I hate open heights! I can’t stand balconies, glass elevators freak me out, and when I am driving across a bridge, you’ll find me hugging the dividing rail along the inside lane.
Some friends tried to help me conquer these fears by inviting our family to join them one Sunday afternoon at Inner Peaks Climbing Center. I cringed at the thought of it, but JJ and our boys really wanted to go. So I caved in and agreed to a family “outing” inside this huge rock-climbing center.
When we entered the doors, my heart stopped beating as I look up at the highest peak – 25 feet! The instructors assured me that a web of ropes, harnesses and carabiners would hold me tight. Before I could say “no thank you,” I was strapped in and signing an injury waiver. I played it safe and stayed on the lower peaks.
Towards the end of the day, our friends John and Laura challenged their eight-year-old son Steven to climb to the highest peak – promising $5 in tokens and a cone of ice cream at arcade next door if he would touch the bar at the top.
Steven was afraid of heights, too, but he loved a dare. The promise of reward, mixed with the challenge and faith of his father evoked courage in Steven.
I watched with admiration as that little guy started the climb with confidence. He made it to 15 feet, then 20. But as he inched past the next face of the wall, he saw just how far he had to go before reaching the bar at the top. In fear, he looked down with tears and said he couldn’t do it. Then he cried out for his daddy’s help.
By this time, John was holding their very tired 3 yr old, and Laura was feeding their very hungry baby girl. I don’t know where my brave husband was, but as I looked around I realized I was the only one standing there who could do something.
Suddenly courage and strength surged through my body. I called out to Steven, “Don’t give up buddy. Wait for me to come to you. You can do it. I’ll help you!”
I said a quick prayer that God would help me and that Steven wouldn’t give up and start repelling his way down before I got to him. In no time, I reached the 20 foot marker. I crossed over the peak and up beside Steven to encourage him, reminding him of how far he’d come. Using my words and my confidence I focused his thoughts towards a higher goal, an inner peak, a reward that would be much greater than ice cream and game tokens – the reward of getting to a placehe had stopped believing he could reach.
My fear was gone. I had stopped thinking about me long enough to focus on helping someone else reach their goal and overcome their fear. Strangely enough, in that moment I overcame mine, and reached a peak of my own.
I became the response of a child’s cry for his father’s help. And that day became a picture of what happens when friends pray for and encourage one another. Like Jesus, we come alongside each other in some of life’s hardest challenges and highest peaks and we say, “Don’t give up, you can do it. Wait for me. I’ll help you.”
In that moment we take our eyes off our fears, our doubts, our struggles and set them on someone else’s needs. There we find faith to believe the power of God’s Word for them, and somehow our confidence in God’s promises and power are true for us in a way they may never have been before. That is the power of a praying friend!
Today, I invite you to join me in a conversation with God and some girlfriends so that we can experience what happens when women pray – for each other. This is your chance to share a request (a need, a hope, a desire) that you want someone to pray for you for this week. In return, you will pray for one person for the next week, too.
And because I love to share with friends books that draw me closer to Jesus, those who participate in our “conversation with God” will be part of a drawing next week for a new book called “Dear Jesus.” It is filled with devotions and scriptures that capture the heart of God’s response to every woman’s longings and intimate struggles.
Here’s how we’ll do this:
Click the word “Comments” below my name on this post (just under the 2nd green box).
Type in your prayer request in the white box.
Include your first name and where you are from.
(If you don’t have a blogger account, you can sign in as anonymous. But please include your first name at the end.) After type your request, click enter. Your comment will post.
Read the prayer request/comment above yours and pray for that friend.
Copy and paste it in an email to yourself as a reminder to pray for your new friend throughout the week.
On Monday, I’ll post about the power of praying God’s Word and share some of my favorite scripture prayers. Wouldn’t it be neat to find a Bible verse to pray for our prayer partner and post it in Monday’s comments? I’ll share how to do that.
There were two people in blessed in my story. But I never would have experienced what God had for me to give or receive that day if Steven hadn’t asked for help. I pray you will experience the power of a praying friend by promising to be one and allowing someone else to be one for you today. Be sure to click “comments” just below this box so that others see your prayer request and you find the request you are to pray for, too.
© 2008 by Renee Swope. All rights reserved.
