Pray for Families (With One Accord)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

When I look at the prayer requests that come my way from friends and family, they are predominantly for children, both young and old! What a gift to be a parent who is trusted as the steward for God’s creation of life! What a blessing it is for children to have parents who love them enough to seek out additional prayers for them!

All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer. Acts 1:14

We were designed to be in community, be supported by community, and pray with and for one another. Others can lift us, encourage us, guide us, and walk with us. Most importantly, they can pray for us, especially when we’ve been worn down by the journey.

Admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all. See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good [both] for each other and for all. 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15

God has designed the perfect path for everyone, even if it looks like a very undesirable one! It just might be the entrance to the narrow gate! It may entail many detours, desert storms, and crushing defeats, but it will also have unexpected wildflowers in the desert, destinations that delight, and many small victories, even if they go unnoticed.

Yet, when watching a child suffer, be it of a mental, emotional or physical nature, the parents’ struggle is just as difficult. It seems it would be easier to take on the suffering ourselves versus feeling so helpless.  

Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Romans 12:12

Thus as we pray for our children young and old, let us also pray for one another. 

Lord, give us the wisdom to guide our children from infancy to adulthood. May our words be gentle but firm. Give us extra wisdom and verbal restraint with our grown children. Grant us an increase in faith to trust in your fidelity, and the humility to ask others for prayer no matter how difficult it be to ask. When situations seem out of our control, may we get down on our knees in prayer to put all of our trust in you. May the precious blood of Jesus wash over our families and sanctify us! Amen.

“What is impossible for human beings is possible for God.”Luke 18:27

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Take some time to pray for the intentions of others. Pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (Reawakening Virtue)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

A good marriage certainly requires many virtues. While we must  diligently work to attain the Cardinal Virtues (prudence, fortitude, temperance, and justice), the Theological Virtues, are gifts from God. You know them as faith, hope, and charity (aka love). It’s no wonder they are the constant focus of our prayers, as we need an increase in these gifts, for one can’t persevere in a marriage without them!  

Perhaps God bestows these gifts upon us as children, since we have such whole-hearted trust and they so easily express and exude unconditional love.

It [love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7

Yet, over time, one’s experiences can do much to dampen or mute these virtues. As child-like innocence is lost, faith can slowly weaken, hope can be dashed, and love can become very challenging.

This week, let us ask the Lord for a renewal of child-like faith, hope, and charity, in one’s own marriage and in those they pray for.

Lord, send your Spirit upon us and awaken us from our lethargy in practicing the virtues you’ve so generously bestowed on us. Turn up the flame in our hearts to reflect the love we have for You. Increase our faith from a dormant mustard seed, to a bountiful tree filled with blossoms of virtue. And when the storms move in and the heat rises, may our hope  be made so unwavering, that we never doubt our ability to persevere until blue skies return. 

Although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:6-7

The Lord delights in your voice and loves giving you gifts! Don't hesitate to ask for greater virtue!  

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Ask and you shall receive! Pass it on!

Pray for Families (The Christian Truth)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

What makes headlines these days is very bewildering. We hear little of famines, wars, nor the impact of open borders. Squelched is the news of all the accidental fentanyl deaths. Yet the media can’t stop talking about a Catholic talk at a Catholic University, by a pro-family Catholic man! Horror of horrors! The misquoted line directed at women reads, “Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.” This is truth. The majority of women, no matter what their jobs are, dream of marriage and children. Ask most women, "If you were able to, would you quit your job to stay home with your family?" You know the answer. 

God himself created the family as the building block of society. Its role is to form and teach the children. He gave man headship over the woman, not to dominate her, but as provider, protector, and lover, and even if necessary, to sacrifice himself for her. 

Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her. Ephesians 5: 21-25

This is worth rereading slowly. It is as easy to misunderstand as the speech mentioned above! Headship does not mean dictatorship. A great leader is often one who exhibits servant leadership, as Christ so beautifully witnessed to us in the Gospels. Yet even Christ humbles himself to the authority and headship of the Father.

But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and a husband the head of his wife, and God the head of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:3

Woman is not independent of man or man of woman in the Lord. For just as woman came from man, so man is born of woman; but all things are from God.  1 Corinthians 11:11-12

When the family unit breaks down and Judeo-Christian values are not taught and lived, outside influences fill the void, creating confusion (what am I (gender), who am I (family roots), whose am I? (God’s)

There is much scripture here to ponder. Each one of us has unique circumstances within our unique families (including myself!). Begin by submitting yourselves to Christ. In prayer, open a conversation with Him. Seek to understand. Pray for your family, pray for one another, and pray for yourself. Seek the way, the truth, and the life!

Lord, make me know your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Make me walk in your truth, and teach me; for you are God my savior. Psalm 25:4-5

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Pray for families and pass it on! 

