Pray for Families (Gifts of Prudence and Wisdom)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

What a blessing to have a faith community, or at least some friends who share your faith and love for Christ. Friends can empathize, encourage, and journey with you when you are in need of support. So often though, we can still feel alone in our worries, until we realize that no matter how big or small they are, others have experienced the same or similar. Nobody has a charmed life, it’s just that some people’s crosses are hidden. No one has the perfect family, for in reality they all are perfectly flawed. 

So how does one handle family member issues and concerns, especially those that seem to surface like a whack-a-mole, one after another? Discomfort exists in knowing we can’t change another person’s life, eliminate their pain, or undo their bad decisions, but we aren’t helpless. We do control how much we pray. So let’s harness the power of prayer, and pray for an increase in wisdom, that the Lord may guide us in our words and interactions, and that we may be his voice, hands, and feet as we interact with troubled family members. We must remember, they are His beloved.

Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. For in her is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, agile, clear, unstained, certain, never harmful, loving the good, keen, unhampered, beneficent, kindly, firm, secure, tranquil, all-powerful, all-seeing, and pervading all spirits,though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle.  Wisdom 7:7, 22-23

Lord, grant us wisdom, helping us to be kind, gentle, patient, and loving with family and friends. For when one is touched by Love, the seeds of transformation take root, and with a deluge of prayer, slowly begin to blossom and bear fruit. May wisdom spread! Give us the grace to continue to be the sowers of love so that you may be glorified by the harvest! Amen.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Love should never end! Pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (Refined and Renewed)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

The Lord loves each of you so much. He longs for you and your spouse to be with Him in heaven. Yet, we are such imperfect creatures and relationships can be challenging to say the least.

From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.” 

Mark 7:21-23

In our arrogance we never see ourselves in such lists, but consider ourselves as “good”. Fair enough, but the Lord will test and challenge that. He will use our spouse to test that good and thus help us grow in virtue. Good is easy unless someone (e.g. spouse) ruffles our feathers.

I will refine them as one refines silver, and I will test them as one tests gold. Zechariah 13:9

In essence, the Lord wants to make you as good as you imagine you are in your head! Your spouse may actually be your ticket to Paradise! But if you have a challenging spouse that pushes all your buttons (and not the good ones) the Lord might be testing you in the mercy department as well.

If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions. Matthew 6:14-15

It can be hard to forgive and we may find a twisted comfort in holding onto our anger and resentment. The thought of forgiveness may feel like mission impossible, yet we can hear the Lord clearly,

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24

This journey is impossible without prayer, which releases all the graces necessary for our station in life. Let’s continue to pray for one another's marriages, so that grace, peace, love, and joy may sustain us, helping us to reach the final destination.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.” The one who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Revelations 21:4-5

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Prayer should be shared. Pass it on!

Pray for Families (Ceding the Storm)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

There are many storms in life. Those that impact us personally, those occurring within our families, and those occurring in our culture and in the world. We can easily become swept away emotionally, mentally, and physically. We can worry and stress ourselves out trying to figure it all out and wondering what are the next steps. 

In scripture however, we are encouraged, “Do not be afraid” and “Do not worry”. Perhaps it is repeated so frequently because we have to hear it over and over again for it to resonate.

So when you find yourself sinking into worry and fear or paralyzed as the storms of life keep ebbing and flowing, or even linger like a storm front, take inspiration from the Psalms and pray. 

I love you, LORD, my strength, LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my rock of refuge, my shield, my saving horn, my stronghold! 

Psalm 18:2-3

My heart is set on fulfilling your statutes; they are my reward forever. I hate every hypocrite; your law I love. You are my refuge and shield; in your word I hope. Psalms 119:112-114

For God will hide me in his shelter in time of trouble, He will conceal me in the cover of his tent; and set me high upon a rock. Psalms 27:5

My soul, be at rest in God alone, from whom comes my hope. God alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not fall. Psalms 62:6-7

I shall sing of your strength, extol your mercy at dawn, for you are my fortress, my refuge in time of trouble. My strength, your praise I will sing; you, God, are my fortress, my loving God. Psalms 59:17-18

Amen!!

