It’s Prayer Vigil Friday! 06/17/2011

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ~ Jeremiah 29:13

Our walk here on earth is a path. God is going to lead us, direct us. We need to go to God in prayer, get into His Word and trust and follow his direction. Welcome to this week’s Prayer Vigil Friday.

Encourage one another and bulid each other up, just as in fact you are doing. ~ 1Thessalonians 5:11

Infertility can be so tough on a marriage. The stress, the timing, the calculating, the planned rendezvous, and more stress can take a toll on the healthiest of marriages. One of the problems my husband and I have is that he works evenings and I travel quite a bit. When you’re looking at a specific window that doesn’t fit in well with your schedule, it presents a problem. So I can’t imagine my infertile friends with military spouses who are gone for long periods of time. Or long term business travelers who are only home a couple of days a week for months at a time. Please pray for these couples – for the military couples whose TTC planning comes to a standstill for sometimes 18 months at a time, and also for the couples with scheduling conflicts whose strict schedules don’t often make for fun baby making times. These circumstances only cause more stress and often sadness and depression with the knowledge that this month won’t work simply because their loved one can’t be home.

Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you or abandon you. ~ Deuteronomy 31:16

We all struggle so hard to fight the depressed, angry, bitter infertile woman living inside us. Some of us have reached a point where we can talk about our infertility without breaking down. Some of us cannot even breathe the words to another soul without crumbling inside. There is so much healing that has to take place over and over and over again. It doesn’t take much to undo what one has worked so hard to build up inside. I pray that we all find our strength to grasp infertility and overcome it with the faith, the courage and the pure determination to continue living  fully satisfying lives as the beautiful, sensual and womanly creatures we are.

Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. ~ Psalm 102:2

Dear Lord, When I am troubled, You comfort me. When I am discouraged, You lift me up. Whatever my circumstances, Lord, I will trust Your plan for my life.

Please pray for the countless couples who are going through the devastation of a miscarriage. Pray that the mother finds comfort in knowing that her brief yet precious encounter with this tiny life form will never be downplayed or forgotten by any of us in this wonderfully woven family of women. Pray that she finds the strength to continue on her journey.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” ~1 Peter 5:7

Adoption is an option that many infertile couples find new life in. There are many couples who have been considering adoption but one or the other spouse has certain fears and doubts, which keeps them from moving forward. Please pray for couples who are considering adoption. Pray that they find peace with their doubts. Pray that they lift their fears and doubts up to God and trust in his beautiful orchestration of life. Please pray for all involved in the adoption process.

I know all of us have had times in our lives when our faith has been tested. Some of you may be going through that season in your life today, where everything just seems to be going wrong and no matter what you do, life just doesn’t seem to be going in the right direction. As children of God, we know that our faith will always be tested. God never said life here on Earth would be easy. He did say He is here for us always. So, when life is turned upside down, the only thing I know to do is get on my knees, pray without ceasing and trust that God has total control. The outcome I may be hoping for is not always what God has in mind. I need to trust that His outcome is always better than what I could have ever dreamed of!

Cause me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You. ~ Psalm 143:8

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this. ~ Psalm 37:3-5

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ~Philippians 4:6

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!

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!