*(If you were upset by what the media portrayed, make sure you read the entire transcript or watch the video to see the context.) 

Pray for Marriages (A Leap of Faith)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Marriages are a funny thing.  They morph over time, but so do we.  Why we think our marriages won’t change/evolve is really the mystery! 

What remains static though, is God’s fidelity to his promises. 

It is the LORD who goes before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed.  Deuteronomy 31:8

If you or a loved one is struggling in their marriage, the hardest decision ever is to let go of our perceived control and to humble ourselves and let God.  First, one has to admit how weak their faith is.  Then they have to look internally and examine themselves honestly.  The Lord is his kindness, will take your hand and gently guide you, if only you utter your consent. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Make a leap of faith. It begins with prayer. 

Happy the one who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding!  Proverbs 3:13

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

May God bless all your marriages as you pray for one another! Pass it on! 

Pray for Families (A Heavenly Inheritance)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

We have lost sight of our ancestry, our inheritance. Too many define themselves by their feelings and behaviors rather than their provenance. We are not our bad behavior, our worst decision, or the hurtful names we were called. We are not defined by the height of our careers or their lowest points. We are not trailer trash, the underprivileged, or the privileged rich. None of that describes who we are or our true identity. We are royalty, sons and daughters of the Most High King, with a rich inheritance if we choose to claim Him as Father.  Just as in a family, unification comes under the headship of the father, similarly, only by coming together under the banner of the King, can there be true unity of the peoples. Any other identity creates division and is the tool of the Evil One.

“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. John 17:20:21

We are given the grace through the prayers of Jesus to the Father to impact others through our testimony, that the fruit may be unity. We have a long way to go in this world, but our witness begins in the family to those who will hear, and pours forth from there. We must bear with one another in patience and kindness and must watch over our “family flock” and seek to win their souls to Christ by radiating his love, mercy, and compassion.

Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you overseers. Acts 20:28

Knowing the enemy, and with a heart filled with love, Jesus prayed to the Father for our protection from the Evil One and that we may come to know Truth and whose we are.

I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.  I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.  John 17: 14-15, 17

How blessed we are to have God who treasures us, prays for us, and calls us to our heavenly inheritance. Let’s be imitators of Christ and continue to pray for our families and one another, that we may all one day claim our eternal reward.. 

 Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me.  John 17: 24

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Everyone is a gift from God. Pass it on to someone who needs to hear this! 

Pray for Marriage and Family (Call in the Reinforcements!)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

May the Lord’s blessings of peace be upon you!  

Life can feel like a whirlwind, and other times like a tornado, a hurricane, or an earthquake. Or maybe other times  it’s just like a hamster wheel, but regardless, each one of us tries to recover, continuing to move forward.  

Of late, my life has been a little chaotic and I am aware that I occasionally forget to send out my prayer reminders, however, I trust that the Lord continues to nudge you in those circumstances. 

We are never alone in our challenges, be there marriage, family, or commitments. In fact, we have all the saints in heaven praying for us and cheering us on, especially when we fall.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

Whatever stresses you, whatever ails you, whatever keeps you awake at night, call on the saints to both intercede for you and join you in as you pray to the Lord for your needs and desires.  The saints who know the struggles of an earthly life, are all too willing to take your prayers and petitions to God on your behalf.  While we can tire of prayer, they do not. While we aspire to see the face of God, they behold it daily.  Humble yourself and call in some reinforcements from the heavenly realm to elevate your prayers as well as all those who pray on your behalf here on earth.  

Lord, guide us as we walk the path of life you have set before each of us. Invigorate us when we lose our energy to persevere. Forgive us when we veer toward the unholy and in your mercy, release us from the burden of sin.  Help us endure the rocky paths, slippery slopes, and crevasses that cause us to stumble and fall. Send your heavenly aid, so we may find the road to sainthood and lead our spouses and family there too. Jesus, we trust in you!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Find the saint with your name on it and seek some assistance! Pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Prayers of the Heart)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

Anyone who reads this is probably someone who cares for others, prays often, and tries to be a friend to all. Regardless, you are a beloved child of God.  

This week is a time to pray for your intentions for your marriage. Perhaps you have a great marriage and want to spend your time in praise and thanksgiving to God. Maybe your marriage is hot and cold, deeply influenced by the stressors in your life. Or perhaps some of you have marriages on the precipice, hanging by a thread. Still others may dream about an “exit plan”. And some of you aren’t married, but are still a warrior for marriage. Only you know what you truly desire for your marriage (or another’s), rather than what is needed to make it right. God knows what is needed, and it starts with your dependence on Him.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Spend this week praying to God from the heart. Ask him to soften your heart, fill you with hope, and to show you the way. Trust in his goodness. 

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: “Here I am!”  Isaiah 58:9

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Keep the faith and keep praying! Pass it on!