Pray for Marriages (Oxygen for the Journey)

Greetings Prayer Warriors!

The beauty of the marriage covenant is something to be treasured.  When couples enter into marriage they anticipate the best, but often face days, weeks, or months that don’t always feel so idyllic. It can feel like a pirate stole their treasure!   The pain and anguish many experience is quite real.  Perseverance through difficulties can seem like climbing Mt Everest without oxygen.  The saints climb on, while the majority ask the Lord, “why?!”

I came across a prayer today that I thought was perfect for just such times.   When you find yourself sinking into a pool of bitterness and resentment, pray deeply within your soul:

“O God, you have allowed this to be; may your adorable desires and decrees be accomplished in all things: I make you a sacrifice of this difficulty and all its consequences; it shall take whatever from it pleases you: you are the Master; may you be blessed for all things and in all things.  Fiat!  For love of you, with all my heart I pardon the person who is the cause of my suffering; and, to show the sincerity of my feelings towards him/her, I beseech you to grant him/her every kind of grace, blessing, and happiness.”*

If your prayer doesn’t calm your negativity, continue on with:

“O God, you see my wretchedness; at least I long to have all these feelings, and I implore you for your grace.”*

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13

Your prayers are like bursts of oxygen.  Continue to pray so that you may lift up those marriages most in need.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

No pain is wasted when it is offered as a beautiful sacrifice to the Lord.  Pass it on! 

*From the writings of an 18^th century priest, Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade, S.J.

Pray for Families (The Lord Unplugged!)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

We are so blessed by the continual advancements in electronic technology.  Everywhere we look someone is taking advantage of all this technology:  listening to music, playing video games, watching TV, talking on phone, or even watching DVDs on their portable devices. Go into any building or home and there is music or television filling the air space.  Even outside we sometimes can hear the blaring of music.  However, do we ever shut it down? Have we crowded out all quiet in our lives? Perhaps we are uncomfortable dwelling in silence?  Perhaps we dislike being alone with our thoughts?   Are we inadvertently drowning out the voice of God?

The voice of the LORD is power; the voice of the LORD is splendor. 

Psalm 29:4

Do not deprive yourselves or your family any longer!

Enter, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. For he is our God, we are the people he shepherds, the sheep in his hands. Oh, that today you would hear his voice.  Psalm 95:6-7

Make some quiet time for the Lord today.  Share it as a family.  Take time to visit, to praise, to give thanks, and to pray as a family, for families. 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Hear what the Lord has to say, unplugged!   Pass it on.  

Pray for Marriages (Encouragement/Empowerment)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

Think about all the times in your life where a simple act such as a kind word spoken to you, a smile from a stranger, an offer of help, or a supportive touch, made all the difference in empowering you to move through a difficult day.  Sometimes the smallest effort by you is seen as so affirming to another.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For as Christ’s sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ^* does our encouragement also overflow. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Take the time to encourage others, especially those struggling in their marriages.  Witness to the hope that is in you, and then pray, together if possible.  You just may help rescue one of the many marriages in distress.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Empower someone who feels powerless in their marriage to become a powerful prayer warrior.  Pass it on!   

Pray for Families (Finding Love)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Love.  Everyone is seeking it, even thirsting for it.  Everyone wants to fall into it.  Everyone wants more of it.  Everyone loves how they feel when in it.

Well, He is waiting.  Love is waiting for YOU.  He even allowed His heart to be pierced and poured out for YOU.   The depth of His love for you is inexhaustible.  You can always have more of it. Surrender to Love.  Yes, drop the chains, stop building walls, release the tethers; let go of whatever you turn to instead of Him.  Surrender, and accept His love.  Enjoy.  

Then pass His love along.  Many are thirsty like you.

Come then, my beloved, my lovely one, come.  My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock, in the coverts of the cliff, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely. 

Song of Songs 2:13-14

Pray for your family members one by one.  Ask that they may be open to His Love, filled with His Love, and charitable with His love.  With His love, we can transform the world. 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Love is always worth sharing.  Pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (Move Mountains)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

“For most of us the prayer in Gethsemane is the only model. Removing mountains can wait.” C.S. Lewis

Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

Continue to pray for marriages.  Persistent prayer from the heart just may move mountains. 

Peace, Joy, and Love, 

Janet

Increase the power.  Pass it on!