Pray for Marriages (Not to be Forgotton)

Memorial Day

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

She’s at it again.  As the wife of a WWII veteran, my mom is a fierce supporter of veterans, honoring and fundraising for them by selling silk poppies.  She always acts surprised when people don’t understand the significance of the poppy and Memorial Day.  Its reference is “In Flanders Fields”, by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a war memorial poem that begins:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

Most of the past several generations know little of the impact of war on the lives of families and on marriages.  They haven’t had to sacrifice, ration, or do without in the same way.  Few by comparison, have lost relatives or family members in the military.  My mother, as part of the “Greatest Generation” knows of sacrifice all too well.

 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

So today we, like my mother, will keep the memory of lost veterans alive. We will pray for the marriages of those who have served or currently serve in the armed forces.  We pray for marriages that are impacted their spouse’s PTSD. We pray for those struggling with the loneliness and hardship of being separated from their spouse and/or family for long periods of time.  We pray for the widows whose marriages ended abruptly. We pray that the difficulty of post-service reconnection is bridged through the power of the Holy Spirit. We pray for the healing of wounded hearts.  We pray for those who have given their lives, the ultimate sacrifice of love.  May Jesus crown them for their valor and love.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

There is no such thing as a holiday from prayer.  Pass it on!  

Pray for Families (A Fruitful Journey)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Love is being so preoccupied with family that you forget to do things…like blogging. J

Perhaps this is a reminder to enjoy the journey, focus on the gifts before you, and stop and smell the roses along the way.   As spring winds down, summer approaches, school ends, schedules shift, days lengthen, and vacations begin, find new ways to incorporate prayer into your life.  Every time you are with a family member, say a prayer for them.  At the end of the week or during quiet times, whatever family you haven’t engaged with, pray for them.

Whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by others. Let us then pursue what leads to peace and to building up one another. Romans 14:18-19

Pray for and with family. It will bear fruit and bring you peace.

Peace, Love, and Joy,

Janet

Pray.  It’s free and freeing.  Pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (Life’s Demons)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Your prayers are more powerful than you imagine.  Life-altering in fact.

It’s undeniable.  Everyone deals with personal demons.  Even the holiest person must be vigilant to the subtle, enticing call of masked evil.  But we are blessed by His grace.

Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more. Romans 5:20

If we were perfect, our marriages would be perfect. But we were made perfectly imperfect, a beautiful creation loved by God.  His abounding grace moves us to prayer for one another; prayer for marriages and family.   Prayer is the weapon of power in spiritual battles, as we struggle with good and evil. 

“Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Mark 9:23

There is a Gospel story in Mark, where the disciples of Christ are surprised by their inability to drive out a boy’s demon, and ask the Lord why they were unsuccessful.

“This kind can only come out through prayer.” Mark 9:29

Prayer?!  What power He bestows on the prayer of those who have faith!

Do not be discouraged!  Keep the faith and wield the weapon of prayer at your disposal!  As a prayer warrior, you can battle the demons that seek to destroy marriage and family.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Be a warrior of faith.  Take up your weapon by humbly kneeling in prayer.  Then pray for marriages and build the army by passing it on! 

Pray for Families (Foundational Strength)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

When we learn about how Jesus loved, served, forgave, pardoned, consoled, uplifted, united, and sacrificed, we are glad to call Him, friend. When we are called to imitate Christ, the immensity of His love for us is revealed. But how can we even begin to love like He did, in our family and in our community?

Though my flesh and my heart fail, God is the rock of my heart, my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

It becomes possible when we spend more time with the Lord, getting to know Him. Then our actions will spring from our love for Him.

So be imitators of God, as beloved children. Ephesians 5:1

Love, even when you don’t feel loving.

Serve, especially when you feel self-serving.

Console, even when your heart isn’t in it.

Forgive, especially those who have hurt you the most.

Encourage, even when your feel discouraged.

Seek unity, with loving patience.

Live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

Pray for yourself. Pray for your family. Pray for one another. Then begin or continue the journey, renewing your strength each day in prayer.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Change is possible when you are well grounded and strengthened by a firm Foundation! What are you waiting for? Pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Remain in my Love)

Greeting Prayer Warriors,

We all want to be joyful, especially in marriage, no?  Yet how often do we reflect on our spouse and let the words said or left unsaid bother us or our spouse’s actions or inactions rob us of our joy?

As the father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.  John 15:9

How quickly did you skim over those words from scripture without letting them penetrate into your soul? These words aren’t just charming sentiments.  The Lord is trying to impart so much more to you. Just listen.

Remain in my love.

When you are feeling frustrated, impatient, defeated, ignored, unappreciated, unheard, unlikeable and unlovable, HEAR Christ’s words to you, “Remain in my love”.

His love will sooth your soul, rewire your heart, and bring you joy.

I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. John 15:11

Allow the Lord to fill you with his joy. You will be a better spouse for it!

If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept the Father’s commandments and remain in his love. John 15:10

Nothing is better than knowing you are loved.  Bask in His love, while praying for marriages!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

His love cannot be depleted. Invite another to remain in His love! Pass it on. 

Pray for Families (The Valley of Lies)

Greeting Prayer Warriors,

Rollercoasters may be fun to ride in an amusement park, but when life feels like one, the thrill is gone! While you may show gratitude for life’s highs and scream loudly, when you enter the valley and feel that pit in your stomach, how quickly you can lose sight of your blessings! Life’s unintended detours can erode or obliterate one’s faith and lead you down to the dead-end of doubt.  Right on cue, Satan waltzes in and whispers incessantly, “You aren’t worthy of God’s love. You are unlikeable and unlovable. You/Your loved one have/has done bad things that can’t ever be forgiven. God couldn’t’ possibly love someone like you/them! You belong here with me as I will never desert you!”

Don’t let the lies of Satan take hold.  Pray for an increase in faith.

A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.  John 10:10

The Lord cherishes you beyond description and wants you to be with him for eternity! 

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39

He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began. 2 Timothy 1:9

Renounce the lies of Satan. Remind yourself and your family members that each of us is loved, created for a divine purpose, and that there is nothing we can do or say that will make the Lord love us any more or any less. In return, His call to us is simple: “Follow me.” 

Be bold and take the first step. Follow Him in prayer.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Prayer is a shield that deflects flaming arrows (lies) of Satan! Pass it on!