DAY 24-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (Pray for his talk)

The words that come out of our mouths have the power to build up, edify, encourage, OR break down, destroy, and dishearten. We must be careful to choose our words wisely for once they are out there we cannot get them back. It's always wise to listen and then think before speaking. This can prevent a lot of hardships in marriages and relationships. I am very blessed in the fact that Neil is a great communicator and actually has taught me a lot on this subject. Neil is famous for thinking things through before responding to people. "The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil" (Proverbs 15:28). What is the coming out of your mouth? Are you speaking life into yourself, your spouse, loved ones and friends. Or has negativity caused destructive talk to flow out of your mouth? What pours out of the mouth of an individual tells you a lot about the condition of their heart. "For out of the abundance of the mouth the heart speaks" (Matthew 12:34)

Prayer by Stormie Omartian:
Lord, I pray Your Holy Spirit would guard my husband's mouth so that he will speak only words that edify and bring life. Help him to not be a grumbler, complainer, a user of foul language, or one who destroys with his words, but be disciplined enough to keep his conversation godly. You Word says a man who desires a long life must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit (Psalm 34:12-13). Show him how to do that. Fill him with Your love so that out of the overflow of his heart will come words that build up and not tear down. Work that in my heart as well.
May Your Spirit of love reign in the words we speak so that we don't miscommunicate or wound one another. Help us to show each other respect, speak words that encourage, share our feelings openly, and come to mutual agreements without strife. Lord, You've said in Your Word that when two agree, You are in their midst. I pray that the reverse be true as well-that You will be in our midst so that we two can agree. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer (Psalm 19:14). AMEN!

DAY 23-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (Pray for his walk)

Galatians 5:22,23 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Are these characteristics present in our daily walk? Whether or not these fruits of the Spirit exist in our lives is apparent to everyone through the way we treat our family, friends, and others. How do you act or shall I say react when someone cuts you off in traffic, takes that parking spot you tirelessly circled the lot for, speaks poorly of you, or does you wrong? These are just some of the "small" things that occur daily to see just how much in the Spirit we are walking. We must be equipped to walk in the Spirit when the Big stuff hits. Ephesians 4:24 tells us,"to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." We must aspire to be more like Jesus! Life becomes so much easier when we walk in the Spirit. We put less stress on our bodies and become happier and healthier because of it. Neil and I have had to make verbal and mental decisions to walk in the Spirit through circumstances. It's great for spouses to keep each other lovingly in check if they step out of the Spirit. Neil and I have had to do this for each other on numerous occasions. It's a whole lot easier than dealing with the feelings of anger, strife, and restlessness. The key is to LOVINGLY keep yourself and your spouse accountable to each other. Your marriage will flourish and so will other relationships because of it. Pray for one another and be blessed.

Prayer by Stormie Omartian:
"O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jeremiah 10:23). Therefore, Lord, I pray that You would direct my husband's steps. Lead him in Your light, teach him Your way, so he will walk in Your truth. I pray that he would have a deeper walk with You and an ever progressing hunger for Your Word. may Your presence be like a delicacy he never ceases to crave. Lead him on Your path and make him quick to confess when he strays from it. Reveal to him any hidden sin that would hinder him from walking rightly before You. May he experience deep repentance when he doesn't live in obedience to Your laws. Create in him a clean heart and renew a stead fast spirit within him. Don't cast him away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from him (Psalm 51:10,11).
Lord, Your Word says that those who are in the flesh cannot please You (Romans 8:8). So I pray that You will enable (name of person you are praying for) to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh and thereby keep himself "from the paths of the destroyer" (Psalm 17:4). As he walks in the Spirit, may he bear the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23). Keep him on the Highway of Holiness so that the way he walks will be integrated into every part of his life. AMEN!

Day 22-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (Pray for his emotions)

There are many kinds of emotions. Healthy ones like happiness, love, and excitement. Then there are unhealthy ones like anger and depression. We want to pray that our loved ones are filled with healthy emotions. It's amazing how much better I feel when Neil prays for me if I'm feeling down or vise versus. The negative emotions of a person cannot only effect the person dealing with them but those around them as well. This can be devastating to a relationship or marriage if not recognized and addressed. Stormie Omartian put it best when she said,"Negative emotions are only an habitual way of thinking that has been given place over time....these emotions are not a part of their character that can't be altered, but these patterns can be broken."

Prayer by Stormie Omartian:
Lord, You have said in Your Word that You redeem our souls when we put our trust in You (Psalm 14:22). I pray that (name of person you are praying for) would have faith in You to redeem his soul from negative emotions. May he never be controlled by depression, anger, anxiety, jealousy, hopelessness, fear, or suicidal thoughts. Specifically I pray about (area of concern). Deliver him from this and all other controlling emotions (Psalm 40:17). I know that only You can deliver and heal, but use me as Your instrument of restoration. Help me not to be pulled down with him when he struggles. Enable me instead to understand and have words to say that will bring life.
Free him to share his deepest feelings with me and others who can help. Liberate him to cry when he needs to and not bottle his emotions inside. At the same time, give him the gift of laughter and ability to find humor in even serious situations. Teach him to take his eyes off his circumstances and trust in You, regardless of how he is feeling. Give him patience to possess his soul and ability to take charge of it (Luke 21:19). Anoint him with "the oil of joy" (Isaiah 61:3), refresh him with Your Spirit, and set him free from negative emotions this day. AMEN!

DAY 21-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (PRAY FOR HIS MARRIAGE)

I love being married to Neil! The one thing I try to remember is that marriage takes effort. Instead of wondering if we married the "right" person we should focus on being the "right" spouse. Your love must be sustaining and you are responsible for nourishing it. Everyday, I have the joy of falling a little bit more in love with Neil. That love would not grow if we weren't putting an effort into our marriage. A successful marriage requires one to be humble, selfless, kind, gentle, compassionate, and supportive just to name a few. This requires prayer!

Prayer by Stormie Omartian:
Lord, I pray You would protect our marriage from anything that would harm or destroy it. Shield it from our own selfishness and neglect, from the evil plans and desires of others, and from unhealthy or dangerous situations. May there be no thoughts of divorce or infidelity in our hearts, and none in the future. Set us free from past hurts, memories, and ties from previous relationships, and unrealistic expectations of one another. I pray that there be no jealousy in either of us, or the low self-esteem that precedes that. Let nothing come into our hearts and habits that would threaten the marriage in any way, especially influences like alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, lust, or obsessions.
Unite us in a bond of friendship, commitment, generosity, and understanding. Eliminate our immaturity, hostility, or feelings of inadequacy. Help us to make time for one another alone, to nurture and renew the marriage and remind ourselves of the reasons we were married in the first place. I pray that (name of person you are praying for) will be so committed to You, Lord, that his commitment to me will not waiver, no matter what storms come. I pray that our love for each other will grow stronger every day, so that we will never leave a legacy of divorce to our children. AMEN!!

DAY 20-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (PRAY FOR HIS ATTITUDE)

Our attitudes not only affect us but others around us. We all know the kind of people who consistently have something negative to say or to complain about. The first thing out of their mouths is negative in nature. It makes you want to dash out the door if you see them coming. We choose to either have a good or bad attitude. This can make or break friendships, marriages, and other relationships. Do an attitude check and pray for those who may need an adjustment. :)

Prayer by: Stormie Omartian
Lord, fill (name of person you are praying for) with Your love and peace today. May there be a calmness, serenity,, and sense of well-being established in him because his life is God-controlled, rather than flesh-controlled. Enable him to walk in his house with a clean and perfect heart before You (psalm 101:2). Shine the light of Your Spirit upon him and fill him with Your love.
I pray that he will be kind and patient, not selfish or easily provoked. Enable him to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things (1 Corinthians 13:7). Release him from anger, unrest, anxiety, concerns, inner turmoil, strife, and pressure. May he not be broken in spirit because of sorrow (Proverbs 15:13), but enjoy the continual feast of a merry heart (Proverbs 15:15). Give him a spirit of joy and keep him from growing into a grumpy old man. Help him to be anxious for nothing, but give thanks in all things so he can know the peace that passes all understanding. May he come to the point of saying, "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" (Philippians 4:11). I say to (name of person you are praying for) this day, "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you: the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26). AMEN!

DAY 19-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (Pray for his past)

We all have things in our past that we would like to erase. Things we have done or said to people or things others have done or said to us. Often, times that "voice" will pop up in our mind reminding us of some unpleasant memory of the past. There is freedom in forgiveness and releasing the past. It also allows you to move into the future God has for you. Live, learn, and move on.

Prayer by: Stormie Omartian
Lord, I pray that You would enable (name of person you are praying for) to let go of his past completely. Deliver him from any hold it has on him. Help him to put off his former conduct and habitual ways of thinking about it and be renewed in his mind (Ephesians 4:22,23). Enlarge his understanding to know that You make all things new (Revelation 21:5). Show him a fresh, Holy Spirit-inspired way of relating to negative things that have happened. Give him the mind of Christ so that he can clearly discern Your voice from the voices of the past. When he hears those old voices, enable him to rise up and shut them down with the truth of Your Word. Where he has formerly experienced rejection or pain, I pray he not allow them to color what he sees and hears now. Pour forgiveness into his heart so that bitterness, resentment, revenge, and unforgiveness will have no place there. May he regard the past as only a history lesson and not a guide for his daily life. Wherever his past has become an unpleasant memory, I pray You would redeem it and bring life out of it. Bind up his wounds (Psalm 147:3). Restore his soul (Psalm 23:3). Help him to release the past so that he will not live in it, but learn from it, break out of it, and move into the future You have for him.

DAY 18-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (Pray for his fatherhood)

Deep Breath...With Father's Day quickly approaching I've been reflecting on what a wonderful father Neil was to Chase. This was beautifully evident even in the brief amount of time we were blessed to have with him. It was actually Neil's love and dedication towards Chase that made me fall in love with him. Sure, at first, the idea of becoming a Father frightened him especially after living life as a batchlor for so many years and never really interacting with kids. But, it didn't take long for Neil to step up to the plate. He never missed a doctor appointment or sonogram except for one and that was because I told him to. While in the hospital, Neil never left our side. When our son was born, I watched as Neil prayerfully made decisions with the doctors concerning Chase. I was in awe, as Neil ever so gently bathed and dressed our son knowing his time with us would be short. Neil cradled Chase in his arms showering him with kisses while whispering words of love and comfort to him. They listened to the sound of the ocean together until it was time for Chase to move ahead. Chase went from his Daddy's arms into his heavenly father's arms. Neil has always considered it an honor to be Chase's daddy. Even today, through all the heartache he speaks of all the good that Chase brought to our lives. Things that only God, Neil, and I may ever fully understand. Neil will always be Chase's forever Daddy! Make sure, as parents, that you place loving your children as a high priority. Don't get caught in the trap of providing so many material things for them that you loose precious moments with them that you both will cherish. The love you share will last forever. If you would like to visit Chase's page you may do so at: http://www.virtual-memorials.com/main.php?action=view&mem_id=15349 Feel free to leave Neil a Father's Day wish I'm sure it will mean a lot to him.

Prayer by Stormie Omartian:
Lord, teach (name of person you are praying for) to be a good father. Where it was not modeled to him according to Your ways, heal those areas and help him to forgive his dad. Give him revelation of You and a hunger in his heart to really know You as his heavenly Father. Draw him close to spend time in Your presence so he can become more like You, and fully understand Your Father's heart of compassion and love toward him. Grow that same heart in him for his children. Help him to balance mercy, judgment, and instruction the way You do. You require obedience, You are quick to acknowledge a repentant heart. Make him that way, too. Show him when to discipline and how. Help him to see that he who loves his child disciplines him promptly (Proverbs 13:24). May he never provoke his "children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). I pray we will be united in the rules we set for our children and be in full agreement as to how they are raised. I pray that there will be no strife or argument over how to handle them and the issues that surround their lives.
Give him skills of communication with his children. I pray he will not be stern, hard, cruel, cold, abusive, noncommunicative, passive, critical, weak, uninterested, neglectful, undependable, or uninvolved. Help him instead to be kind, loving, soft-hearted, warm, interested, affirming, affectionate, involved, strong, consistent, dependable, verbally communicative, understanding, and patient. May he require and inspire his children to honor him as their father so that their lives will be long and blessed.
Lord, I know we pass a spiritual inheritance to our children. Let the heritage he passes on be one rich in the fullness of Your Holy Spirit. Enable him to model clearly a walk of submission to Your laws. may he delight in his children and long to grow them up Your way. Being a good father is something he wants very much. I pray that You would give him the desire of his heart. AMEN!

DAY 17-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (Pray for his relationships)

Relationships have a tendency to rub off on us. Who are you, your spouse, or your loved one surrounding themselves with? A friend of mine would always say, "Show me your friends and I'll show you your future." There's a lot of truth in that. The qualities of others tend to rub off on us. We need to be careful to choose our friends wisely. The bible says, "The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray" (Proverbs 12:26).
There is a certain peace and joy that fills the atmosphere when you surround yourself with the right people. Neil and I have left many dinner engagements with the peace and joy of the Lord. We've also left other engagements where that wasn't the case. It's always a good idea to examine with whom you spend your time. Make sure the relationships you're engaging in are encouraging, positive, and fulfilling to your life or marriage.
Prayer by Stormie Omartian:
Lord, I pray for (name of person you are praying for) to have good, godly male friends with whom he can openly share his heart. May they be trustworthy men of wisdom who will speak truth into his life and not just say what he wants to hear (Proverbs 28:23). Give him the discernment to separate himself from anyone who will not be of a good influence (1 Corinthians 5:13). Show him the importance of godly friendships and help me encourage him to sustain them. Give us believing married couples with whom we can feel comfortable sharing our lives.
I pray for strong, peaceful relationships with each of his family members, neighbors, acquaintances, and coworkers. Today I specifically pray for his relationship with (name of person). Inspire open communication and mutual acceptance between them. Let there be reconciliation where there has been estrangement. Work peace into anything that needs to be worked out.
I pray that in his heart he will honor his father and mother so that he will live long and be blessed in his life (Exodus 20:12). Enable him to be a forgiving person and not carry grudges or hold things in his heart against others. Lord, You've said in Your Word that "he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes" (1 John 2:11). I pray that my husband would never be blinded by the darkness of unforgiveness, but continually walk in the light of forgiveness. May he not judge or show contempt for anyone but remember that "we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ" (Romans 14:10). Enable him to love his enemies, bless those who curse him, do good to those who hate him, and pray for those who spitefully use him and persecute him (Matthew 5:44). I pray that I will be counted as his best friend and that our friendship with one another will continue to grow. Show him what it means to be a true friend and enable him to be one. AMEN

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DAY 16-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (PRAY FOR HIS PRIORITIES)

We all have busy schedules but when we let our schedules interfere with our priorities we are in danger of damaging and possibly losing valuable relationships. What and who are at the top of your priority list? Take time to evaluate your list and see if there is a dire need of rearranging.
The bible says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). Our first priority needs to be our relationship with God. Second, our spouse, children, family, friends, career, etc..Does your spouse know he/she is a priority in your life? Priority doesn't mean you have to spend every waking moment with this person. But, it does mean that you place that person's needs above all else including others, work, and activities. If you want someone to treat you as their priority then place them as yours. If you want to be the next person on your spouse's priority list right after God, then make sure that your priorities are the same. Remember, priorities don't always have to coincide with the amount of time you spend on them. Let's face it, most people have no option but to work 40 hours a week while maintaining everything else around us. Priorities can be met by simply taking the time to make someone feel that they are a priority. For instance, this morning my husband took time to bring me breakfast in bed and rub my feet. This took him about 45 minutes not the entire day. It made me feel as though he had me on the top of his priority list this morning. Take time to let someone know that they are one of your priorities!

Prayer by: Stormie Omartian

God, I proclaim You Lord over my life. Help me to seek You first every day and set my priorities in perfect order. Reveal to me how to properly put my husband before children, work, family, friends, activities, and interests. Show me what I can do right now to demonstrate to him that he has this position in my heart. Mend the times I have caused him to doubt that. Tell me how to prioritize everything so that whatever steals life away, or has no lasting purpose, will not occupy my time.
I pray for my husband's priorities to be in perfect order as well. Be Lord and Ruler over his heart. Help him to choose a simplicity of life that will allow him to have time alone with You, Lord, a place to be quiet in Your Word, prayer, and praise a priority. Enable him to place me and our children in greater prominence in his heart than career, friends, and activities. I pray he will seek You first and submit his all to You, for when he does I know the other pieces of his life will fit together perfectly. AMEN!

DAY 15-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (PRAY FOR HIS REPUTATION)

So, we are halfway through our 30 days of prayer for our husbands or loved one. And, it's been a wonderful journey. Personally, I've learned more about Neil, prayer, and have grown closer to God in the process. It's been cool to see just how detailed our prayers can be for someone.
Today, we will pray for reputations. The bible says, "a good name is to be chosen over great riches" (Proverbs 22:1). Reputations present us with credibility. There are many things that can damage reputations like gossip and evil influences. Prayer allows one to pray against these things or even believe for God to redeem a reputation if it's been tarnished already.
There is a sense of joy when you hear others speak of your spouse or loved one with a great deal of respect. It always makes me happy to hear my family and friends rave about Neil with terms like: kind, hard-working, talented, supportive, friendly, and one in a million! I acknowledge and value that how others view him will ultimately effect his current and future relationships with others. There is saying that goes,
"we will be known forever by the tracks we leave."

Prayer by: Stormie Omartian
Lord, I pray that (name of person you are praying for) will have a reputation that is untarnished. I know that a man is often valued "by what others say of him" (Proverbs 27:21), so I pray that he will be respected in our town and people will speak highly of him. You've said in Your Word that " a curse without cause shall not alight" (Proverbs 26:2). I pray that there would never be any reason for bad things to be said of him. Keep him out of legal entanglements. Protect us from lawsuits and criminal proceedings. Deliver him from his enemies, O God. Defend him from those who rise up to do him harm (Psalm 59:11). Fight against those who fight against him (Psalm 35:1). In You, O Lord, we put our trust. Let us never be put to shame (Psalm 71:1). If You are for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)?
Your Word says that " a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matthew 7:18,19). I pray that my husband will bear good fruit out of the goodness that is within him, and that he will be known by the good that he does. May the fruits of honesty, trustworthiness, and humility sweeten all his dealings so that his reputation will never be spoiled.
Preserve his life from the enemy, hide him from the secret counsel of the wicked. Pull him out of any net which has been laid for him (Psalm 31:4). Keep him safe from the evil of gossiping mouths. Where there has been ill spoken of him, touch the lips of those who speak it with Your refining fire. Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion who seek to destroy his life: let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor who wish him evil (Psalm 40:14). May he trust in You and not be afraid of what man can do to him (Psalm 56:11). For You have said whoever believes in You will not be put to shame (Romans 10:11). Lead him, guide him, and be his mighty fortress and hiding place. may his light so shine before men that they see his good works and glorify You, Lord (Matthew 5:16). AMEN!

DAY 14-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (PRAY FOR INTEGRITY) PRAY ALONG!

A man with integrity has a heart to please God and do what is right. The word of a man with integrity can be trusted: his Yes means Yes and No means No! I was blessed to have grown up with a father who had high moral standards. I can, honestly, say that I've never seen my dad being dishonest or treat someone poorly. Therefore, I expect nothing less from my husband. Being a person of integrity is a choice. We can't make our spouse or loved ones make the right choices in life, but we can pray that they do.

Prayer by: Stormie Omartian
Lord, I pray that You would make my husband a man of integrity, according to Your standards. Give him strength to say "Yes" when he should say "Yes," and courage to say "No" when he should say "No." Enable him to stand for what he knows is right and not waver under pressure from the world. Don't let him be a man who is "always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7). Give him, instead, a teachable spirit that is willing to listen to the voice of wisdom and grow in Your ways.
Make him a man who lives by truth. Help him to walk with Your Spirit of truth at all times (John 16:13). Be with him to bear witness to the truth so that in times of pressure he will act on it with confidence (1John 1:8,9). Where he has erred in this and other matters, give him a heart that is quick to confess his mistakes. For You have said in Your Word, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (John 1"8,9). Don't let him be deceived. Don't let him live a lie in any way. Bind mercy and truth around his neck and write them on the tablet of his heart so he will find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man (Proverbs 3:3,4). AMEN!

DAY 13-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (PRAY HIM THROUGH TRIALS)

The photograph of Neil praising God above has always been one of my favorites. It's a photo taken of him shortly after the passing of our beautiful son, Chase. He later told me that he was having a moment with God concerning Chase when these pictures were snapped. A man that praises God in the midst of life's greatest trials will always be comforted, heard, redeemed with peace, and increased. "You have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:6,7) Neil has been a rock in my life providing me with continual love, care, support, prayer, and protection. He's held me up when I couldn't hold myself up! The toughest trials we've gone through together have only brought us closer to God and each other. How couldn't I pray for any burdens he may be facing?
Nobody enjoys trials. But, this I know...if you keep your faith lifted up you can get through trials. Often, growing in compassion and the deeper things of God. Be assured, God promises to be our refuge and strength in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1) Call on Him!

