Pray for Families (Supercharged Prayer)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

Do you ever wish your prayer had the same power as that of the saints?  It always appeared that whatever they prayed for, the Lord gave to them. Do you ever feel that you pray and pray and pray for a family member, but it falls on deaf ears? The Lord hears each prayer, and answers in His time, however to increase the power of your prayer, work on your own sanctity first.

May the God of peace himself make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

If you haven’t yet decided what to do for Lent, make a commitment to become holier!  Promise yourself more frequent reception of the sacraments. Cleansing the soul and receiving Christ on an ongoing basis will positively affect both the power of your prayer and the life of your soul. Commit to reading the Word of God every day, even if you start small. Increase your acts of service and kindness. Soon these actions will become a habit that endures beyond Lent.  A friend recently decided to spend more time with her mother-in-law, since she knew it was a sacrificial offering on her part!  Spend some quiet time with the Lord. He will direct you to who that person(s) might be in your life.  

Sanctity is a life-long journey of baby steps. Step out in faith and you will never notice the distance because you will never walk alone.  

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

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

Peace, Joy, and Love, 

Janet

Perform an act of kindness by passing it on!

Pray for Marriages (A Clean Soul and Dirty Hands)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

We are not even a week into Lent and it’s time we get into the habit of self-reflection and the uprooting of all that sullies the tabernacle of our hearts. Yet, I think most people are distracted by the Coronavirus outbreak. Rather than run to the store to hoard water, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper (if there’s any left), spend some time in prayer and surrender yourself to Him. For He is the one that giveth and taketh away. He is the Divine Physician. We fret about keeping our hands clean while we ignore the state of our eternal soul!  Better to meet your maker with a clean soul and dirty hands than vice versa!

If you have no Lenten plans yet, talk to the Lord and ask Him what you need to work on in your marriage. What must you fast from? Unkind words? Unpleasant tones? Menacing glares? What acts of service might you embrace? Clearing and washing dishes?  Cooking a meal for your spouse (if you aren’t usually the chef)? Bringing your spouse coffee/tea in the morning? Washing their car? The list is endless, but pick something out of your comfort zone. As you fast, perform acts of self-sacrifice, and do a daily self-reflection, you will grow in humility bringing you closer to Christ. And would your spouse’s heart not soften as you begin to imitate Christ’s love? 

Pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. James 5:16

Spend more time in prayer, increasing your time spent praying for your spouse. What could have a greater impact to both of you?

Peace, Joy, and Love, 

Janet

Dial up the prayer! Pass it on!  

Pray for Families (Love and Reparation)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

As we enter into Lent, let us go before the Lord with a humble and contrite heart.

Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love; in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions. Thoroughly wash away my guilt; and from my sin cleanse me. For I know my transgressions; my sin is always before me. Behold, you desire true sincerity; and secretly you teach me wisdom. Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. You will let me hear gladness and joy; the bones you have crushed will rejoice.Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my iniquities. A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit. Do not drive me from before your face, nor take from me your holy spirit. Restore to me the gladness of your salvation; uphold me with a willing spirit. I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you. Psalm 51: 3-5, 8-15

I will be attending a retreat this weekend and will keep all of you, my spiritual family, in my prayers.  I humbly ask that you keep me in yours. Pray for your family as well, and…

Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Love is a great act of reparation. Pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (Unexpected Interference)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

Listening to a podcast by a priest who is an experienced exorcist, I was awakened by one of his statements on how Satan loves to interfere with marital relationships; he does so through our emotions. He said Satan can affect how one hears and interprets what is said. For example, a wife trying to please her husband decides to surprise him with a gourmet breakfast one weekend morning. Enthused by her impending surprise, she asks her husband how late he plans to sleep in so that she knows how to time her preparations. To her surprise, her husband reacts saying, “So now your nagging me about how late I am sleeping in?! Must you try to control even my sleep?!” 

Perhaps this is where the sarcastic phrase originated, “No good deed goes unpunished!” Yet do we ever consider that our lack of vigilance allowed demonic forces to sow discord in our relationship?

Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him, and from that hour the boy was cured. Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Mathew 17:18-20

Let us pray for an increase in faith. Let us ask for the ability to discern spirits. Let us pray for a mindset where we always assume positive intent. Let us pray for an increase in holiness, and the protection of the Mary and Joseph, terror of demons. 

Lord in your generosity, grace us with the spiritual yeast needed to make our faith rise to new heights. Help us to be mindful of where our sin creates portals for evil to enter in. May we never cease praying for generosity of heart, abundant joy in our sacrifices, the protection of marriages, and the intercession of Mary and Joseph, so that all we do may glorify You and discourage all spirits that seek the ruin of our souls. Amen.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

May our prayers be the spiritual fence that repels demons! Pass it on!  

Pray for Families (Falling into Faith)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

We are living in some crazy and bewildering times and it is no wonder we sometimes get confused. It can be difficult to distinguish what is true and good vs what is false and destructive. Thus, we hope we are on the right path. However, the devil likes to lay snares for us, knowing exactly where we are weak and vulnerable. The Lord often allows it, so that our faith might be tested. 

You tested us, O God, tried us as silver tried by fire.  You led us into a snare; you bound us at the waist as captives. You let captors set foot on our neck; we went through fire and water; then you led us out to freedom.  Psalms 66:10-12

We all stumble and fall, veer down unintended paths, and even find ourselves stuck and the brambles of life. Yet, the Good Shepherd always hears our cries, rescues us, and brings us back to safety.  

Lord, it is seldom a question of if we fall, but when we fall.  Strengthen our faith, so that we never doubt your love.  Increase our courage, so that we don’t become fearful when put to the test. As we pray each day for our families and ourselves, renew our hope so we may never fall into despair.  Make our hearts like yours, so they may love with pure intent. Purify our minds, so we may be able to distinguish truth from lies in all that we see, hear, and experience. Train us in the virtues, helping us to assemble a protective armor. Hear our collective prayers as beseech thee to bring our families into the sheepfold of your protection.  Jesus, we trust in you! 

  

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

 Prayers are like incense wafting up to heaven. Keep them coming and pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (IAM Love)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

When I sent out the first email requesting prayers for marriage over ten years ago, there was no doubt about the definition of marriage. Just a decade later, marriage has been legally redefined and we hear the mantra of “love is love”.  But is it??  We can have feelings of love for anyone or anything.  But He who is Love isLove. Christ’s love was a daily action for us, the beloved, not a romantic feeling.  His actions were sacrificial so that the object of his love (us) could be elevated above their sinfulness and be put on a path to holiness, which ultimately leads to an eternity with Him (Love). 

He never proclaimed, you are who you are, just follow me!  With gentle encouragement, He always asked for a change of behavior, a turning from sin, and an openness to His grace.  

Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more.” John 8:10-11

May we all learn to perfect our love by imitating Christ!

My daily prayer is for all of you who are struggling with sacrificial, self-giving, and sometimes self-depleting love.  Please join me in praying for one another.

Lord, many are so confused about marriage, it’s purpose of uplifting one another, and its importance to family life.  Bring clarity to those whose minds are confused and darkened as to marriage as you created it. Make smooth and fragrant their paths of those who struggle under the weight of their marital sacrifices. Help them to find joy in the giving, and respite in your loving embrace. Bless marriages with extraordinary graces, so that others may witness the reflection of your love for the beloved.   

The path of the just is like shining light, that grows in brilliance till perfect day. Proverbs 4:18

Peace, Love, and Joy,

Janet

Help someone grow in brilliance. Pass it on!  

Pray for Families (A Heart Well Trained)

Greeting Prayer Warriors,

While this is late in the sending, it is never too late to remind and encourage someone to pray.  Whether you are in love or not, married or single, a parent, grandparent, or neither, prayer will guide you in how to love, especially when you aren’t particularly fond of a family member and don’t feel like loving.  Through prayer, Christ trains us to love as he did: unconditionally. 

Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.  Romans 13:8

May you all be blessed with loving hearts that are able to receive as well as give love. 

Peace, Joy, and Love, 

Janet

Love is an action, often in the form of prayer. Pass it on!