As I prepare to leave for my first ever mission trip to Guatemala on Tuesday, pray that God prepares my heart for whatever lies ahead. I ask for prayer for safe travels and that the health issues that I have been dealing with recently will not interfere with what God has in store for me, as well as our mission team.
Beth from Milwaukee, WI
Please pray for this weekend for me!! I met a great guy and will be seeing him at work this weekend. Please pray for God to give us some time together so we can talk and get to know each other better!!
Please pray for our relationship and that God takes it where he wants to!! Thank you sooo much.
Melissa
Tina in Ohio, I’m lifting you and your family up before the Lord. (If you click on my name it should lead you to my email address; I’d love to hear from you!) My request is for the discernment and control to not run ahead of God but to be faithful in planting the seeds He wants me to and trust Him to do the rest.
I am asking you to lift up my daughter, Abbie. She was wrongly accused of disorderly conduct after being attacked by another girl at a festival. We had to retain a lawyer (big bucks) but we need to get it off her record because she wants to become a nurse and this could interfere with future employment. I ask you to pray for vindication and victory for her. Thank you. Wendy
Prayer is amazing and here we are given a oppurtunity to serve our sisters in Christ.
I come before you and ask for prayer in the area of fear & anxiety, God's word tells us not fear anything and not be anxious of anything, the Lord has tested my faith with circumstances over the last 9 months, with health issues and the health of my loved ones, I also am in fear of God's second coming, fear I will be left behind, this fear has been within me since a small child, but it stems from my mother leaving the home when I was young, so I have a fear of abandoment and don't want to ever pass that on to my children, I don't want them to struggle in their faith. I have allowed my emotions and my thinking to dictate how my heart works and I'm done, I know this isn't what God has intended for my life and I just pray for strength to reclaim the deep desire I have for a UNSHAKEN FAITH, I pray also that my husband will be saved, going through what I have been through spiritually single is hard, but I persevere! I will be praying for everyone else and thanks Renee for your dedication to the body of Christ.
In Him,
Renee
[email protected]
Please pray for a perfectly healthy baby due to be born by a scheduled c section to my son & his wife today July 18th at 12:30 p.m. pacific time. I'm praying that perhaps she (it's a girl!) will be the catalyst to encourage them to change their lifestyle and live a healthier one.
Sallie in California
We have a 13 month old daughter with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Our family is blessed to have her in our lives,she is a miracle.We have had a long journey to this point.
My prayer is to have God lead us to finding our "new normal".I also need prayer for my own heart to be filled again,because I have been totally zapped of everything due to the emotional rollercoaster we now ride.
God has carried us through so much,but I guess I am doubting how far he will take us.I am so scared of loosing our miracle.I have also caved to an attack of Satan and now have lots of guilt surrounding this sin.
I know the power of prayer.I have witnessed it with our daughter. The doctors told us she would not live,and if she did, she would not have a good quality of life.God had other plans!She is now thriving & completes our family!
Thank you Renee for this awesome idea,& thank you to my prayer sister! I will also be praying for not only the previous sister,but all who have requests.
Blessings,
Tina from Ohio
Prayer request- change of career for me. Divine Direction from the Holy Spirit and confirmation that I will know that this is the path God has for me now. Help with balance of all things in my life, body, and health.Thank you. Maria
I just found this site the other day, read Renee’s personal story on prayer today and her blog. I have never asked for prayer from people I don’t know but here goes. I am a single mom I am looking for another job that pays better because I am barely getting by. There are days when I am so tired trying to be strong for my kids, encouraging them to pursue their goals. All I do is work, come home, cook dinner go to bed. As I’m writing this I’m on the verge of tears because I am just so tired of trying to keep my spirits up. Please pray for me to keep trusting God that things will work out, to get a better job so I don’t have to keep depending on my parents and to love myself.
Thank you,
Joy
I recently moved into a 3 bedroom townhouse thinking my 23 year old daughter and her two young babies were going to stay with me, well she has moved out. The financial burden is too much and I don’t have the money too move again so I am locked in for the next year. I am really lonely, scared and worried. Please pray that God would provide a the right roommate and help me to move on with my life that I don’t feel like I have. My name is Lynn from Chicago.
