness and heartache concerning their children, whom after having been raised in a Christian home which honored the Sabbath and taught Christian values, have turned away from their faith.   

If this sounds familiar, don’t’ lose faith rather take heart!  Your children were born into a home with light, God’s light. You did your best and the Lord illumined their heart and mind.  However the lure of the culture continuously beckons and the darkness seeks to fill a void, but trust in Him, be fervent in prayer for your children, and the Lord will look with favor upon your efforts.

I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.

For I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; it is I who say to you, do not fear, I will help you. Isaiah 41:13

Let us pray that when the Good Shepherd calls His lost sheep, they will seek His voice and come back to the safety of His arms.  Let us also pray for those who have always heard His voice, that they may never be deafened and lose their way.  And finally, please pray for those who were born into darkness, whose family either never knew or never shared the Good News.  May all of you be His witnesses in this cloudy world, so in need of the Son.

Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:16

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Help chase the clouds away. Be His light in this world! Pass it on!