Pray for Marriages (Blind to the Truth)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

While flying home recently, I thought I’d be a good wife by giving my husband the aisle seat while I took the middle.  It’s the little things that count, right?  Within one minute, I knew my husband owed me BIG TIME because the woman seated next to me, although very nice, was EXTREMELY chatty. When I politely tried to end the conversation with her, she would observe what I was reading or doing and comment on it to reinitiate the conversation.  By the end of the flight, I knew her whole life story.

The woman was a vibrant 70 years old widow who owned her own business. She was living with another women’s husband who was 52 and a father to two grade school aged boys.  Apparently his wife screams a lot she confided to me, justifying his behavior.  My seatmate called this man her “boyfriend” and said that she didn’t see anything wrong with it, because she was so much older than this man.  I did not ask her to elaborate because frankly, I didn’t want to know more.  

The one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.” John 4:18

Most of us have known someone who has dated a married man or woman.  Often, they find nothing wrong with their behavior, and try to justify their actions, blinding themselves to the wrong.  May we have the courage to speak the truth in love to those who stray.  Let us to pray for the light of Christ to shine in all marriages that are clouded from reality. May darkened minds be illumined with clarity and light. Let us also pray also for the spouses victimized by their husband’s/wife’s infidelity. May the Lord bring healing, reconciliation, and peace.  Good Shepherd, come quickly to find the sheep that have wandered away, those who have become stuck in the thicket, and those are crying in pain. 

Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” Ephesians 5:11-14

You have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body. 

1 Corinthians 6:20

Continue to light our darkened paths Lord!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Prayer can sooth an aching heart and illuminate a darkened soul. So pray and pass it on!

Pray for Families (An Irish Prayer)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace! Numbers 6:24-26

Let us give thanks for the blessings of the Lord!

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, know that I have prayed this Irish Prayer for each of you.

May God give you...

For every storm, a rainbow,

For every tear, a smile,

For every care, a promise,

And a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share,

For every sigh, a sweet song,

And an answer for each prayer.

Peace, Love, and Joy,

Janet

Now pray this for each family member and then pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (Lenten Love Notes)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

We are not even two weeks into Lent, so I thought I’d ask, “How is it going so far?”  Did you give up something?  Did you add some spiritual exercises?  Did you have good intentions, but haven’t quite gotten out of the starting gate yet? 

Do not stress.  It’s not too late.  Here are a few ideas to put you in a generous and penitential spirit out of love for God and spouse. 

When you wake up in the morning, ask the Lord to bless marriages and families.

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all. 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Ask Him to guide you to someone who might need an encouraging word.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.  Romans 12:15

Make a positive affirmation to your spouse each day.  Perhaps write it as a love note.

Let love be sincere. Romans 12:9

Pray a prayer of gratitude each day for your marriage, even if you don’t feel like it.

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

Surprise your spouse several times a week with an unexpected kindness.

Love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.  Romans 12:10
 

Lent always prepares us for the resurrection.  Who knows what the Lord has planned for your marriage?

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Less than 40 days to Easter Joy!  Pass it on!  

Pray for Families (Mercy on the Path to Holiness)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

The interesting thing about seeking a path of holiness is that in drawing closer to the Lord, you suddenly see how sinful you really are! It's as if His light shows all the dust bunnies on your soul.  When we are blind to our own sin, holiness doesn’t seem like such a reach, but a 20-20 Son-beam can instantly change such misperceptions.

How blessed we are though! We have a most merciful God.  He knows our weaknesses and brokenness, and continues to encourage us to reform our ways and rise above.  He wants nothing more than to have ALL OF US join Him in eternity.  He is our biggest cheerleader.  Thus He continues to offer us forgiveness every time we fall as long as we seek to amend our ways and to live a life centered in Him.  As we continue to stumble and He continues to offer us a hand up.  Now that is blessed!

As I live, says the Lord God, I do not desire the death of the impious, but that the impious should convert from his way and live.  Ezekiel 33:11

Unfortunately, some may feel their sin is too great and their missteps too repetitive to ever be forgiven. However, God is rich in mercy, meets us exactly where we are at, and gives each of us the grace we need to surrender to His will. 

“Your misery does not hinder my mercy.  My daughter, write that the greater the misery of a soul the greater its right to My mercy; [urge] all souls to trust in the unfathomable abyss of My mercy, because I want to save them all.  On the cross, the fountain of My mercy was opened wide by the lance for all souls--no one was excluded! (Diary of St. Faustina, 1182)

Our prayers for others increase their openness and willingness to receive His mercy.  Let us call upon the angels and the saints to join us in prayer for our family and friends.  Let us pray for one another that all may persevere in this race, this walk, this crawl toward holiness and an eternal life with Him.

The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. James 5:16

Peace, Joy, and Love, 

Janet

Prayer is an eternal gift.  Pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (It begins with Him)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

When I ponder divorce rates (close to 50%) and couple it with the decline in marriage rates, it makes me wonder if there is a correlation between these declines and the decline in Christianity of nearly 8% in the last 7 years.*  If one does not know the Lord, and God is but an abstraction rather than one’s rock, compass, fortress, love, or hope, then certainly one wouldn’t think twice about having a cohabitating relationship or exiting a marriage when it no longer measures up.

However we were made to know Him.  Each of us has a longing that only God can fill.

“This is the covenant I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord: “I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them upon their minds,’” he also says: “Their sins and their evildoing I will remember no more.”  Hebrews 10:16:17

We are called to evangelize by our words or by how we live.  We are to share the reason for our hope and God’s love for humanity.

With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you. Jeremiah 31:3

Let us pray that by living a life centered in God, we may be His instruments in helping others get to know Him.  May the Lord penetrate more deeply the hearts of the married that they may choose to fulfill their covenantal vows of a life-long marriage.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

To know Him is to love Him.  Pass it on! 

* Pew Research Center

Pray for Families (Fast!)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Lent has begun and for many of us, we tentatively enter the desert. Do we really want to venture there?” we silently ask ourselves.  Lent is a time to draw closer to God by emptying ourselves of the superfluous, picking up our cross, and walking with Him. With each passing day in the desert, we are able to more fully recognize our dependence on God.   We begin to hunger and thirst for Him, our true sustenance.

Some of our deepest yearnings though are not just that we open ourselves up to God's grace, but that our family members do too. Just as Jesus fasted for 40 days to strengthen Himself against temptations and to submit himself fully to the will of the Father so that He would be able to offer the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of humanity, likewise, our prayers and fasting when offered for our family, will be efficacious too.

Yet I, when they were ill, put on sackcloth, afflicted myself with fasting, sobbed my prayers upon my bosom. I went about in grief as for my brother, bent in mourning as for my mother. Psalm 35:13-14

Pray and fast for your family.  It may just change your life.

Peace, Joy, and Love

Janet

Don’t delay, as it’s time for a little personal spring-cleaning.  Unclutter your soul with prayer and fasting.  His light will then shine through you, and you will be His witness for your entire family. Pass it on!