I am asking for prayer for my sister Judy in Canada. She was diagnosed with breast cancer, and was 8 months short of 10 years of being cancer free. She was diagnosed again in September 07, and had to have a breast removed. She has recently gone for a bone scan, and they have requested for her to return and have it done again, but this time they would like to concentrate on her left rib cage, and back. The doctors’ are hoping to see a clear scan, and nothing black, or any holes. My sister has not made the appointment, because she’s afraid of the results, and so am I! I lost my dad 7 years ago from lung cancer, and I only have one sibling which is my sister Judy who I love, and couldn’t imagine my life without. Could I humbly ask for your prayers for her that all her tests will come back positive, and that Our Heavenly Father will remove every cancerous cell in her body that we may have her around for a long time? Thank you, and please pray for me that God will grant me the strength and courage to walk this road with my sister no matter what the out come may be. God bless you all… Donna
First i want to say that I am praying for you and your family.
My prayer request is that Ihave trouble with DOUBT and ANXIETY! Like right now I am leaving my church that I have been in for about 10 years.So please if you would pray for my main two things i try and deal with everyday i sure would appreciate it so very much!May GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!
My name is BECKY and i am from WELSH,LOUISIANA
Prayer request- change of career for me. Divine Direction from the Holy Spirit and confirmation that I will know that this is the path God has for me now. Help with balance of all things in my life, body, and health.Thank you. Maria
First let me begin by saying that the daily devotions have been a blessing, I am in need of prayer for my financial situation, I am going through a rough period, I am trying not to lose all I have worked for my home, my car, my bills, and I have a son in his second year of college, I know the Lord will provide and make a way, I just need someone to pray with me. I don’t know what else to do besides pray. Thank You,
Tonya Allison, Milton, FL
My mother-in-law, Audrey, has lung cancer and is now in a nursing home under hospice care. I have spoken and prayed with her about her faith in Jesus – she does believe that Jesus is her Savior and that she is going to heaven – please pray for her comfort – she is in a lot of pain – and also pray for her children, Willie, Charlie, and Susan. Please also pray for me (Leslie) and her other daughter-in-law, Ann that we may minister to her fruitfully in her last days. We do not know how much longer she will be with us.
Thank you for praying and may God Richly bless you!
Leslie.
I was reading an email my friend sent me and I came across your website. I’m from Dinwiddie County (near Petersburg), VA. My wife packed her luggage and left in the truck with a guy to Tennessee (who has since left her) on 10 February 2008. I haven’t talked to her in 12 days because she acts like we could get back together and then doesn’t answer me when I ask her if she wants to come back to me. I think that she doesn’t know what she wants. She’s also with the first guy’s brother and his family in Tennessee. I love her and I really would like for her to come back to me so that we can start over and be a family again. Please pray for us. God bless, Gerry.
Please pray for me Samuel and Joyce my wife for we have been praying that the good Lord will give us children in our marriage. we have been married for the past14 years but no children. Please pray for us.
Samuel(London UK)
My 21-year-old daughter has returned home with her 2 1/2-year-old son. She is in the middle of a divorce from an abusive husband. She met him when she ran away from home on her 18th birthday. She came back home seemingly repentant for what she had done, and said that she was different now. We agreed to help her through the divorce and help her with caring for our grandson. The only real difference that we have noticed in the past two months is that she now has a son. She is a good mother, when she is here. Therein lies the problem – she is supposed to be living here, but for the past week and a half, she has not slept one night at our house (her son has been with us). Apparently, her rebellious nature is in full swing. My husband had a talk with her last night and she left here really mad. They will be talking again later and rules laid down so that she has to spend the nights here. There is so much going on in this situation that I could easily fill a book telling you about it. I would like people to pray that my daughter’s eyes will be opened to what she is doing, that she will have a submissive and gentle spirit, that she will listen to her father and me, and most importantly, that she will listen to what God is telling her.
I would like to thank your Renee for allowing me onto this site. I know this site was sent by the Holy Spirit.
I would also like to have the ladies pray for me.
I am struggling with a husband of 30+ years that is caught up with sexual addictions on the internet. It has ruined our marriage and that hurts. I’m a Realtor in a slow market. I have been a Realtor for over 20+ years. I need the strengeth to find work as I am broke. My husband is not helping me financially anymore. Over the last couple of years I found out that as I was making money he was spending it as fast as I was putting it in the bank. Now that I have shut down that account. I am having a difficul time getting my strength back into the field. Please pray for my sanity as I made decisons as to what I should do. I am trusting God to show me a positive way to get back into the field and take care of me and my 15 year old daugher.
