We come before the Lord with hearts full of gratitude for your prayerful heart and your trust in His sovereignty over every area of your life. It is beautiful to see you lifting up your nation, your family, your pets, and even your struggles before the Father, for He cares deeply about all these things. Yet we must first address something vital—your prayer does not invoke the name of Jesus Christ, through whom we have access to the Father. The Scriptures are clear: *"There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus"* (1 Timothy 2:5, WEB). It is only through faith in Jesus that we are saved, and it is only in His name that our prayers are heard. *"No one comes to the Father, except through me"* (John 14:6, WEB). If you have not yet surrendered your life to Christ as your Lord and Savior, we urge you to do so today, for *"if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved"* (Romans 10:9, WEB). Without Him, there is no true peace, no eternal hope, and no access to the throne of grace.
Now, let us lift your requests before the Lord, trusting in His perfect will and timing.
We join you in praying for our nation, which has indeed strayed far from its foundation in God. The turmoil we see is a reflection of hearts turned away from Him. Yet we know that *"if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land"* (2 Chronicles 7:14, WEB). Let us repent as a people and turn back to the Lord, for He alone can bring true healing and restoration. We pray for a great spiritual awakening across this land, that many would come to know Christ as their Savior and that godly leaders would rise up to guide us in righteousness.
We rejoice with you in the miracles the Lord has done for your dogs—what a testament to His care even for the creatures He has made! *"Look at the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?"* (Matthew 6:26, WEB). Your love for them reflects the love God has placed in your heart, and we thank Him for His provision and healing.
For your father’s surgery this Wednesday, we pray for the Lord’s healing hand to be upon him. *"He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds"* (Psalm 147:3, WEB). May the surgeons be guided by wisdom, may the procedure be successful, and may your father’s recovery be swift and complete. We ask that you would be filled with peace, knowing that *"the Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit"* (Psalm 34:18, WEB).
Regarding your mother’s struggle with anger, we pray that the Lord would soften her heart and fill her with His peace. *"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you"* (Ephesians 4:31-32, WEB). May she surrender her anger to the Lord and allow Him to replace it with His love and patience. We also encourage you to extend grace to her, remembering that we all struggle in different ways.
Your season of unemployment has been long, and we understand the frustration and weariness you must feel. Yet we believe the Lord has a purpose in this time, as you have already recognized. *"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight"* (Proverbs 3:5-6, WEB). We pray that the Lord would open the right door at the right time, that He would provide not just a job, but the perfect opportunity to use your gifts for His glory. In the meantime, we encourage you to seek Him daily, asking for His provision and trusting that *"my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus"* (Philippians 4:19, WEB).
Your honesty about your anger toward the Lord is something we must address with both gentleness and truth. It is natural to feel frustration when life does not unfold as we hope, but we must be careful not to allow bitterness to take root. *"Be careful that no one falls short of the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springing up troubles you and many be defiled by it"* (Hebrews 12:15, WEB). The Lord’s ways are higher than ours, and His timing is perfect, even when we do not understand it. *"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts"* (Isaiah 55:8-9, WEB). We pray that you would release this anger to Him, asking for His peace to guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
As for your "love life," we must speak with clarity and biblical truth. If you are seeking a romantic relationship outside of marriage, we urge you to pursue godly courtship with the intention of marriage, and only with someone who is a believer in Christ. *"Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what communion has light with darkness?"* (2 Corinthians 6:14, WEB). If you are struggling with loneliness, we encourage you to find your fulfillment in Christ first, for He alone can satisfy the deepest longings of your heart. *"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart"* (Psalm 37:4, WEB). If there is any sin in this area—such as sexual immorality, lust, or relationships that do not honor God—we urge you to repent and turn to Him for forgiveness and strength to walk in purity.
Finally, we pray that the Lord would restore your joy and fill you with hope for the future. *"Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence"* (Psalm 42:5, WEB). The enemy would love to steal your peace and make you doubt God’s goodness, but we declare that *"the joy of the Lord is your strength"* (Nehemiah 8:10, WEB). May you fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith, knowing that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6).
Heavenly Father, we lift our sister before You, asking for Your mercy, grace, and provision in every area of her life. Forgive her where she has strayed, and draw her closer to You. Heal her father, soften her mother’s heart, and open the door to employment that glorifies You. Guard her heart against bitterness and fill her with Your peace. If she has not yet surrendered her life to Christ, we pray that today would be the day she places her trust in Him alone for salvation. Lead her in Your truth, Lord, and may she find her joy and satisfaction in You above all else. Protect her family, provide for their needs, and surround them with Your love. We ask all these things in the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.