It’s Prayer Vigil Friday! 05/20/11

Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me,  for you are God my Savior,  and my hope is in you all day long.~Psalm 25:4-5

I was traveling last week so I wasn’t able to post last Friday. As I spent some time this week catching up on my friends’ news and blog posts, my heart broke for one who briefly experienced the joy of being pregnant, only to have to suffer through a miscarriage less than two weeks later. Please pray for Karyn. She is suffering greatly and is, as it is very natural to feel, terribly depressed, angry and very weary of the future. Please pray that she find just the right comfort and support that will turn her in the direction of the light she so desperately needs to shine on her life right now. We cannot offer answers, but we can offer love and support. Please pray for all women who are experiencing the anger and void left behind by a miscarriage. Pray they find comfort in knowing that God is sitting next to them, His arms wrapped around them, mourning their sadness right along with them.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. ~Matthew 5:4…There must be a time of mourning, there will be a time of anger, but comfort will come. I promise you, it will come.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ~John 16:33

A few of my friends had some scares during their pregnancies. The tiniest bit of spotting can be terrifying. A friend in Australia had heavy bleeding for several days. She went to the doctor last week, heard the heartbeat and saw her baby move! They found a cause for the bleeding and the baby is doing fine. Please pray for her and for her baby. Pray for strength, for health, for comfort and for peace of mind.

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.~Psalm 5:11

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.~Psalm 46:1

Pray that God bless all of our friends who are so excited about their pregnancies (we’re excited for them too!), yet still live with that twinge of fear we have all become accustomed to in our struggles. Pray that their bodies remain strong and their babies healthy. Pray for Lis and her twins, Jen, Steph, Nikki, Andrea, El, all women who are pregnant and need a little extra hope and peace of mind.

Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my body too shall rest and confidently dwell in safety. ~Psalm 16: 9

Please pray for those of us who are still fighting infertility. Please pray for T as she seeks support for PCOS after suffering a pregnancy loss. Also, please pray for those who counsel pregnant women, all the while suffering inside over their own struggles of not being able to get pregnant themselves.

Therefore, encourage one another and strengthen one another, just as you are doing. ~1 Thessalonians 5:11

Please pray for S. who just recently began taking Clomid. Infertility forces you to re-evaluate your life and your lifestyle and ask yourself what you are willing to do, to go through, and put your body through. That includes testing the limits of your beliefs, your finances and your relationships and these are all very emotional and stressful decisions. Please pray for all women who are facing difficult choices, whether it’s to begin taking fertility drugs, IUI or IVF. There are two women I know who are at least for now, financially, facing their last IVFs. Please pray for Jen and for J. Please pray for their spirits to remain high and hopeful. Please pray that their bodies will respond positively. Please pray that these attempts will be successful!

May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.~Romans 15:13

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken  nor my covenant of peace be removed,”  says the LORD, who has compassion on you.~Isaiah 54:10

Put some time aside today, even if it’s a few minutes or 20 minutes. Close the door, close your eyes, dim the lights, light a candle, whatever you need to do to focus and spend some prayerful time with God. Pray for women you know, pray for women you don’t know. Then take some time and pray for yourself. Spend some time reflecting over the past week, over any frustrations you’ve had, whatever you’ve been putting off talking over with God. Get angry if you need to. Cry if you need to. Smile and give thanks if you need to!

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.~ 2 Thessalonians 3:16

This scripture truly is what Prayer Vigil Friday is all about:

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” ~Matthew 18:19-20

Let’s join in one big prayer all day today!