Greetings Prayer Warriors,
As Christmas approaches, I want to wish all of you a blessed 12 days! My gift to you all will be praying for your intentions, but especially for your marriage and family.
May you find greater peace, abounding joy, and endless love.
“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14
May His favor rest on you and your loved ones. Merry Christmas! Keep on praying!
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Prayer is a gift. Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
Ask anyone who has been married for decades, and they’ll tell you they didn’t get there without trials. For nothing of worth comes without effort. So when frustrations or resentments creep in, know that your commitment is being refined and proven by fire.
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 1 James 2-4
May your prayer fuel your strength, purify your heart, and bring you surprising joy, especially in trials. Pray without ceasing.
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Pray. Repeat. Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
If you are feeling any pre-Christmas stress, find a moment of solitude and meditate on these passages.
Be still and know that I am God! Psalm 46:11
For I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, Do not fear, I will help you. Isaiah 41:13
When you remain still and calm, those around you will feel your peace, as your prayer becomes contemplative. What more beautiful gift to share than peace?
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
After the glow of new love dissipates and the fireworks fade, a mature love may appear, one that consists of more acts of love and fewer feelings. There also may come a phase where one spends so much time dwelling on the faults of their spouse (which is easy), that they neglect to look at their own (which is much more difficult).
You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:5
While a self examination of conscience is always good, may I propose that perhaps rather than voicing or concentrating on one another’s imperfections, that we spend more time contemplating the Lord’s perfection? He is the ultimate example of virtue. What can we learn from His humility, kindness, patience, love, and understanding? How might we apply that to our marriage?
For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you fall upon me.” For whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:3-6
When you feel like grumbling and complaining, praise God instead! Negativity cannot coexist with praise!
Lord, continue to bless our marriages, for without the grace you grant us, where would we be? For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want. Romans 7:19 Continue to infuse us with your grace, and may our guardian angels in conjunction with the scriptures, continue to guide us in the virtues, so that we may grow in the perfect imitation of you. Look upon us with your compassionate love, and in your mercy, hear our prayers. Amen.
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
The blessing of a family can bring such joy! Children are such a blessing! What joy we experience when someone who’s been struggling shares that they are pregnant! Yet for decades, there has been a cultural shift towards delaying childbirth, choosing not to have children, and even worse, terminating pregnancies by choice. This trend is not of God, but I am starting to see the tide shift!
As we pray for families, let us pray that more and more couples become open to life.
For those who welcome children but struggle to get pregnant or stay pregnant, may we pray that God blesses them with fertility, as He delights in each new creation.
You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb.
Psalm 139:13
For each child of His is beloved, and called to reflect His light. As light increases, the darkness is dispelled, and a return to a healthy culture is attainable.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14
Lord, hear our prayers as we ask for you to change hearts, so that more couples will long for children. We pray that you will bring fertility to those open to life. Open and strengthen the wombs of those struggling with infertility and miscarriages. Renew their hope and strengthen their faith. May all know that nothing is impossible for You. They believe, help their unbelief!
“Let it be done for you according to your faith.” Matthew 9:29
Lord, help us to bring more light into this darkened world, by cherishing the gift of children once again!
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
As we enter into Advent, everything about us begins to swirl, and it is easy to get caught up in the pre-holiday chaos (or swept away by it)! The hardest thing to do is quiet oneself and bask in the silence. Yet our spirit begs for it. Yet all the while, our “to-do list” bounces around our head, seeking attention like a small child!
Be still and know that I am God! Psalm 46:11
Even in marriage there can be differing cadences. One continues to do, do, do, while the other may be chillin’. Either way, we must remind ourselves we are in Advent. It is only the commercial holiday season that begins November 1, while the true Christmas season doesn’t start until December 25. Even though our holiday obligations won’t disappear and still need to be done, one must be very mindful to carve out time to prepare oneself to receive the precious gift of our King. If you can as a couple, or if not, on your own, retreat from the chaos, even if just for a short while, each day.
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” Mark 6:31
The Lord beckons us to rest in Him. Accept this special invitation knowing He will grant you the grace of stillness. Then speak with the Lord about what burdens you, what delights you, and finally, on behalf of all, ask for the gift of His blessing upon marriages.
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet