Pray for Marriages (A Pathway to Holiness)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

“The sacrament of Matrimony establishes a perpetual and exclusive bond between the spouses. God himself seals the consent of the spouses. Therefore, a marriage which is ratified and consummated between baptized persons can never be dissolved. Furthermore, this sacrament bestows upon the spouses the grace necessary to attain holiness in their married life and to accept responsibly the gift of children and provide for their education. CCC 1638-1642

Interestingly, the catechetical teaching above happened to land in my inbox today and several parts jumped out at me.  What parts touch you?  While a marriage “can never be dissolved” may hit a chord with some, I was struck by the statement that through the sacrament of marriage, [Christ] bestows upon the spouses the grace necessary to attain holiness.  WOW!  The grace is there, but are we accepting this gift?

     

Marital difficulties arise in all marriages, but do we pause to consider that these difficulties may be a grace which creates a path to holiness? Perhaps if our faith is at least that of a mustard seed, His grace will do the rest.  Our marriages will flourish, no longer withered by the heat, but shaded by time, fortitude, sacrifice, and patience. 

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

Be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth. Ephesians 4:23-24

Thank you almighty God, for the generosity of your grace.  Help us to always have the faith to believe that you will never leave us, that you fortify each marriage with all the grace needed for the journey, and that you will help us each attain holiness.  You are our hope.  May we be with you forever in eternity!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

We've already been given the grace!  Pass it on!  

Pray for Families (GPS Guidance)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Have you ever been driving with someone and you tell them to turn left and they go straight?  Or you say turn right (since you have the map) and another passenger says turn left and thus the driver turns left (which was obviously wrong)?  How maddening it is when someone doesn’t pay attention to the correct directions, but rather wanders elsewhere. 

Sometimes the obvious isn’t obvious enough to us. We are the drivers, ignoring God as he tells us the right way to go. “This detour looks fun!” we think.   “Are you sure about that U-turn Lord, because straight ahead looks right to me?!”  “I know you think I’m lost Lord, but really, I’m not!”  “Commandments?  Are those like rules of the road? They only count if you get caught?”

How hard it is to let go of our pride and listen to the Truth!

And your ears shall hear a word behind you: “This is the way; walk in it,” when you would turn to the right or the left.  Isaiah 30:21

Lord, extricate the pride that seems to stuff our ears.  Gently guide us to a place of humility, that we may put all of our trust in You.  Help us, as well as our family and friends, on this journey of life! A lot of us are lost out here!  We are listening Lord! Hear our prayers! Come, be our GPS in life! (Global Positioning Spirit!)

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Enhance one’s hearing.  Pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Finding Help in the Stillness)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

How easy it is to get discouraged in marriage. When things get hard, does one fight or give up? Perhaps we have to relinquish our perceived control and have greater dependence on the Lord, who blessed our union and honors our commitment.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

For those who who dwell and delight in busyness this may be a challenge, however the Lord has ways to slow you down so that you might hear his soft voice.

The Lord will fight for you and you only have to be still. Exodus 14:14 

So trust in His love for you and His desire to bring you into the abundant life. Lord bless each marriage and ignite each spouse with a holy desire to love and trust you. Heal their emotional wounds and blunt the memories that imprison them. May they be renewed by the comfort of your Fatherly embrace.

 I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Everyone needs a Fatherly hug, Pass it on!

Pray for Families (The Snare of Sin)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Sin is something I know is prevalent among all of us, but it seems to have become something no one talks about any more.  It’s as if it was an old trend and now it’s just not worth talking about.  It’s as if it doesn’t exist anymore.   Are you following me here? 

In reality, sin imprisons us in subtle ways, blinding us to it’s carcinogenic effect on our soul, never catching our attention because it’s appears to us to be a very mild toxin.  But just as an accumulation of toxins can be deadly to our bodies, so too can unrecognized sin be deadly to our soul.

The Lord in His love for us however, has ways of opening our eyes to the error of our ways. Let us be receptive when He calls out to us!

My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to thy word! Psalm 119:25

His word gives us clarity and once we acknowledge our sin and promise to amend our ways, He restores our life.

I disclosed my ways and you answered me; teach me your statutes. 

Psalm 119:26

Let us pray that the scales fall from our eyes, then our family’s, then all others. Lord, help us see!  Then give us the courage and wisdom to amend our ways and continue on the path of righteousness, that we might spend eternity with you!

What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?  

Mark 8:36

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Make a spectacle of yourself by sharing the Word and helping a blind man see!  Pass it on!