Thanking you in Advance for the comments and prayers.
Kay Porter
My prayer is that I will get out of this dry season of my life. Every desire to read the word and pray have just dried up. Fear has ingulf me like never before, and I know better, because God did not give me the spirit of fear. But these days for me, knowing and walking it have being two different things. Thank for your prayers, Maxine San Antonio, Tx
Hi, Renee I am happy to hear that you husband got good news on his test results. Praise God!!. My prayer request is that I continue to trust and seek the Lord, in what’s to come in my life, and believe and have the hope that he will bring me my husband.
Christina
I would like prayer for courage. My family (husband and 3 kids) and I have just relocated to another city and I want to be courageous to look for opportunities to make friends and bless others. Also wisdom as I am putting full time work on the back burner to be a stay at home mom for the first time.
Thanks, Terri
I thank my heavenly Father for his greatness. Renee, may the Lord blees you for being obedient in requesting that others post in this prayer chain. God knows all of the hurts/burdens and attacks that his children have been facing. The enemy is hard at work.
But the God we serve wants us to remember that we are not alone. We serve a faithful God who knows all things, even those we are not sharing. With that said, I would like to request prayer for myself individually. I have not been as faithful and obedient as I should be and God has been showing me in the past couple of weeks that I need to surrender ALL areas of my life to HIM!
Please pray that I will be obedient in placing Him as the center of my life and being disciplined in seeking HIM daily and also in loving others the way HE loves us. Also pray for my marriage as my husband is pretty much ready to walk out because of anger issues and me being a “control freak” (due to issues from the past).
Debra in Livermore know that I am praying for you and can’t wait to see what the Lord will be doing with all of these request.
God Bless you all!!
When I opened my email today, which is Encouragement for Today, I began crying, for I believe in my heart that the Lord is speaking to my heart. First, I pray that everyone who has made a comment on this page has their prayers answered. I did not complete reading all of them, but know that you all are in my prayers. Please pray that my husband and I can get our finances in order. The bible says we are to own no man but to love him. This is our goal. It is difficult as I am on disability, & he lost his job. So please hold us up in prayer, for the prayers of the rightous avails much. God bless
Out of everything, the one I’d like to mention as my prayer request is for my husband’s job. He got laid off a year ago, and was only out of work for a day and a half, HOWEVER, it is not exactly using his talent and ability. This weekend, he’s working out of town at a special event, and there may be an opportunity for a promotion.
Cindy
St. Petersburg, Fl
[email protected]
My prayer request is for unsaved family members who continue to travel down a road that only leads to distruction of having a life in eternity with God. It is most heart renching to watch them on this path.
I found your blog thu Encouragement for Today.
I ask for prayer for my husband to get a job and my daughter, Jennifers financial situation. I also ask for prayer for my son, Matt, who is a Marine, that God would be with him and keep him safe.
I am also afraid of heights. I don’t let it stop me, but just last week I toured a new home. My nephew was building it and we had to walk across a landing that was on the second floor. There were no rails yet. I pressed against the wall as I walked from one side to the other, but my heart was pounding. I love your story, because I understand what it took to do it. I love that.
i need your prayers for GODS will in my life and that he remove the fear that has kept me bound for so long, im 56 and never been married been saved for 20 yrs almost and i live a life completely pure in my mind body and soul but i would like to be married, it is my desire even now so pray for me
Dear Heather,
I will pray for you this week that our loving Father will strengthen you, both physically and emotionally. I pray that the counseling session will bring total healing and that God’s love will envelope you and comfort you.
My prayer request is for my 17 yr. old daughter. She needs healing from a sexual abuse that occurred 2 years ago and she needs salvation most of all. She grew up in church but for the last few years she has decided that she does not believe in God anymore. Please pray for her salvation and healing.
Thank you for your prayers,
Trish from VA
I have moved to a new area and am invited to a housewarming party at a new non-christian friend’s house… please pray for this great opportunity and new contacts..
Marion
Thank You Renee for your blog today.
First off I will pray for Jeannie because we live in the same town!
I also pray for Heather from Wi.
I ask that you would pray for me to help me continue in the perservance with prayer and also to get over my hestitation and build my confidence in writing.
Thank You and Blessings
Debra in Livermore
please help us pray for God’s provision for my husband’s business. bills are piling high, expenses are high, and customers are not paying their bills. we’ve been in a constant struggle of barely making ends meet for a couple of years. please pray that we will be able to open a new store soon, that the landlord will approve the lease negotiation, and we can provide a steady income for our family.
christy
west memphis, ar
My prayer request:
I have a cold that has hung on now for a week. I am physically exhausted and not sleeping well at night. I have a 2 and 4 year old I am trying to keep up with during the day…
And being physically exhausted is hard because I am going into a tough counseling session on Monday afternoon. I am working through some difficult issues of sexual abuse in my past, and am fearful of facing them, and the emotions associated with them.
The physical exhaustion means that right now I have low emotional reserves as well, and I am afraid of being overwhelmed by those emotions as I start to grieve through the things that happened.
Thank you for praying,
Heather from WI
Please pray for my family. We have some hard issues with my 18 year old daughter that is getting harder and harder to deal with. We are having to use tough love and I just don’t know how much longer I can deal with this. We’ve recently moved and my friends have forgotten me or it seems like it. Thanks, Janet for Batesville
To the lovely sister who comments after me, I apologize. This doesn’t make sense to me, so I hope the Spirit of God enlightens you to pray as you ought. 😉
I am SO tempted to ask for prayer about something else (anything else) but the one thing I know I need above all else is to REALLY connect with God in a personal way. I am saved, but I don’t feel that relationship…
That must sound depressing…. But I have an obnoxiously blessed and useful life! He leads, and teaches, and blesses me abundantly, but I experience my Christian life in terms of “wife” and “mom” and “daughter” and “friend” and “women’s ministry leader” but almost never as just “His.”
Without regard to any way I might be useful to others, I would like to imagine that I could bring Him enjoyment by just existing as His.
I would like to feel like He loves me, and not just know it. And, come to think about it, I want to feel like I love Him, and not just know it.
There is a lot that can be known about God, and He has taught me so much; I feel like the safer road would be to just be thankful and content with what I have…
I think it is EXTREMELY risky to ask for what I am asking. Because if, for some reason, He doesn’t want me to feel what I am asking to feel (i.e. experience what I want to experience) then I will be devastated.
That is where the doubt comes in. Is the book done yet, Renee? 😉
(Since I just won the last drawing, if I get picked again, give the book to the lady I’m praying for who commented just before me.)
My name is Renita I sent the request about my two sons.
My prayer request is that the Lord will save my two sons from the streets and lead them to church. Help them to become better fathers to their children.
Pamela I will be praying for you all who are involved. This is such a wonderful idea. It is amazing how God can use blogs to bring people together who don’t know each other. We can pray for each other…across the miles even. Thanks for that avenue Renee.
My prayer request is for my mom. She discovered she had kidney cancer in March. Thankfully, she had a bladder infection that did not go away that required further tests. It was then, that the cancer was found. She had very successful surgery to remove the one kidney and the tumor. The doctor’s were amazed at how well she did. We know who was responsible for that…God! The cancer had spread to some spots on her lungs. She is going through a treatment called interlukin 2. She did well through that, too. We are now 2 weeks away from finding out if that treatment is working. It has been a tough wait and the day of the scan will be really hard. We know that if the scan shows improvement it is all from God and we want to give HIM the glory. My mom and I are very close and the thought of losing her is tough to think about. By the way, my mom became a believe through this experience. Praise! Thank you to whoever may be praying for my mom. Sorry for the long entry…
I've read all of your posts and I am moved by many of them. I hear so much pain and grief in many of your posts. I can identify with several. Fist of all, Renee – my first husband, Tony(long story – I'm on my third marriage and what a blessing from God!)had the same thing only he never had any symptoms until he needed to have his spleen removed. All was ok until 4 yrs after his surgery, he had a blood clot and died.
So Gill, I understand your greif. I've danced with greif over the ten years since Tony died. I became angry and in need of forgiveness from God–which is always there IF we ask!!
My second marriage, which lasted a year, was to an alcoholic. So I can identify with Lisa who is in a family of addictions. For me, I found sweet relief from being in worship at a local Celebrate Recovery group. BUT… I didn't find a way to "cure" my husband, but that I had issues myself. I countinue to work on my grief, my anger, my self-esteem and my perfectionistic issues every Friday night in our worship time and our accountability group. My second husband died after a short bout with cancer. We had become friends again and we were able to reconsile the week before he died.
