Lifting all marriages...

I felt this week that it was important to close one year and open another with a prayer for marriage, so I shared this in our Gentle Domesticity group the other day, just as Mr E and I were celebrating our 26th anniversary. 

Father God,

I thank you for Your gift of marriage. I thank you that within marriage two become one by Your perfect design. This day dear Lord I pray for every marriage in our group of gentle ladies, that Your hand of blessing and honour and favour be upon each one. I pray where the soil of some hearts have become parched that You would shower upon them a rain of refreshment and renewed love. I pray for the marriages which may have become strained or where a spouse is experiencing loneliness, that Your words would speak truth and life over them and Your victorious right hand would guide them closer that they may once again journey a loving path together.

Fill each marriage with a new blessing and give a fresh vision and goal from Your Word to carry them through the year ahead, to strengthen them as a three-stranded cord with You as the centre.

Bless this group and all who have hearts longing for a gentler domestic life. Guide our ways to honour You, our husbands and our homes in our everyday walk through life, that we may be like shining lights to those who are struggling in the darkness of anxiety and chaos and too-high expectations on themselves or from others.

‘Gentle” our hearts, soften them where they are too harsh and strengthen them where they are weak and weary.  Bring balance to our emotions and set our thoughts on what is most needful, kind and uplifting.

May the glory of the Lord encamp around each home represented here in this group and fill them with rest, refreshment, kindness, hope, healing, love and gentleness.

In Jesus most holy and powerful name I pray this,

Amen.

Our marriage has traversed many stormy seasons.

We've walked through times of joy, despair, miscommunication, celebration, grief, poverty, success, humility, forgiveness, grace and so much more.

But like the disciples distressed and anxious as their boat flailed in that dreadful storm, Jesus came to save us. Whilst we were in the midst of those storms, He was walking right through them, showing us we need never fear, that He will always be there when we call.

Jesus is also there in the seasons of rejoicing, though sadly we do not draw as close to Him when we're not troubled...and that is something I'm working on this coming year. Drawing closer to my Lord every day, wind or rain, trial or triumph, in sickness and in health. 

So I'm praying for your marriage today, and this prayer will be printed in my journal for next year so I can pray it often. I hope you will pray it to. 

Download the prayer here.

 

hugs

A prayer for each of us...

My husband and I have had to make some big decisions lately, and they weren't easy. In fact it feels like we're wandering in the dark without any clear direction, especially with regards to one very important issue.

There's no real right or wrong answer to our dilemma, but it could be life changing and that's why we want to be clear and sure on what path to choose.

Have you been challenged like this? 

I think choosing between something wrong and something right (through the eyes of Scripture) is much easier than choosing between two good paths. 

We desire to see further into the future to be certain our eventual choice will bring the best outcome, yet that's not what God is offering us. He seems silent. He is silent. 

Patience to wait upon the Lord is something I try to cultivate in my heart - so that it's natural, so I'm never expecting an immediate answer or miracle and probably so I'm not disappointed, but the silence in the midst of waiting is hard.

Years ago it occurred to me that if I don't know what's going on, and God stays silent, then my adversary the devil has no clue either. 

God's 'plan in motion' has been hidden to protect me and its important that I trust Him, have faith in what He's doing and await His perfect timing. I tell you truly, there was great peace in grasping this because I knew without doubt that God had not turned His back on me but was at work 'above and beyond' in ways I would never comprehend.

And it would all be for my good and for HIS glory.

This week's Scripture was a timely reminder for my husband and I that we need to put every hope in Christ, we need to trust Him, follow His lead, read the Word and let Him teach us through it. We can be sure that in His perfect timing He will show us the path to take, He'll point us in the right direction and we shall go forth.

When I saw Psalm 25:4-5 in the signature line of an email from a blog reader (thank you, Jacque) it was quite clearly a word in season, in fact it was prayer to pray every day.

I pray it brings peace and hopeful expectation to you as well.
In fact, I've made this into a free printable so we can frame it as reminder of hope during silent times. Download it here. 

be blessed,