Pray for Marriages (Understanding God’s Will)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

We all know of marriages barely hanging by a thread, and I feel called to pray fervently for those. Yet, while doing so, let’s reflect on our own marriages too, and where they are most at risk, and what our role is in that. What is God’s will for marriage? Pray before meditating on each scripture verse.

Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Is there mutual respect and submission? Are you listening to the needs of the other?

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. 

Who is doing all the leading, calling all the shots? 2) Are you being led closer to Christ?

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her

to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Husbands, are you attentive to your wives? Do you lead with a sacrificial love for her, or a self-serving love?  How are you helping her to grow in the Lord? 

So [also] husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 

Are you treating her body with dignity and respect, not using her for your own pleasure?

For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “For this reason a man shall leave [his] father and [his] mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”  Ephesians 5:21-31

Detachment from parental control is paramount. A true love emanates from a healthy self-respect and a greater love, sacrificial in nature, for the good of the spouse. 

Lord, we ask for your intercession in all those marriages at the tipping point. Only you can change hearts, provide the grace to change behaviors, and flood spouses with the hope that never disappoints.  Only you can break down the impenetrable walls of resentment, hate, or apathy, and restore the heart too wounded from battle. May your love bring healing to the deepest wounds, restoring the flutter of the heart. Jesus, we trust in your merciful love!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

We all need intercessory prayer. Pass it on! 

Pray for Families (Wild Card!)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

On “wild card” days, the choice is yours. Zero in on the family or family member you think needs the most prayer, and pray fervently to the Lord on their behalf..

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

He loves each of us enough to die for us. His love knows no bounds. Trust in Him when you pray! Alleluia! 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Intercede and pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (Helped by Inexpressible Groanings)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Christ is Risen! Alleluia! Such joy in knowing we have a Savior, a Redeemer!

Yet, I know there are those of you who struggle to be joyful, whose lives and marriages aren’t going in the direction you had hoped for. You remain in hope, for “hope does not disappoint,” but it is a daily struggle!  It is for you, we pray!

For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. Romans 8:24-26

When you are feeling dry in prayer, ask the Spirit to intercede for you. Blessed are those that remain in hope.

Reach out your hand from on high; deliver me from the many waters. 

Psalm 144:7

Lord, may each daily renewal of hope and ascent of the will bring you glory. May your grace sustain us all!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Pray daily for marriages. Pass it on!

Pray for Families (Mercy and Love)

Good Friday

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Contemplate the profound mercy of God, that you may desire to put it into practice.

                                “Father, 

                                Forgive

                             them, they ❤️‍🔥 know not 

                           what 

                           they 

                           do.” 

                           Luke 

                          23:34

Then meditate on God’s love, and seek to imitate it, that others may believe.

“He committed  no sin, and  no deceit was found in his mouth.”  When he was insulted, he returned no insult;  when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 

1 Peter 2:22-24

Mercy and love. What a gift!

Domine, non sum dignus!

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. John 3:16 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Pray, and lovingly pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (A Time Out)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

My husband and I are part of a marriage circle which was formed over a decade ago. The goal of such a group is to encourage and support marriage. We affectionately call our group, the L.O.V.E* Shack. The leaders of our last gathering made a challenge that seemed simple on the surface: Spend at least 10 minutes/day focused on your spouse. This could be engaging in intentional dialogue, bonding time, words of affirmation, or the like.  

When couples actually contemplate whether or not they do this, they often realize they have competing schedules, catch each other coming and going, are preoccupied with work, kids, or just getting things done, and that their conversations are just transactional as they don’t stop long enough to just be present with their spouse, ask about their day, share encouraging words, or to even express love and gratitude.  

Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Take a ”time-out” from busyness each day and make sure you are nurturing your most important relationship. Take a few cues from the Lord and imitate him in doing so.

The LORD is trustworthy in all his words, and loving in all his works. Psalm 145:13

Most of all, pray. Pray for your spouse, pray for your marriage and  pray that you will persevere in your commitment to do so. 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

No relationship will last without nurturing. Pass along  the 10 minute challenge!!

*Living Our Vocation Everyday

Pray for Families (Presence and Prayer)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Nothing is worse than feeling all alone in a trial.  The thought of carrying a heavy burden with no one to help can be paralyzing and anxiety producing. My mind drifts to the Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Matthew 26:40

In the garden, Christ was faced with the weight of all of our sins. Meditate on what that must have felt like. Then contemplate the power of presence and prayers.

“So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?! Matthew 26:40 (emphasis added)

Think of a family member who might need your prayer and/or your presence. If you can’t think of one, ask the Lord to reveal who you should be praying for and spending time with. 

The Spirit told me to accompany them without discriminating. Acts 11:12

As we near the end of Lent, keep focusing on prayer and presence, not neglecting to spend time with the Lord as well.

For it is loyalty that I desire, not sacrifice. Hosea 6:6

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Knowing that you are being prayed for, brings peace, hope, and refreshment. Believe in the power of your prayers!! Pass it on! 

 

Pray for Marriages (Hope and Unity)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Strength is found in numbers, but at times when one finds themselves all alone, even in marriage, they are never all alone.  Jesus is there.  We know this, because that is His promise to us.

“Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

Whether you feel alone rarely, occasionally, or most of the time, find your strength in Jesus.  Satan wants to discourage you, divide you, and bring you to despair.  But as a Christian, you have more power than he does. Utilize your weapons!

One such prayer which several of you may be familiar with, is called The Unity Prayer.  For those not familiar with it, praying it will draw you closer to Jesus, with the added benefit of  blinding Satan*. If your spouse will pray this with you, all the better!

My adorable Jesus,

May our feet journey together.

May our hands gather in unity.

May our hearts beat in unison.

May our souls be in harmony.

May our thoughts be as one.

May our ears listen to the silence together.

May our glances profoundly penetrate each other.

May our lips pray together to gain mercy from the Eternal Father.

Amen.

As you draw closer to Jesus, please ask for abundant graces for your marriage, the  marriages of your fellow prayer warriors, and all those marriages we each hold in our hearts. 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Blind Satan then pass it on! 

*Jesus said to Elizabeth Kindelmann**, “This prayer is an instrument in your hands.  By collaborating with Me, Satan will be blinded by it; and because of his blindness, souls will not be led into sin.” 

**https://flameoflove.us/

Pray for Families (The Weight of the Cross)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Amidst all of the joys in life, there can also be intense sorrows and deep agonies. When faced with such trials, one comes face to face with the stark reality of the calling, “Pick up your cross and follow me.”  

Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:38

It is not a time of despair for it is during those times that Christ draws closest to you. If we choose to lean in and meditate on Christ’s Passion, rather than what we think is ours, our heart will be touched in a profound new way. Trust in the Lord and accept His gifts of love, support, and compassion.

For thus says the high and lofty One, the One who dwells forever, whose name is holy: I dwell in a high and holy place, but also with the contrite and lowly of spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, to revive the heart of the crushed. Isaiah 57:1

Lord, we bring before you all the prayer warriors and the ones they pray for. Many have heavy crosses that seem unbearable at times. Hear our collective prayers on their behalf and lighten their burdens, for you never let anyone carry their cross alone. Fill their aching hearts with a love beyond their imaginations, and revive their spirits by your grace, renewing their trust in you. Praise you Lord, for your generosity! Amen.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Prayer always makes suffering more bearable. Pass it on!