Prayer by: Stormie Omartian
Lord, You alone know the depth of the burden my husband carries. I may understand the specifics, but You have measured the weight of it on his shoulders. I've not come to minimize what You are doing in his life, for I know You work great things in the midst of trials. Nor am I trying to protect him from what he must face. I only want to support him so that he will get through this battle as the winner.
God, You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). You have invited us to "come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). I come before Your throne and ask for grace for my husband. Strengthen his heart for this battle and give him patience to wait on You (Psalm 27:1-4). Build him up so that no matter what happens he will be able to stand strong through it. Help him to be always "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer" (Romans 12:12). Give him endurance to run the race and not give up, for You have said that "a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again" (Proverbs 24:16). Help him to remember that "the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand" (Psalm 37:23,24).
I pray he will look to You to be his "refuge until these calamities have passed by" (Psalm 57:1). May he learn to wait on You because "those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31). I pray that he will find his strength in You and as he cries out to You, You will hear him and save him out of all his troubles (Psalm 34:6). AMEN!

DAY 12-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (PRAY FOR PROTECTION)

The bible says that He will, "give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot on a stone" (Psalm 91:11,12). Let's face it accidents happen and we are faced with risks and dangers daily. Driving a car, flying in a plane, and even walking down the street can pose danger. We must regularly pray for the safety of our loved ones. This is not to say that we can escape all accidents. However, if they do occur isn't it better to know that you've asked God to be in the midst of it with His power and presence. I will never forget driving down Lee Road one day when my car spun out of control in the pouring rain. It did a complete circle then I was broadsided by an oncoming vehicle. At the time I had praise and worship playing in my car. I recall, asking Jesus to help as the car spun. The car came to a complete halt and I didn't even know I was hit until I opened my car door and it dropped towards the ground. Amazingly, I never felt an impact. The accident occured but I was protected from bodily harm. I always try to pray for Neil's safety and my loved ones as much as I can. It's nearly impossible to pray about every specific danger but you can pray that God keeps your loved one from harm. Just yesterday, my father was outside doing yard work. He went inside to take a break and when he came back outside to continue working he noticed a huge branch laying in the yard. A large portion of the neighbor's oak tree had collapsed exactly where my father had been working. It took down a large portion of my father's fence and was a good foot and a half in diameter. That's not a small branch. Needless to say, we are thanking God for removing my father out of harms way and answering our prayers over our loved one. Be sure to cover your loved ones in a blanket of protection through prayer.

Prayer by: Stormie Omartian
Lord, I pray that You would protect (insert name of person you are praying for) from any accidents, diseases, dangers, or evil influences. Keep him safe, especially in cars and planes. Hide him from violence and the plans of the evil people. Wherever he walks, secure his steps. Keep him on Your path so that his feet don't slip (Psalm 17:5). If his foot does slip, hold him up by Your mercy (Psalm 94:18). Give him the wisdom and discretion that will help him walk safely and not fall into danger (Proverbs 3:21-23). Be his fortress, strength, shield, and stronghold (Psalm 18:2,3). make him to dwell in the shadow of Your wings (Psalm 91:1-2). Be his rock, salvation, and defense, so that he will not be moved or shaken (Psalm 62:6). I pray that even though bad things may be happening all around him, they will not come near him (Psalm 91:7). Save him from any plans of the enemy that seek to destroy his life (Psalm103:4). Preserve his going out and his coming in from this time forth and even forevermore (Psalm 121:8). AMEN!!!

DAY 11-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (PRAY FOR HIS HEALTH)

Nutrition, exercise, supplements, and rest don't always fit into our busy schedules. Right? Wrong!!! That's the wrong type of thinking that get's us into some preventable health issues. We need to make taking care of our body's a priority. After all, without good health it is impossible to do and enjoy all the things we were so busy doing that we didn't have time to take care of ourselves.
One of the things that brings me great joy is to see Neil catching an amazing ride on his surfboard. It brings him such joy and that makes me happy! Surfing is a great outlet for Neil and provides him with exercise. It's my prayer that he will remain healthy enough to surf well into old age. Quickly, I learned that if I showed interest in what Neil enjoyed this would be reciprocated. So, I grabbed a board and began my surfing lessons within months of meeting Neil. It didn't take long for me to realize that he wasn't just splashing in the waves. What a great upper body workout paddling alone could be not to mention that it works the lower body as well. So, from that day on I encourage Neil to get out there and ride those waves. We started riding bikes together as a leisurely activity and hold each other accountable each morning to take supplements. Don't forget to rest as well. Getting the required amount of sleep each night is necessary for your body to rejuvenate and repair itself. And, a vacation filled with lots of R&R never hurt anybody. Taking care of yourself can be fun and it can be something you can do with your loved one.
Prayer by: Stormie Omartian
Lord, I pray for Your healing touch on (name of person you are praying for). Make every part of his body function the way You designed it to. Wherever there is anything out of balance, set it in perfect working order. Heal him of any disease, illness, injury, infirmity, or weakness. Strengthen his body to successfully endure his workload, and when he sleeps may he wake up completely rested, rejuvenated and refreshed. Give him a strong heart that doesn't fail. I don't want him to have heart failure at any time.
I pray that he will have the desire to take care of his body, to eat the kind of food that brings health, to get regular exercise, and avoid anything that would be harmful to him. Help him to understand that his body is Your temple and he should care for it as such (1 Corinthians 3:16). I pray that he will present it as a living sacrifice,, holy and acceptable to You (Romans 12:1).
When he is ill, I pray You will sustain him and heal him. Fill him with your joy to give him strength. Specifically, I pray for (mention any area of concern). Give him faith to say. "O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me" (Psalm 30:2). Thank You, Lord, that You are my Healer." I pray that my husband will live a long and healthy life and when death does come, may it be accompanied by peace and not unbearable suffering and agony. Thank You, Lord, that You will be there to welcome him into Your presence, and not a moment before Your appointed hour. AMEN!

DAY 10-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (PRAY FOR CHOICES)

The choices a spouse makes in life effects the entire family. There are career choices, health choices, financial choices, relationship choices, and the list goes on. We must pray for God to give us discernment and wisdom while providing us with godly counsel. "A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel." (Proverbs 1:5) You can't make other people's choices for them but through prayer you can rest assured that you did your part. This brings forth a certain amount of peace and confidence in your spouse's decision making as well. Just today, Neil was faced with a financial decision concerning a project. He asked for my opinion and we discussed our choices. Ultimately, he made a decision based upon our options and we both have peace that as we lift up our decisions to God that good will come out of it. I encourage you to pray about your and your loved one's decisions. Learning to use discernment, counsel, and prayer to ensure that you make the best decisions possible!

