Pray for Families (It Begins with Us)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

We all seek to do good. It is the execution of that good that is difficult!

‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:31

Loving others can be easy when the “other” is sweet, kind, and loving. But if they are cranky, rude, sick, needy, belligerent, lack a filter, or just plain evil, this command becomes challenging.

So let us draw upon the many graces the Lord offers us. First, let’s empty ourselves of all evil intent, malice, judgement, grudges, pride, and discontent.  Then let us ask for an abundance of His grace to fill us, for how can we give if we aren’t first filled? Then let us pray that His goodness works through us, allowing Him our hands, feet, and heart. 

“Empty me, fill me, use me.”

I love you, LORD, my strength, LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my rock of refuge, my shield, my saving horn, my stronghold. Psalms 18:2-3

In Him, we can do all things. Let’s pray for one another's “yes” to God, and for the strength and perseverance to do His will. May God be praised!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Make a small sacrifice on behalf of another. Pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (Suffering for the Beloved)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Marriage can be paradoxical. When one marries, they think they will never have to struggle alone again. But partnership takes on many forms and they aren’t all glorious. Thus, the faithful expectantly  turn to prayer.

When marital  struggles occur, be they fleeting, cyclical, or daily, offer your suffering as a gift to the Lord, for who better knows suffering? 

When the Lord was betrayed by one in His inner circle, His heart was crushed. Unite your heart with the Lord’s when you experience heartache. He will seek to heal it.

When Christ brought friends to accompany him and pray for him, he was left alone as they slept.  Offer up your times of emotional loneliness. 

When Jesus  was arrested, those he trusted the most, fled.  Offer up the times in marriage you’ve felt abandoned to handle things on your own. 

 It was our pain that he bore, our sufferings he endured. Isaiah 53:4

When Christ endured His excruciating Passion, only the beloved disciple remained to affirm their union. Know that Jesus considers YOU beloved too. 

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

Thank you, Jesus, for taking on our woundedness, brokenness, and sufferings. As we pray for your intercession, may your precious blood continue to heal our past and preserve our future. Jesus, we trust in You!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

With humility and gratitude, pass it on! 

Pray for Families (Let Go, LET GO, Let God!)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

As parents we try to do the best we can for our children and hope that the Lord makes up for our ignorance, lapses, and mistakes. Our instincts are always to protect our children physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Yet, once they grow up and leave home, we hope the seeds we have planted will bear fruit. 

One can worry or one can trust and pray. All one has to do is look back on their early life and see how far they have come, not on their own, but by the Lord's grace and mercy. Just as the Lord was patient and loving towards us we must trust that he will be no different with our children.

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded, slaves to various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful ourselves and hating one another. But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7

Lord, renew our faith in your eternal and merciful love. Boost our hope in your promises!

Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit. Romans 5:5

Thank you, Heavenly Father.  Help us to be patient and wait upon You. Saint Joseph, Pillar of Families, pray for us! 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Pray for an outpouring of faith. Pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (Discern to Love)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Scripture speaks a lot about judgement. But it also esteems discernment. 

Judgment is about criticizing and forming negative opinions, lowering others, and in essence, elevating ourselves. Whereas discernment is more thoughtful, focusing on what is right, appropriate, or beneficial to an individual, seeking understanding while retaining boundaries.

Thus, we should not judge, especially in our marriages (where it can come too easily)!

Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37

Wise words. However, marriage does call for discernment, so that we may respond and act in a manner appropriate to the situation.

The wise of heart is esteemed for discernment. Proverbs 16:21

Wisdom can remain silent in the discerning heart, but among fools she must make herself known. Proverbs 14:33

In marriage, focus on discerning while seeking to mitigate any judgement. Be gentle with your spouse and yourself, pondering each situation in life, just as our Blessed Mother did.  

Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. 

Psalm 19:12

Lord, bless us in our marriages, that we may reflect more our own actions rather than those of others. In prayer, help us see the way. Take us by the hand and guide us.

It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself. 1 Corinthians 4:3

Love remains the answer!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Love, pray, and pass it on! 

Pray for Families (In Service of Self and Others)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

We are spiritual and corporeal beings who help and provide for others. We can easily be in perpetual motion caring for their children, parents, and spouse. Slowing down may appear impossible.

Don’t neglect yourself in service of others. No one benefits.

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Romans 13:9 (Emphasis added)

Take care of yourself, so you can be of greater service to others. Nourish yourself both physically and spiritually so the Spirit can work through you. 

This sounds easy, but I imagine at times it can be unimaginably challenging. Ask yourself, “What prevents me from taking care of my own needs so that I can be of greater service to my family, others? Is that hindrance something I can impact?” Ask the Lord to show you. (Note, doing a Lenten penance isn’t neglecting yourself, it’s strengthening you spiritually!)

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 

1 Corinthians 6:19

Come Holy Spirit, enlighten us! Help us all to be good stewards of the physical and spiritual gifts you have bestowed upon us. Out of love for you, may we self-minister, preparing ourselves to utilize our blessings on behalf of others, especially our families. With you, we can accomplish anything. May we always remember we have you to lean on!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Contemplate, meditate, and pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (A New Heart)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

Lent is a great time for self-reflection, which can be painful. It is so much more pleasant (but not nice) to evaluate areas for improvement in others! Instead, reflect on what you are and aren’t bringing to your marriage. Where might you find a few opportunities for improvement?  

If you mind draws a blank, I am sure your spouse can help you!  

Additionally, spend some time in prayer, asking God how you might be a better wife or husband. Ask Him to show you, and He most likely will!

And we have this confidence in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours. 1 John 5:14-15

Lord, we ask for your light, that we may truly see ourselves as we truly are. We ask for the courage to critically assess our deeply ingrained behaviors, our thoughtless words, and our daily actions or omissions. Grant us the grace to become the person and the partner you created us to be. Jesus, we trust in You!

I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

A good practice for Lent is to praise God and pass it on! 

Pray for Families (Sacrificial Perseverance)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Lent has begun and maybe you are off to a great start!  Honestly though, it’s easy enough to stumble out of the starting gate. Or maybe you weren’t even paying attention, or were apathetic to begin with and never even left the gate. No need to beat yourself up, but rather just reset and start now to get on course. 

Not sure what to do or sacrifice?

Offer praise as your sacrifice to God; fulfill your vows to the Most High. Psalms 50:14

To keep the law is to make many offerings; whoever observes the commandments sacrifices a peace offering. and one who gives alms presents a sacrifice of praise. To refrain from evil pleases the Lord, and to avoid injustice is atonement. Sirach 35:1-2,4-5

Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking off every yoke? Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh?  Isaiah 58:6-7

What would prevent you from any of the above? Whatever it is, that’s what you need to give up!

Most importantly,  offer all of your sacrifices to God  on behalf of yourself and your family. What a beautiful prayer of love. 

Finally, pray for one another for perseverance in our Lenten promises!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Lead with gratitude. Pray and pass it on!