The Power of Prayer: Committing to Each Other's Joys and Pain
Dear Readers,
My family had a hard week last week.
Everyone signs up for the joy. It's human nature to want happiness.
However, pain, is just as inevitable.
No matter how progressive you are to live a good life,
hurts, sorrows, and anxieties are bound to show up too.
It was the mundane of relationship mishaps, work transitions, and sleepless nights.
It was "new" news to me, but I finally realized...
If you truly commit to life- your own and/or anyone else's- you commit to both joy and pain.
Everyone signs up for the joy. It's human nature to want happiness.
However, pain, is just as inevitable.
No matter how progressive you are to live a good life,
hurts, sorrows, and anxieties are bound to show up too.
There's no way around it and you can't control it.
For that very reason, I believe in prayer.
As this pandemic continues to play out,
-week after week-
I find it hard to sustain hope in the midst of trouble.
Under these conditions, it's even harder to fight for an active and lively prayer life as well.
Social distancing continues to be both restrictive and confining.
Everyone's opinions are divisive and LOUD.
As this pandemic continues to play out,
-week after week-
I find it hard to sustain hope in the midst of trouble.
Under these conditions, it's even harder to fight for an active and lively prayer life as well.
Social distancing continues to be both restrictive and confining.
Everyone's opinions are divisive and LOUD.
For the first time- in a long time-
(1) I was losing my energy to pray.
and
(2) I was quickly losing sight of what I was praying for.
My husband was experiencing the same feeling.
We were both exhausted and worn out.
One of the best things we have going on for us at this time is our weekly prayer groups.
I pray with some coworkers on Friday mornings.
Ben prays with a men's group and a mentor on Saturdays.
Really, it was the prayers of the ones around us and the sharing of their wisdom and time- that saved both our hearts this week.
My coworkers encouraged me that our struggle actually exemplified growth and character.
My husband's mentor encouraged him in the same way- saying he must have been doing something well for such trials to come about.
Both of the meetings- mine and his-called us to be in constant prayer- over each other, over our kids, and even with the kids.
*NEVER losing hope that God will indeed- take care of us*
Each meeting ended with those people praying for us and I saw the effects of it later Sunday night.
My husband and I were able to have a very vulnerable conversation on our feelings and struggles.
It ended in multiple pauses of prayer that my husband spoke aloud over- me- a very angry wife.
All I know- is I went to bed angry, but, I awoke the next morning- completely healed- and ready to reconcile.
(1) I was losing my energy to pray.
and
(2) I was quickly losing sight of what I was praying for.
My husband was experiencing the same feeling.
We were both exhausted and worn out.
One of the best things we have going on for us at this time is our weekly prayer groups.
I pray with some coworkers on Friday mornings.
Ben prays with a men's group and a mentor on Saturdays.
Really, it was the prayers of the ones around us and the sharing of their wisdom and time- that saved both our hearts this week.
My coworkers encouraged me that our struggle actually exemplified growth and character.
My husband's mentor encouraged him in the same way- saying he must have been doing something well for such trials to come about.
Both of the meetings- mine and his-called us to be in constant prayer- over each other, over our kids, and even with the kids.
*NEVER losing hope that God will indeed- take care of us*
Each meeting ended with those people praying for us and I saw the effects of it later Sunday night.
My husband and I were able to have a very vulnerable conversation on our feelings and struggles.
It ended in multiple pauses of prayer that my husband spoke aloud over- me- a very angry wife.
All I know- is I went to bed angry, but, I awoke the next morning- completely healed- and ready to reconcile.
I write this post-overwhelmed with gratitude- over the power of prayer that others have in our life.
I felt it in my heart - it was SO real.
I felt it in my heart - it was SO real.
My advice for all of you is this:
Never overlook the power of prayer in your life and the lives of those you love- especially when it feels useless.
Don't ever think of yourself as unworthy to pray for anything or receive prayer from others.
God. hears. hearts.
He. loves. people. coming. together. on. His. behalf.
My son got this fortune in a cookie this weekend.
I think it tells a lot.
God. hears. hearts.
He. loves. people. coming. together. on. His. behalf.
My son got this fortune in a cookie this weekend.
I think it tells a lot.
The pains and sorrows of the world can really make you feel defeated...
wanting to do nothing, be nothing.
But, God. is. NOT. of. this. world.
He. thinks. more. of. you. then. that.
Through prayer, you connect with Him- the only One who truly has the power to help.
If you commune with other prayer warriors, you have the benefit of their prayers- fighting on your behalf.
It inspires you to keep on fighting and keep on waiting.
It inspires you to keep on praying.
The more we were called to prayer-
The more we were honest with ourselves about our feelings and circumstances.
The more we felt helpless and out of control-
The more we surrendered our time to pray and our hearts to listen.
The more the emotions flooded in and the truth of the matter unfolded-
The more we were willing to deliberate on what these attacks were really about.-
A true enemy. The Devil. trying to steal our joy.
1 Peter 5: 8 says "Stay alert! Watch out for the great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. (NLT)
In this pandemic, My husband, myself, and my kids are doing lots of good- for ourselves, our family, our marriage, our work, and our friends. We are pretty dedicated to obey and listen to the Lord's calling for our lives-
For that, we are walking targets of attacks.
We feel shielded by the prayers of others on our behalf.
We feel equipped to pray as often as needed- to clear our hearts and mind- to live in love again.
Prayer is the something anyone can do for anyone-
especially at this weird time.
Let's give it all the honor and glory it deserves.
Do it in times of uncertainty.
Do it as an act of gratitude and praise.
Just keep doing it.
The more you believe in it's power, the closer you experience God.
He is where true joy and peace is sustained.
Everyone deserves to experience that in their life.
wanting to do nothing, be nothing.
But, God. is. NOT. of. this. world.
He. thinks. more. of. you. then. that.
Through prayer, you connect with Him- the only One who truly has the power to help.
If you commune with other prayer warriors, you have the benefit of their prayers- fighting on your behalf.
It inspires you to keep on fighting and keep on waiting.
It inspires you to keep on praying.
The more we were called to prayer-
The more we were honest with ourselves about our feelings and circumstances.
The more we felt helpless and out of control-
The more we surrendered our time to pray and our hearts to listen.
The more the emotions flooded in and the truth of the matter unfolded-
The more we were willing to deliberate on what these attacks were really about.-
A true enemy. The Devil. trying to steal our joy.
1 Peter 5: 8 says "Stay alert! Watch out for the great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. (NLT)
In this pandemic, My husband, myself, and my kids are doing lots of good- for ourselves, our family, our marriage, our work, and our friends. We are pretty dedicated to obey and listen to the Lord's calling for our lives-
For that, we are walking targets of attacks.
We feel shielded by the prayers of others on our behalf.
We feel equipped to pray as often as needed- to clear our hearts and mind- to live in love again.
Prayer is the something anyone can do for anyone-
especially at this weird time.
Let's give it all the honor and glory it deserves.
Do it in times of uncertainty.
Do it as an act of gratitude and praise.
Just keep doing it.
The more you believe in it's power, the closer you experience God.
He is where true joy and peace is sustained.
Everyone deserves to experience that in their life.
Thanks for reading! Until next time,
Love. Always,
Crystal
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