Prayer by: Stormie Omartian
Lord, fill my husband with the fear of the Lord and give him wisdom for every decision he makes. May he reverence You and Your ways and seek to know Your truth. Give him discernment to make decisions based on Your revelation. Help him to make godly choices and keep him from doing anything foolish. Take foolishness out of his heart and enable him to quickly recognize error and avoid it. Open his eyes to clearly see the consequences of any anticipated behavior.
I pray that he will listen to godly counselors and not be a man who is unteachable. Give him strength to reject the counsel of the ungodly and hear Your counsel above all others. I declare that although "there are many plans in a man's heart, nevertheless the Lord's counsel-that will stand" (Proverbs 16:7), and in the morning, I pray he will do what's right rather than follow the leading of his own flesh. I know the wisdom of this world is foolishness with You, Lord (1 Corinthians 3:19). May he not buy into it, but keep his eyes on You and have ears to hear Your voice. AMEN!

DAY 9-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (PRAY FOR PURPOSE)

"May He grant you according to your heart's desire, and fulfill all your purpose." Psalm 20:4 We are all called to a certain and unique purpose. Doubt or discouragement will most assuredly try to hinder the fulfillment of that purpose. This is why we must pray for our spouse or loved one in this area. While pressing towards our purpose, we must remember that timing is everything and God's timing is perfect. Learning to submit our purpose to God and trust that it will happen in His timing will help alleviate any discouragement. There is a certain peace, happiness, and confidence that surrounds somebody who is living their purpose. This is evident in my own husband's life when he is working on his music. Creating music is a huge part of Neil's life. He is at peace and happy when he is able to create a piece. My prayer is that he will use his talent and gift to glorify God. My part as his wife is to encourage, support, pray for, and help him in the pursuit of fulfilling his purpose.

Prayer: by Stormie Omartian

Lord, I pray that (name of person you are praying for) will clearly hear the call You have on his life. Help him to realize who he is in Christ and give him certainty that he was created for a high purpose. May the eyes of his understanding be enlightened so that he will know what is the hope of Your calling (Ephesians 1:18).
Lord, when You call us, You also enable us. Enable him to walk worthy of his calling and become the man of God You made him to be. Continue to remind him of what You've called him to and don't let him get sidetracked with things that are unessential to Your purpose. Strike down discouragement so that it will not defeat him. Lift his eyes above the circumstances of the moment so he can see the purpose for which You created him. Give him patience to wait for Your perfect timing. I pray that the desires of his heart will not be in conflict with the desires of Yours. May he seek You for direction, and hear when You speak to his soul. AMEN!

DAY 8-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (PRAY FOR HIS FEAR)

There are two types of fear in this world. The first type can actually protect you and keep you from acting irrationally. It's an instinct embedded in us which is healthy and can actually keep us from harm. On the other extreme you have the fear that can paralyze and keep you from moving forward in life. If we are not careful we can be overtaken with "what if's!" What if I lose my job? What if I fail? What if the money doesn't come in? What if, what if, what if....? These are the types of fear that seek to worry and hold you captive. Break away from unhealthy fear through prayer, faith, speaking only positive words, and experiencing the perfect love of God.

Prayer-by Stormie Omartian
Lord, You've said in Your Word that "there is no fear in love: but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love" (1 John 4:18). I pray You will perfect my husband in Your love so that tormenting fear finds no place in him. I know You have not given him a spirit of fear. You've given him power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). I pray in the name of Jesus that fear will not rule over my husband. Instead, may Your Word penetrate every fiber of his being, convincing him that Your love for him is far greater than anything he faces and nothing can separate him from it.
I pray that he will acknowledge You as a Father whose love is unfailing, whose strength is without equal, and in whose presence there is nothing to fear. Deliver him this day from fear that destroys and replace it with godly fear (Jeremiah 32:40). Teach him Your way, O Lord. Help him to walk in Your truth. Unite his heart to fear Your name (Psalm 86:11). May he have no fear of men, but rise up and boldly say, "The Lord is my helper: I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6) "How great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You" (Psalm 31:19).
I say to you (husband or person you are praying for), "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God: He will come and save you" (Isaiah 35:4). "In righteousness you shall be established: you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear" (Isaiah 54:14). "You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday" (Psalm 91:5,6). May the Spirit of the Lord rest upon you, "the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:2). AMEN!

DAY 7-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (PRAY FOR HIS MIND)

Why is it important to pray for our husband's or loved one's mind? Because, it is in the mind where feelings of depression, anger, fear, rejection, hopelessness, loneliness, and many diseases start. It's important to get a hold of how you think! "To be carnally minded is death, but to be peacefully minded is life and peace" (Roman 8:6). At times, we may hear negative words like: it's hopeless, failure, or throw in the towel. These are all words that the enemy wants us to entertain our minds with and believe. But, God desires for our minds to be filled with words like: there's hope, possibility, and over comer. Another tool you can use to help your loved one attain a sound mind is by speaking the word of God over them. It's amazing what a message of hope can do for someone who is feeling overwhelmed, burdened, or desperate. It has the ability to pull them out of that despair into a whole new arena of possibilities. Help your spouse or loved one silence the voice of the enemy and attain peace by praying for them.

Prayer by: Stormie Omartian
Lord, I pray for Your protection on my husband's mind. Shield him from the lies of the enemy. Help him to clearly discern between Your voice and any other, and show him how to take every thought captive as You have instructed us to do. May he thirst for Your Word and hunger for Your truth so that he can recognize wrong thinking. Give him strength to resist lying thoughts. Remind him that he has the mind of Christ. Where the enemy's lies have already invaded his thoughts, I push them back by inviting the power of the Holy Spirit to cleanse his mind. Lord, You have given me authority " over all the power of the enemy" (Luke 10:19). By that authority given to me in Jesus Christ, I command all lying spirits away from my husband's mind. I proclaim that God has given (name of person you are praying for) a sound mind. He will not entertain confusion, but live in clarity. He will not be tormented with impure, evil, negative, or sinful thoughts, but be transformed by the renewing of his mind, that he may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2).
Enable him to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10). Help him to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let his request be made known to You: and may Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard his heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Phillipians 4:6,7). And finally, whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, having virtue, or anything praiseworthy, let him think on these things (Phillipians 4:8).

DAY 6-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (PRAY FOR THE REMOVAL OF TEMPTATION)

Temptation can come in many forms: some can be lured by money and power, alcohol or drugs, food addictions, or lust and that's just to name a few. So, we must come to the realization that this world is full of temptations. The thing we must learn is how to handle them when they arise. This is where prayer, watchfulness, and open communication become imperative. Luke 22:40 says to "pray that you may not enter into temptation." And Mark 14:38 says, "the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak."
Have a heart to heart talk with your spouse and confess any weaknesses so that you may pray for one another. If this is not possible at this time, then encourage your spouse to get together with trusted believers with whom he/she can pray.

