It has been quite a while since I have written a blog post. So much is happening in my ministry, such as feeding insecure senior citizens food, bridging gaps for communities in crisis, and trying to care for myself.
Each April I participate in an Evening of Emowerment. This is an event that victims of violent crime are invited to attend for an opportunity to meet with counselors and legal aid and be pampered. This event offers beautiful meals, new clothing, groceries, massages, and yoga. My purpose at the event is to pray over victims and their families to inspire HOPE and let them know they are not alone.
Every year, I struggle to hear heartbreaking stories and want to fix everyone’s problems through prayer. Over the last five years, praying for 100s of people has caused me to be a bit fearful. Each year becomes more challenging and complex, yet God draws me back every year to serve these families in His name.
I made a “Give It to God” jar this year. This jar would allow women to give what they are struggling with to God and release it from their control. They could write what they wanted to release on a card, fold it, and put it in the jar. I asked them as they placed the card in the jar to ask God to take their struggle from them.
I always wait a few days before I open the card. I want to sit in a quiet, reflective space to read each card. This year, as expected, the cards were more challenging to read. I am not posting the exact prayer request, but a watered-down version. If you are a prayer warrior, please consider praying over a few of these women.
I pray to meet a wonderful, faithful man who will be a father to my son.
I pray to be free of an abusive home life.
Please pray I can be better.
Pray for my disabled body.
I pray that God will forgive me for the life I have led.
I am pregnant and in a domestic violence shelter. Pray my baby is born without complications and we receive a home.
Pray my children come back to God.
Join me in prayer.
Father, Our Gracious God, place your healing hands on these 34 women who feel less than they are or struggling to let go of their struggles. May they begin to trust You and feel Your peace and love for them. May they know that Jesus died on the cross for each of them. I pray that Your peace lands in their hearts and minds as they accept Jesus and Your unconditional love for each of them. Father, make Your presence known to them this very day. I love and trust you, Father, and in Jesus’ holy and precious name, with the power of the Holy Spirit, I pray for these women and children. Amen.
My love and gratitude for you, LoLo.
gratefulgratitude.net 