Pray for Families (Humility and Boldness)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

While conversing with a peer today, we got on the topic of how some within our organization are beginning to feel marginalized at work for their Judeo-Christian conservative values.   One can feel pressure to remain silent in the wake of liberal behavior or speech for fear of being called intolerant or a hater.

Isn’t this what Christ not only felt, but experienced?  Should we not expect difficulty if we follow Christ?

He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD. To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, because his life is not like that of others, and different are his ways.  Wisdom 2:13-15

We are children of God, all one family.  Let us pray for the gift of faith, the courage to speak the truth, and the ability endure hardships for the sake of the Gospel, always responding with humility, love, and patient kindness. 

And now, Lord, … enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness.   As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.  Acts 4:29, 31

Come Holy Spirit, drive out fear and fill us with courage!  Make us one in You, now and forevermore.  Amen.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

With courage and boldness, pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Deaf, blind, & mute)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Deaf, blind, and mute.  I am not talking about a lame person in the bible, but rather, if I am honest with myself that sometimes is a picture of me in my stubbornness.   I don’t want to hear another opinion, I can’t see the other side of the situation, and I am done talking  (mute) about it.  Bad is when this occurs in my marriage. Worse is when I am deaf to the Lord as well. Can anyone relate?

I am like the deaf, hearing nothing, like the mute, I do not open my mouth, I am even like someone who does not hear, who has no answer ready.  Psalm 38:14-15

By nature, we would rather look at our spouse’s blind spots, deafness, and lack of communication than our own.  It is exactly at such times that our need for the Lord becomes greatest, yet we deflect his light and grace when put on our shades and only look outside of ourselves.  Lord help us!

I acknowledge my guilt and grieve over my sin. Do not forsake me, O LORD; my God, be not far from me! Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my salvation! Psalm 38:19, 22

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. All who are called by my name I created for my glory. Isaiah 43:1, 7

Lord, come be our light and enter more fully into each and every marriage.  Give all the courage to kneel down, fold their hands in prayer, and seek the light of your face. Open the eyes of our hearts so that we may live out your perfect plan for our marriages.         

Strengthen hands that are feeble, make firm knees that are weak, Say to the fearful of heart: Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall see, and the ears of the deaf be opened. Isaiah 35:3-5

Amen!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Help the blind of heart regain their sight.  Pass it on!  

Pray for Families (The Greatest Gift)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength. Take to heart these words, which I command you today. Keep repeating them to your children. Recite them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up.  Deuteronomy 6:4-7

This passage reminds me of the fact that the laws of God from the beginning were passed down through the family orally.   In the days of old, and even after Christ, the Word was passed down through the generations through the family.  So we should all ask ourselves, are we continuing to pass on our faith orally to our families, discussing God’s promises, living according to his commandments, and helping them to develop a personal relationship with Christ?  Or are we at most just handing them a bible (or an app for their tablet) and hoping they read it?  Do we take them to church or have other priorities taken over? Maybe the faith was not passed down to us or we weren't open to receiving it, so we need a little education ourselves. 

An interesting fact is that the number of people who label themselves as Christian is declining.*  If we don’t pass on our faith, many will never experience the joy of knowing Christ.  It all begins in the family. So if we hope to build a nation that exists in peace and unity, we need to spread the gospel, the GOOD NEWS, beginning with our children and our children’s children.  A relationship with the Lord changes EVERYTHING. So begin with yourself and pass it on!

We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you that what God promised our ancestors he has brought to fulfillment for us, (their) children by raising up Jesus. Acts 13:32-33

Put your prayer into action and share the gospels with your family.  Learn together and together you will find unity.  Good News is an amazing gift!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Share the joy. Pass it on!  

*Pew Research Center, 2015