Prayer by: Stormie Omartian
Lord, I pray that You would strengthen my husband (name of person you are praying for) to resist any temptation that comes his way. Stamp it out of his mind before it ever reaches his heart or personal experience. Lead him not into temptation, but deliver him from evils such as adultery, pornography, drugs, alcohol, food addiction, gambling, and perversion. Remove temptation especially in the area of (name specific temptation). Make him strong where he is weak. Help him to rise above anything that erects itself as a stronghold in his life. May he say, "I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away: it shall not cling to me" (Psalm 101:3).
Lord, You've said that "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls" (Proverbs 25:28). I pray that (person you are praying for) will not be broken down by the power of evil, but raised up by the power of God. Establish a wall of protection around him. Fill him with Your Spirit and flush out all that is not of You. Help him to take charge over his own spirit and have self-control to resist anything and anyone who becomes a lure. May he "abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good" (Romans 12:9). I pray that he will be repulsed by tempting situations. Give him courage to reject them. Teach him to walk in the Spirit so he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. AMEN!

DAY 5-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (PRAY FOR HIS AFFECTION)

AFFECTION: Proceeding from affection; indicating love; tender; as, the affectionate care of a parent; affectionate countenance, message, language. Affection is not the same as sex and distinguishing the two is vital. I like to think of affection of a way of displaying your love for another person through an act of kindness. We can give affection to others simply by giving someone a much needed hug, pat on the back, or encouraging words. I encourage you to tell that someone you are praying for them and they are cared for.

As I read on affection, my attention was brought to the repeated times Neil has come home from work dropped his gear on the table and proceeded to give me a kiss. He does this daily regardless of my mood. And, has even done this at times when I may have snapped at him minutes prior to walking in the door. It melts away the stress and tension of the day and leaves a door open for peaceful communication between the two of us. I applaud him for his consistency in the area of showing me affection. Having experienced prior relationships where little or no affection was ever shown my appreciation and understanding of how important affection is has grown. Have you shown someone you love the affection they deserve lately? Told a parent how much you appreciate their guidance or a friend their support? They will appreciate it and your relationship will only strengthen because of it.


Lord, I pray for open physical affection between my husband and me. Enable each of us to lay aside self-consciousness or apathy and be effusive in our display of love. Help us to demonstrate how much we care for and value each other. Remind us throughout each day to affectionately touch one another in some way. Help us to not be cold, undemonstrative, uninterested, or remote. Enable us to be warm, tender, compassionate, loving, and adoring. Break through any hardheadedness on our part that refuses to change and grow. If one of us is less affectionate to the other's detriment, bring us into balance.
Where any lack of affection has planted a negative view of marriage in our children, or taught them an incorrect way of relating to a marriage partner, help us to model the right way so that they can observe it. Show us how to openly confess our errors to them and demonstrate our commitment to live differently.
Change our habits of indifference or busyness. May we not so take each other for granted that we don't make the effort to reach out and touch one another with affection. Help us not to weaken the marriage through neglect of this vital means of communication. I pray that we always "greet one another with a kiss of love" (1 Peter 5:14). I know that only the transforming power of the Holy Spirit can make changes that last. I trust You to transform us and make us the husband and wife You called us to be. AMEN!

DAY 4-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (PRAY FOR HIS SEXUALITY)

Yes, I said pray for his sexuality. I love that this book teaches one to pray for such a broad array of areas within an individual's life. Knowing that men and women often view sex differently is a very important factor to remember. Let's face it, men and women are just different in many ways and that's okay! Omartian states, "For a wife, sex come out of affection. She doesn't want to be affectionate with a man who makes her feel angry, hurt, lonely, disappointed, overworked, unsupported, uncared for, or abandoned. But for a husband, sex is pure need. His eyes, ears, brain, and emotions get clouded if he doesn't have that release. He has trouble hearing anything his wife says or seeing what she needs when that area of his being is neglected." Therefore, in order to protect, keep communication flowing, and keep peace in the marriage it's important to remember what the other person's needs are. It's, also, imperative to try to meet those needs. They may not be the same as yours but that's okay. The bible states, "The wife does not have authority over her own body but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer: and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." (1 Corinthians 7:4,5)

Prayer:by, Stormie Omartian:

Lord, bless my husband's sexuality and make it an area of great fulfillment for him. Restore what needs to be restored, balance what needs to be balanced. Protect us from apathy, disappointment, criticism, busyness, unforgiveness, deadness, or disinterest. I pray that we make time for one another, communicate our true feelings openly, and remain sensitive to what each other needs.
Keep us sexually pure in mind and body, and close the door to anything lustful or illicit that seeks to encroach upon us. Deliver us from the bondage of past mistakes. Remove from our midst the effects of any sexual experience-in thought or deed that happened outside of our relationship. Take away anyone or anything from our lives that would inspire temptation to infidelity. Help us to "abstain from sexual immorality" so that each of us will know "how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor." (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5). I pray that we will desire each other and no one else. Show me how to make my self attractive and desirable to him and be the kind of partner he needs. I pray that neither of us will ever be tempted to think about seeking fulfillment elsewhere.
I realize that an important part of my ministry to my husband is sexual. Help me to never use it as a weapon or a means of manipulation by giving and withholding it for selfish reasons. I commit this area of our lives to You, Lord. May it be continually new and alive. Make it all that You created it to be. AMEN!

DAY 3-POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE (PRAY FOR HIS FINANCES)

Ok, so it's day 3 and we've already seen God move through our prayers in Neil's work. This is pretty exciting! Last night was a prayer for his finances. They say finances is one of the number one causes for marital issues so pay attention married folks and pray! There are three key kingdom factors in finances. They are obedience, giving, and gratefulness. Thankfully, Neil is obedient to giving and has one of the most grateful hearts I've ever witnessed. Therefore, I pray that God only increases those qualities in him. I've learned never to question Neil's desire to give and to trust him as the head of the household with our finances. This doesn't mean that we don't make decisions together regarding our finances. But, at times I've just had to say ok honey I trust that you will make the best decision. All of our needs are always met and we've never lacked a meal. Glory to God! It's also not to say, that you won't ever encounter financial hardship. Most of us have hit a financial boulder in our lives but it's how you go over that boulder that counts. Also, what you learn from it.

"Do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you." Luke 12:29-31

"I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread." Psalm 37:25


"My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19


Prayer:by Stormie Omartian
Lord, I commit our finances to You. Be in charge of them and use them for Your purposes. May we both be good stewards of all that You give us, and walk in total agreement as to how it is to be dispersed. I pray that we will learn to live free of burdensome debt. Where we have not been wise bring restoration and give us guidance. Show me how I can help increase our finances and not decrease them unwisely. Help us to remember that all we have belongs to You, and to be grateful for it.
I pray that Neil (person you are praying for) will find it easy to give to You and to others as You have instructed in Your Word. Give him wisdom to handle money wisely. Help him make good decisions as to how he spends. Show him how to plan for the future. I pray that he will find the perfect balance between spending needlessly and being miserly. May he always be paid well for the work he does, and may his money not be stolen, lost, devoured, destroyed, or wasted. Multiply it so that what he makes will go a long way. I pray that he will not be anxious about finances, but will seek Your Kingdom first, knowing that as he does, we will have all we need (Luke 12:31). AMEN!

