It’s Prayer Vigil Friday! 06/03/11

I’m so excited that another Friday is here – A day to pray for yourself and for your fellow sisters, and unite with women all over the world in prayer.

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

Please pray for Lily. After months of advice to change her diet, vitamins and supplements and sticking to it very carefully, she has been told that her iodine levels may now be too high as a result and that she may not be able to proceed with next week’s scheduled IVF. Pray that her body will settle back down to normal levels very soon, pray that her spirit will not be broken by this frustrating development. Please pray for all women who have so carefully and so diligently researched and read and planned and changed every aspect of their lives in the hopes of finding just the right combination of every element of life to become pregnant.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.~Psalm 46:1-3

Please pray for Ginger. Her first IUI was unsuccessful and she and her husband are gearing up for the second. Please pray that her body responds well to the fertility drugs and that no fibroids develop as a result. Pray that God’s hands rest on this couple’s shoulders and give them peace, comfort and guidance as they continue in their journey. Pray for all women and all couples who are preparing to take their next step, to start their next round and are looking ahead with hope. Infertility can be such a wet blanket that settles itself on your world and feels so suffocating at times. It adds such stress and frustration to our lives and sometimes it feels like a third alien being has just plopped itself down between you and your spouse. Please pray that the blankets are lifted and that these individuals and couples find that sparkle in their eyes again when they think to the future and to what the next step will be in their journey.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.~1 Corinthians 13:7

Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. ~Psalm 103:1-5

Please pray for the women who are coming out of their two week wait with devastation. Pray for all of those whose hearts fell to the bathroom floor when their pregnancy test resulted in a negative, or when they received that phone call from their doctor giving them the bad news. It’s so hard on one’s heart to go through month after month of your heart stopping the moment you hold your breath to pick up that pregnancy test on the counter, to your world ending at the sight of the negative result. But it’s the dream of kissing baby toes and washing sippy cups that pick us up off the floor and give us hope for the next month.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.~Psalm 34:18

But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. ~Psalm 71: 14

Please pray for all women who are pregnant after overcoming infertility. The fears do not go away with a positive pregnancy test. If anything, the paranoia only grows as every day they wake up with a prayer of thanks and a desperate plea. Pray that their bodies remain strong, and that God will place His hands on their shoulders and their bellies to keep them safe, and calm their fears.

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 Brandy and for her mom Kim. Brandy is 6 months pregnant with the baby girl we are adopting. I have never been so impressed with any girl in my entire life. She is so brave and so selfless. Please pray for health and strength for her and for the baby, and please pray for her mother, Kim, who has shown amazing strength and reason. Pray that God will bless them and give them peace and comfort in knowing that we love them and we are excited about extending our family to include them. Please pray for all women who are choosing adoption for their babies. Pray for comfort and peace of mind and pray that God bless them for the amazing gift they are allowing a loving couple to receive. Pray for all couples who are waiting to adopt or who are in the adoption process. Pray that God be with all of us and continue to guide us in the direction of His will.

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.~Psalm 18:32

May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing with hope. ~Romans 15: 13

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!