My current and 3rd husband, Dennis is a gift from God. He is every thing I was searching for. We've been married 1 1/2 years. Last fall, he began his dream of becoming a pastor and began taking classes online. He has a bad back and had to quit his job. He's applied for disability, but still has 30-45 days to wait for the next step. In the meantime, I had a good job, but it was very stressful. I was relieved of that job 3 weeks ago. Amazing how God answers prayers at times! 🙂
I said all that to get to my prayer requests…
*Please pray that I will receive unemployment or that I will find a job this next week. We have little money left. I am confident that God will provide for us, but you know Satan likes to tempt me with the thought of," But what if God's timing is off?"
*Please pray for my husband that he will receive disability soon so that he can feel that he contributes to our income situation.
*please pray for me that I can continue to learn how to be a supportive pastors wife. I know that some people will think that I'm not fit to hold that place because of my past.
*please pray for our Celebrate Recovery ministry as it is a small group and I know there are many people in this area that need help dealing with life's issues.
*Also, please pray for my daughter Jennifer and her daughter, Toni Renee, that they can be together again. (She's named after her grandpa!)
*Please pray for my son, Bryan, who will be moving in mid-August and getting married in mid-September.
*both of my children were raised going to church and were baptised in the Christian faith, but have walked their own path. I pray that God will GENTLY bring them back to Him so that they can finally have some peace in their lives.
It seems I could go on…my husband's family is mostly Jehovah's Witnesses. Pray for their "awakening to the truth."
Dennis has one daughter he has not seen or heard from in over 17 years. I pray daily that she will be open to meeting or talking to him soon.
*Lynda – I will be praying for you & your family, for healing for your husband and for the grace to accept whatever lies ahead for you.
Forgive me for being so long winded. I've been told I should write a book.
My name is Sonia and I'm a grateful follower in Jesus Christ my Lord. Emporia, Ks
I can be reached at [email protected]
Hi Ladies,
Shannon, I will keep you and your family in prayers as God leads you in this new journey.
It is so God that you, Renee, started this today. My husband and I interviewed Tuesday night as a Pastor of a new church start. The meeting went beyond what we could have anticipated.
This morning we got a call from the chair of the committee. One of the ladies we had interviewed with was in a horrible car accident.
Her sister died in the accident and she is in the trauma unit of a large hospital. Her 16 year old grandaughter was also in the accident and has several broken bones.
Please pray for this family and small church family as they minister to each other. Pray for our new friend/sister Judy and her grandaughter Britney to recover fully. And selfishly pray for my husband as he goes and ministers to both families even though he has not yet been called to be their pastor. It was what we both wanted him to do right away. They called him because they had no pastor to call. Pray God will be glorified.
After the call my first prayer was how can I get as many people praying as I can.
Thanks to God for this post Renee! And thank you for whoever comes behind me!
Pamela R. South Carolina
I am dealing with a lot. I have been separated for 4 months after finding out my husband cheated on me. My whole world has come crashing down, and I just don’t undestand God through this. Please pray He draws me near to Himself as I realize my dreams of a family are not going to happen…at least not right now. As I prepare to make decisions, that God would dispell the fear and help me to hold fast to Him. That when Satan’s attacks come, God will help me to stand strong. And all the time that I am weary, He will provide peace and rest. Thank you. -W
Hi my name is Cece and I live in California. I have a request for prayer for my nephew who just recently just received the Lord. We took him to the men’s recovery home through our church he is kicking drugs. Please keep him in your prayers because he is not happy being there and is wanting to leave. We have been praying that he won’t leave his life is in physical danger he angered some people(drug dealers) and they will probably retaliate. His mother recently received the Lord as well. Their names are Armando and Marie. Thank you for your prayers.
My husband and I have been separated for almost 3 years. He left me and wants no part in trying to reconcile the marriage, but will not file for divorce. He says still being legally married isn’t impacting anything he wants to do and he just can’t be bothered to deal with all the legal stuff. I have struggled with filing as I truly believe that marriage is “for better for worse, till death do you part”. I have rationalized the situation in my mind; however, I just have not been able to go through with the process myself. I continue to pray that God will heal my marriage, but after 3 years I am beginning to lose hope. I feel like I can’t move forward with my life until something changes. I need direction from God as to whether I should continue to “hold on” or take steps to “move on”. Please pray that I receive that guidance, and if the answer is that it is time for me to file those papers, please pray that God provides me with the strength to get through it. Thanks so much! Suzanne- Lutz, FL
WOW, just read through all of the prayers. I will lift each one up as a whole to our heavenly Father, and when I post will mention the one above me individually! Oh the power of prayer….