Power of a Praying Wife- Praying for his work (Day 2)

Praying for Neil's work is a must especially in the field of music. My prayer is for Neil to be in God's will concerning the music industry. That means being involved with the right people! I've realized how important it is to pray for wisdom as he instructs students, balance in his career, favor, and success to just name a few. Neil is a dedicated worker and a faithful provider which in turn gives me a sense of stability. He is deserving of my time in prayer in this area. I encourage you to pray for your spouse or loved one in their career as well.

Prayer:by Stormie Omartian

Lord, I pray that You would bless the work of my husband's hands. May his labor bring not only favor, success, and prosperity, but great fulfillment as well. If the work he is doing is not in line with Your perfect will for his life, reveal it to him. Show him what he should do differently and guide him down the right path. Give him strength, faith, and a vision for the future so he can rise above any propensity for laziness. May he never run from work out of fear, selfishness, or a desire to avoid responsibility. On the other hand, help him to see that he doesn't have to work himself to death for man's approval, or grasp for gain beyond what is a gift from You. Give him the ability to enjoy his success without striving for more. Help him to excel, but free him from the pressure to do so.
I pray that You will be Lord over his work, and may he bring You into every aspect of it. Give him enough confidence in the gifts You've place in him to be able to seek, find, and do good work. Open up doors of opportunity for him that no man can close. Develop his skills so that they grow more valuable with each passing year. Show me what I can do to encourage him.
I pray that his work will be established, secure, successful, satisfying, and financially rewarding. May he not be "lagging in diligence, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord" (Romans 12:11). Let him be like a tree planted by the stream of Your living water, which brings forth fruit in due season. May he never wither under pressure, but grow strong and prosper (Psalm 1:3). AMEN!

A Praying Wife!

Upon looking for a good book to read I stumbled across "The Power of A Praying Wife" by Stormie Omartian. My first thought was hmmm...Neil would appreciate this book. So, I figured if he would appreciate it then he might as well do this with me. Haha We started reading it the other night. One chapter an evening for the next 30 days. Yes, the prayers are directed for the wife to pray for her husband but Neil is enjoying the book and started praying for me by simply applying my name in the prayers. This can be done for anyone not just a spouse. We quickly realized that our prayers for one another were probaly lacking in detail and we should step it up. After all, we are one. And, we do love each other very much. Also, prayer draws us closer to God and we love Him!

The first prayer was long and quite honestly I started to feel slightly convicted. Maybe I have been rushing through my prayers and not covering the areas that I needed too. Sadly, this wasn't how I wanted to spend time with God either...rushing? After all, He always makes time for me! So, we dove into the first prayer. Immediately, it was about changing me. How ironic, I'm supposed to be praying for my husband but this prayer was all about changing me!!! But, that's the way it's supposed to be. We must look at ourselves and ask God to touch the areas within us before we ask Him to touch others.

BTW...Neil LOVED this prayer. haha

Here it is:by Stormie Omartian

Lord, Help me to be a good wife. I fully realize that I don't have what it takes to be one without Your help. Take my selfishness, impatience, and irritability and turn them into kindness, long-suffering, and the willingness to bear all things. Take my old emotional habits, mindsets, automatic reactions, rude assumptions, and self-protective stance, and make me patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. Take the hardness of my heart and break down the walls with Your battering ram of revelation Give me a new heart and work in me Your love, peace, and joy (Galatians 5:22,23). I am not able to rise above who I am at this moment. Only You can transform me.
Show me where there is sin in my heart, especially with regard to my husband. I confess the times I've been unloving, critical, angry, resentful, disrespectful, or unforgiving toward him. Help me to put aside any hurt, anger, or disappointment I feel and forgive him the way You do-totally and completely, no looking back. Make me a tool of reconciliation, peace, and healing in this marriage. Enable us to communicate well and rescue us from the threshold of separation where the realities of divorce begin.
Make me my husband's helpmate, companion, champion, friend, and support. Help me to create a peaceful, restful, safe place for him to come home to. Teach me how to take care of myself and stay attractive to him. Grow me into a creative and confident woman who is rich in mind, soul, and spirit. Make me the kind of woman he can be proud to say is his wife.
I lay all my expectations at Your cross. I release my husband from the burden of fulfilling me in areas where I should be looking to You. Help me to accept him the way he is and not try to change him. I realize that in some ways he may never change, but at the same time, I release him to change in ways I never thought he could. I leave any changing that needs to be done in Your hands, fully accepting that neither of us is perfect and never will be. Only You, Lord, are perfect and I look to You to perfect us.
Teach me how to pray for my husband and make my prayers a true language of love. Where love has died, create new love between us. Show me what unconditional love really is and how to communicate it in a way he can clearly perceive. Bring unity between us so that we can be in agreement about everything (Amos 3:3). May the God of patience and comfort grant us to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus (Romans 15:5). Make us a team, not pursuing separate, competitive, or independent lives, but working together, overlooking each other's faults and weaknesses for the greater good of the marriage. Help us to pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another(Roman 14:19). May we be "perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (1Corinthians 1:10).
I pray that our commitment to You and to one another will grow stronger and more passionate every day. Enable him to be the head of the home as You made him to be, and show me how to support and respect him as he rises to that place of leadership.. Help me to understand his dreams and see things from his perspective. Reveal to me what he wants and needs and show me potential problems before they arise. Breathe Your life into this marriage.
Make me a new person, Lord. Give me a fresh perspective, a positive outlook, and a renewed relationship with the man You've given me. Help me see him with new eyes, new appreciation, new love, new compassion, and new acceptance. Give my husband a new wife, and let it be me. AMEN!!!

Help for a Broken Heart

Trying to console someone when they loose a loved one is never easy. Every individual deals with loss differently and are almost guaranteed to go through phases of grieving. This piece is primarily focused on the loss of a child but in many ways can pertain to the loss of any loved one. I was prompted to write this not only because of the things we've endured with losing our son but because of the things I've seen others endure upon the loss of their loved ones. When my son, Chase, passed away there were a whirlwind of emotions that engulfed my entire being. We had an overwhelming amount of generosity, love, and support showered upon us by our family and closest friends. Those acts of love will be forever embedded in our hearts and memories. I will never forget family that supported us and the friends that rushed to the hospital to pray and hold my hand. Quickly, we learned who our dearest friends were. They are the one's who showed up when it wasn't necessarily convenient nor easy. It's just been over a year since Chase left our arms and went to Heaven. The Lord has been faithful to bring comfort to our hearts and we are forever grateful for even the brief amount of time that we got to share with Chase. I always said, our son did more on this earth in seven months than some do in a lifetime. His story continues to touch lives today. We are still counting the souls that have been changed and the grieving parents who have been comforted by Chase's story. Just recently, we had a young girl contact us and tell us how Chase's story is helping her to cope with the loss of her baby. Chase was a blessing in ways that only Neil, I, and God will ever know.

There are things that people can say or do to help grieving parents and there are things they should refrain from. Speaking from experience, sometimes silence can be the worst enemy. Silence can make someone feel alone or as if their loved one is forgotten. I understand that most people do this in an attempt to spare the person from pain but in fact the silence just causes more pain. On the other hand, I've had to endure things people have said wishing they would have just remained silent. It is always wise to think before one speaks because there are those cases where words can cause more pain than the silence.

