Prayers for the Week: Love
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
A four year old girl battles a rare form of cancer and looking for a miracle.
A family struggles with how to live life after their husband/father passes away.
A friend with two teenage children is put in hospice from a cancer diagnosis.
A middle aged woman struggles with doubt, wondering if she will be given the opportunity to show what she knows in a new job situation.
A very close friend is experiencing seizures, and they can’t figure out why.
These are just a handful of the prayer requests that we see during the week. Over six years ago, on March 3, 2013, I wrote the first Prayers for the Week post. It was a simple post, mentioning that I was feeling led to lead us in a weekly prayer post. Other than a period of about a year when I felt like it wasn’t something I was to keep doing, our weekly prayer posts have been going on since.
Over the years, our prayers for others have shown others that they aren’t alone; that the huge problems they are facing have others facing them with them, at least in prayer. Our prayers have shown the world that there is something to be said for praying to God for help when we need it. Lastly, our prayers have shown the world that God loves them, and that He is using our hands and feet to love the world for Him.
For many of our prayer requests, the end result was not the result we wanted. Many of our prayer recipients have passed away, and we grieve their loss. However, the sorrow we felt in losing them was replaced with God’s Peace, that Peace that defies understanding, that takes our grief and sorrow and gives us in return a calmness, a knowing that our loved one is better now, and that he or she has a perfectly healed body, mind, and soul, and that they are with Jesus, waiting for our turn to come home to Heaven.
It is because of that Peace that we pray for others in their need, and why they pray for us in our need as well. It is because of that Peace that we know that our worldly afflictions are light and momentary, despite their severity, because we know that our glorious reward will be so much more in the end.
Lastly, we pray because we know that Jesus came to save us from ourselves, from our sin, and He paid the ultimate price — His life — so that we could be forgiven if we but Believe in Him. That ultimate sacrifice of Love is a reminder to us of just how much God loves us. That is why we shared John 3:16 with you today — as a reminder of His love for us.
That is why we have our prayers for the week posts, and why we have our Prayers for the Week Facebook group. Join us in the group by clicking the link, and leave us a comment and let us know what we can pray over for you and your family. Now, please pray for this week’s prayer requests and praises.
Prayer Requests & Praises
- We start off our prayers with a call for prayer for Georgia Mae. Here is what I wrote: “Georgia Mae is a beautiful 4 year old, she is the granddaughter of the pastor of Kipp’s church in Knightdale. This wonderful child of God needs our prayers in a huge way. She has been fighting cancer for a long time, and just when they believe that they have it beat, it rears its ugly head again. Please be in prayer for this wonderful girl and her family. Pray for healing. Pray for peace. Pray for comfort. Pray for strength. Thank you.”
- If you are in the Raleigh/Durham area, there is a prayer service for Georgia Mae Sunday night at 6:00PM. Here is the info: “Please join us this Sunday night, September 29th, at 6:00 PM at Cross Point Community Church, 1001 Steeple Square Court, Knightdale, for a prayer service lifting up Georgia Mae Webb and her family. #prayforgeorgiamae“
- Ivon has a prayer request: “My prayer warriors.. I come asking for prayers for a very special, dear friend of ours, she is more like a sister to us, and she is currently in the hospital because she’s been having seizures and the Dr’s can’t figure out why? Please pray that she gets better soon and that the Dr’s find out why she is seizing. Her name is Christina. Please say a special prayer for her and her family. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.”
- Update: “My wonderful prayer warriors.. Thank you so much for your prayers! God certainly heard you loud and clear.
Update: Our Dear Friend/Sister Christina is finally out of the hospital.
She had an MRI, CATSCAN, 2 EEG’s, blood work, you name it, it was done. The Neurologist found an abnormality in her brain waves. Consistent to epilepsy, however she’s not epileptic. It’s called Epileptiform to keep it short.
These are Her words: “God is good! I am doing well. Thank you for praying. I share my time because I am thankful and grateful for the God I serve. I have not one complaint. Every nurse, doctor, specialist… took great care of us. I surely felt the favor of the Lord in every part of this. I laughed quite a bit with them all. These types of times are perfect times to let God show up!” Again, Thank you all!”
- Update: “My wonderful prayer warriors.. Thank you so much for your prayers! God certainly heard you loud and clear.
- Lori has a prayer request: “Not doing so well tonight. Everything was going well today until the computer started slowing down. Unfortunately for me, it was the same time my boss came out and stood behind me. I looked like a moron.
I get in my car every day and Pray for His guidance and help. I KNOW I am not too old to do this job, but if they cut me, I know I cannot do another round of unemployment.
I can’t do or withstand anymore , Lord.” - Scarlett has a prayer request and praise for us: “Please pray for Mike’s family as Mike lost his valiant fight with cancer! Mike, age 50, leaves behind a beautiful wife and four children! He was blessed with friends and he was a blessing to many!
Thank you!” - Jodi asks for prayers for her brother’s family: “Please keep my sister-in-law in prayer this weekend. She has sold all belongings except what she needs and, of course, special items, and she is moving from their family home in Dallas to an apartment in Oklahoma. Her hope is to gain employment with the University of Oklahoma where her daughter now attends, thus having free or greatly discounted school tuition for both kids (son would transfer), as well as steady income and benefits. She also has family in the area and is originally from the area, so this helps, but as you can imagine, this is a HUGE adjustment for all of them as they continue to go forward from the loss of my brother. Please also continue prayer for both kids. I understand my niece had a pretty good breakdown the other day and is struggling emotionally. Thanks!”
- Lori has one last prayer request for us: “Please add Tammy to your prayers today and tonight. She’s a beautiful woman who beat Heroin addiction for 5 years and I know she can do it again. When she reached out to me just now in Houston, I can do nothing but ask for Prayers. At least she promised me that she would call me tomorrow.”
- Lastly, please pray for those who don’t know what to ask for, as well as for those that are lost, and don’t know Jesus in their lives. Finally, please continue praying by praying the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray:
Our Father, who art in Heaven
The Lord’s Prayer
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not in temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom, and Power, and Glory
Forever and ever.
Amen.