First, for our decisions on church. We are lifetime Lutherans, but are looking for more. So pray as we search for another church whereever that might be….
Also, I have been on a search for the last few years on what I should do with my life. As I look back, I see how God has grown me to where I am today. It has beena journey of preparing me. I have a heart for missions, adoption, I just like to care for those hurting in general. I have finally discovered what I think God is calling me/us to do. Open a set of houses for foster care/adoption. Go to http://www.riobend.org for further info. I have grown, God has shown me the perfect place to do this. There is an existing house, that part of it burned yesturday. But God spared the main house. I believe it was Him! So my prayer request is that I will follow through without hesitation on starting a non profit. That part scares me. There is alot of paperwork involved. Money involved that I don’t have much of. But I have a great Faith that God already has those things in place, and if I am meant to do this, it will go without a hitch…..Also pray for my mom. She has faith, but doesn’t take steps to grow it. I would like for her to join me on this journey. So please pray that if it is God’s will, she will be ready to join me. (my husband is ready. He said that it is obviously something God is calling me to do, who am I to argue with God?)
sorry so long winded….
Thanks
Shannon
My nephew, Chris has had a difficult year. His wife Megan has been taking off and leaving him to care for the kids [including work days] most of the time. Now that Chris has finally asked for custody of the kids; She is fighting mad and scheming to get full custody herself. [She got a restraining order against him, and had, by police involvement based on him hitting her, gotten the kids, so Chris couldn't see the kids for 3 weeks. Wednesday he was acquitted of all her accusations and in the emergency custody hearing was only given partial custody of the kids. He's discouraged that the judge [who'll be the eventual one in the final hearing on custody] did not do much listening and didn't seem to much care. We, his larger family are concerned about the hi possiblity of drug use. Will she use child support money to go on her binges on the weekend when Chris has the kids? Can she get them from her neighbor during the week? If so maybe drug testing would work, but if only on the weekends? The judge said there wasn't enough evidence of all she was doing [& of course of the drug possibility]; and we don't know how we can come up with more evidence than we already have. Meantime Chris is in construction – way down in FL, he has no money, and his car blew up. He has no car for work [except temporarily for a few weeks]. He's extremely discouraged and he needs God, but is he ready to recieve him? Pray for the evidence we need IF Megan isn't serious about taking GOOD care of the kids [because they need both Mom and Dad], and for God to provide for Chris and draw him to Himself.
Sharon Beasley
I have three children under the age of 11. My 39 year old husband began having health problems last year and it is continuing to get worse. The doctors are not sure what it is – possibly some neuro-degenerative disease. We are scared, uncertain of the future and it is so frustrating for him to lose simple abilities as every day goes by. I would pray for healing for my husband, but more than that – the peace and comfort that God can give me and my family.
Renee, you always tell the best stories. What a wonderful encouragement. You know if that was me hearing Steven called for help, I would’ve probably go to his father and took the fussing baby. I’m afraid of heights and bridges, and yes, glass elevators too.
Anyhow, here’s my prayer request: As always I am struggling with financial issues. I am looking for a permanent job while getting my ministry of the ground. I’m not sure if working is the answer. I’m just doing my part-looking for the job. Pray that if it is His will then He will provide a job for me. If not, then for Him to increase my quilting account in ways I do not see.
Thank you for your prayers. Shoua
Please pray for my brother who left traditional Christianity for a false religion that claims to have all the answers. He suffers from alot of depression and doesn’t feel like God loves him anymore.
Please pray for my marriage. We are having a difficult time. My husband has talked about how things would be better for our family (we have 2 toddlers) if he left (as his father did). He has reached the end of his rope of self and I believe he is at the point that God has brought him to in order to realize how great his need for Christ is. I know he is on the edge of doing great and mighty things for the kingdom of God and is in a tremendous warfare right now. We have just started seeing a wonderful christian counselor and he has committed to continue. I am praying for him to build godly friendships too.
Thank you!!! Jennifer in Florida