Pray for the peace and tranquility of your family members as well, that each may be compelled to seek refuge and loving protection in the Lord. May the only storm they experience be the rain of grace!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Encourage another to pray the Psalms. Pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Staying the Course)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

Lent is  now behind us, and I imagine many have now gleefully gone back to their old habits, and stopped any penitential behaviors. The question is, should you have? Now if you gave up coffee and your spouse has begged you not to go off of caffeine again, then perhaps that’s worth noting. But did fasting from TV, video games, junk food, etc, have a positive secondary effect on your marriage? Did the extra prayer time, Mass attendance, partaking of sacraments, or other help your disposition? Only you know the answers.  

I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction.  1 Corinthians 7:35

Reflect on your Lenten practices and determine what behaviors you should pull through to benefit your marriage.  If you are unmarried, consider the impact of ongoing prayers for marriages.  Drawing closer to God will always help your marriage, even when at times it seems to have the opposite effect!  God works in mysterious ways, so stay the course!  

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:8

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Loving the Lord will help you to love one another. Pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Chasing Away Anxiety and Worry)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

We live in a go, go, go culture. It is why it takes days to unwind on a vacation. And the younger one is the longer it takes them to transition. But what happens on a daily basis? When you are feeling anxious do you open your phone, tablet, or laptop? OR do you close your eyes?  It’s worth pondering.  Do you look for distractions, or pray for the peace of Christ?  Do you marvel at the wonder of his creation, or fret regarding the state of the world, of which you have no control.

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

Control what you can control: your prayer life.  Ditch anxiety. Deep-six worry.

Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?  Matthew 6:27

Let positivity blossom by praising God.  Thank him for everything. Your worry and anxiety will dissipate and your family will be better for it.  

Talk about prayer in action!  Your family will begin pondering!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Pray prayers of praise, and you can change the world one person at a time! Pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Hope for Love)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Nothing is more uncomfortable than witnessing a couple bickering, throwing barbs at each other, and looking quite miserable, totally at odds with each other. 

You may know of marriages that greatly struggle no matter how hard they try. Satan hates love and will look for opportunities to derail it, redirect it, and crush it. A life centered in Christ and elevated by prayer is the best defense. 

I want you to be wise as to what is good, and simple as to what is evil; then the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.  Romans 16:19-20

Please continue in prayer for all marriages, especially those losing hope.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Increase the hope in this world. Pray for marriages. Pass it on! 

Pray for Families (Surrender to Love)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

He was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed.  Isaiah 53:5

The Lord showed us what love looks like: laying down one’s life for another.  While the Lord died to save humanity, our “death” is often a dying-to-self. That could be in the form of self-denial, frequent caregiving for a family member, increased prayer for others, or anything that involves a total surrender to God’s will.

Christ's Passion destroyed the futility of suffering.  Let’s not be afraid to suffer for another. 

In the days when he was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered. Hebrews 5:7-8

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

The path to life is total surrender to the Divine Will. Pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (A Witness to Love)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

It’s Holy Week, the final journey as we enter into Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. It’s not too late to begin, continue, or increase your prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Perhaps it’s time to read more scripture or for the procrastinator, open that bible that may be collecting dust. If nothing else, spend time contemplating Christ’s Passion or watch the Passion of the Christ.

I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. John 6:38

Enter into the tortured heart of His Mother and Him for her as she stood by Him. 

Consider the heavenly prayers of St, Joseph for his Son, praying with God the Father in heaven. 

Whatever struggles or annoyances you have in your marriage, unite the alms of suffering with Christ’s and offer them up in prayer for the good of all marriages.

How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to  me? The cup of salvation I will raise; and call on the LORD’s name. My vows to the LORD I will fulfill before all the people. Psalm 116:12-14

Remain in Peace, hold on to your Joy, and witness His Love,

Janet

Mirror His Love and pass it on!