While, many of the things said are meant to be helpful they can sometimes be very hurtful. What must be remembered is that when you encounter a grieving parent you are talking to someone who has been shattered. When a parent loses a child they loose their future as far as that child is concerned. Of course, as believers we know that one day we will be reunited but it still doesn't eliminate the immediate feeling that "someone is missing." This is not a time to try to figure out why these parents have to endure this pain. For they are too busy trying to figure out how they are going to get up the next day. It didn't take long for good, well meaning folks to say things that riveted my soul. It's difficult for me to write some of the things that have been said to us or that I've heard said to other parents who have lost a child. It's so unfathomable that I cannot bear to put them into permanently typed words. To think or verbally voice that someone deserves or brought such a loss upon themselves is insensitive. Compassion is the key to interacting with those who are grieving. From an earthly standpoint, Chase passed simply because his lungs didn't develop properly and were not going to develop. That's the best explanation the doctor could give us. From a spiritual standpoint, Neil and I have accepted that God had strategically placed Chase here for a specific purpose and he fulfilled that purpose and went ahead of us. The story of Job and his long-suffering is explicit in showing us that God sends misfortunes not just for sins. But that sometimes God will allow misfortunes even to the righteous for an even greater confirmation in goodness, for the shaming of the Devil, and for the glorification of the righteousness of God. The story of Job has been a huge comfort to Neil and I. Job is a story of a good man who loses all his children, property, and is afflicted with disease. His friends assumed that God always rewards good and punishes evil therefore believing that Job must have brought this upon himself through sin. What they didn't see was that God allowed the Devil to take from Job to test his faith (Job 1:9-12). Job proves to remain faithful to God even through such tragedy. In the end Job is restored to his former condition and with greater prosperity than before! God reprimands Job's friends for not understanding the meaning behind Job's suffering.
We serve a wise and awesome God who always WINS in the end! He is faithful to restore if we are faithful to believe.

Sending an invitation to parties is a wonderful thing to do for a grieving parent as to not make them feel excluded. However, it is probaly best if presented by telling the parent you understand if it is too soon to attend such an event especially if the loss has been recent and the event may intensify the grief. Sensitivity to holidays is especially needed. Take time to acknowledge that grieving parent on Mother's or Father's Day...they are still a parent. There were well meaning mothers who threw their babies into my arms thinking this would somehow help. I didn't have the heart to tell them it made me want to run for the nearest exit. There is an age factor that will trigger parents who have lost a child. Whenever, I see a child that is the age Chase would be I automatically think about who Chase would be at that age. I find it's a natural reaction for someone who has lost a child.

There are many things you can do to help a grieving parent:

Call or send a card to them on holidays or anniversaries pertaining to their loved one. Everyone, likes to know that their loved one was special enough to be remembered. The first anniversary of Chase's passing we received one card and I was thankful for it. No matter how many years pass that will always be their child.

Do something special in remembrance of their loved one. My husband bought me a beautiful bracelet engraved with Chase's name on it for Valentine's Day.

Be sensitive and above all understanding to their emotions especially in the early phases of grieving.

The main keys for helping a grieving parent are patience, love, compassion, remembrance, and sensitivity.

Be careful not to exclude them from events by not inviting them. Just personalize the invite so they know you understand if it's too soon for them to attend such an event.

Do what you say you are going to do. We had people tell us how they were coming to the hospital or bringing us food only to not show at all. This is very disappointing especially when you are grieving and searching for any support you can find.

Encourage the person grieving to exercise or perhaps join you in an activity that promotes exercise.

Allow others to talk about, remember, and honor their loved one in anyway they see fit. It's healing.

PRAY!!! Continually pray for peace, comfort, and healing.

~Our love and prayers to all who have endured the loss of a child or loved one. May you find comfort in knowing that through Jesus we will be reunited one day never to be separated again. May the peace, comfort, and love of our Heavenly Father be with you through the tough times. And, may the beautiful memories of your loved one live on in your mind and heart along with those who held your loved one dear. May any sadness that trys to find its way in be replaced with knowing that you had the honor of loving someone so beautiful!~
*We love you Chase- xo

Easter Love

In my attempts to write this blog on Good Friday I was stricken with a loss for words. How do I put into words the love and appreciation that consumes me for what Jesus did for you and I. "He has borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray: We have turned, every one, to his own way: And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53 3-6 Jesus traded our sadness, sickness, pain, rebellion, wicked ways, and sins on that cross to give us joy, peace, healing, freedom, prosperity, and wholeness. Being led as a "lamb to slaughter." He was beaten beyond recognition, tortured, mocked and humiliated so we could live life more abundantly. There are no words good enough to thank Him for what He has done. I am speechless with gratitude.

And, He didn't stop there on the third day He rose defeating death, Hell, and the grave. Giving great signs to follow those who believe. The stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty. He had risen pronouncing a great commission, that the gospel be preached to every creature. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved: but he who does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16: 15-16 "Jesus was received into Heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God." Mark 16:19.

This Easter I am thankful for Jesus and what He did for us on that cross. I am thankful that He rose so one day all who believe can spend eternity with Him in Heaven. On a more personal note, that one day I will be able to be reunited with my loved ones and my beautiful son. I am thankful that there is life beyond what we experience here on earth. I am thankful for a God that loves us beyond description, I am thankful, thankful, thankful......

If you have not asked Jesus to come into your life and would like to there is no better time than now. I did about 17 years ago and it was the best decision of my life. Simply pray this prayer and mean it with your whole heart and He will hear you:
"Lord Jesus, I ask You to come into my life and forgive me of all my sins. I confess my sins before You this day. I denounce satan and all his works. I confess Jesus as the Lord of my life. Thank You for saving me. I believe with my heart and I confess with my mouth that You rose from the dead. I am saved. Write my name in the Lamb's book of life. Today is my God-day with the Lord Jesus! I pray this prayer to the Father in the name of Jesus. Amen."

God Bless You and your loved ones this Easter. Much love always, Wanda

True Love Is....

True Love is...not found in chocolate, roses, or diamonds. True love is... found in the hearts of those who love and cherish us unconditionally. And by unconditionally, I mean in spite of our human flaws, tendencies, or mistakes. Of course, the truest and purest love one can ever experience is that of the Heavenly Father. Words cannot express the love that God has for each one of us. It's truely indescribable, so unique, and beautiful. What other love can look directly in our hearts unlocking the "secrets" we've tucked so carefully within us. And, with one goal to fill our hearts with love, peace, joy, and healing. What other love could love us like this? "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not die but have eternal life." John 3:16 What other love is a husband to the husbandless or a father to the fatherless? This Valentine's Day, first and foremost, I celebrate my first love...Jesus. I encourage you to do the same. Know that you are loved this Valentine's Day by your Creator. He loves you like nobody else can. I thank Him for teaching and commanding me to love! I thank Him for blessing me with the love of a wonderful family and the honor and joy of being the wife of a most incredible husband! Happy Valentine's Day!