It had started with unemployment for her fiancé two weeks before the wedding. Her dad and I were the ones with “wet feet” then. “What are we doing?” I’d asked my husband. They were both only 20 years old.

After a lovely outdoor wedding in early September, the months accumulated, her working full time, he at home, discouraged by the dead-end job search.

He finally landed a job at a grocery store, and shortly after, signed up for the Air Force Reserves. This meant six weeks away at bootcamp when their firstborn was four months old.

A year later with many lonely weekends behind her, he was away again for a two month training. I had picked her up for the five hour trip to visit a friend who had a new baby. A friend who had things my daughter was missing. A husband at home, home decor that all fit together in a comfortable environment, and a body that returned more rapidly to pre-baby weight.

We were getting back into the car to go home. Her eyes released the tension as she closed the car door. Her face, a portrait of pain. A dark cloud of despair filled the car, it’s weight pressing my chest.

Fearful of saying the wrong thing, I prayed silently – for an entire hour.

Suddenly I heard God’s voice, “Pray out loud.” — immediately I resisted the notion — I tried to brush past His voice. But it kept coming. And suddenly another thought made it’s way in, “This is ridiculous! We prayed in the car together all her teenage years on the way to school!”

Thankful then for having had that foundation, but still with a residue of resistance, my mama-heart acted in faith.  Love won over awkward, and with words of fire, I launched into bold prayers, praying the word of God, the will of God over my daughter, her husband, their marriage and their family. I prayed that they would flourish and prosper in their marriage [3 John 1:2,] that they would be full of love for one another [Romans 12:10] and that their lives would reflect His love and power [Ephesians 5:32-33.] I praised God that He was going to prosper and not harm them [Jeremiah 29:11], He was going to give them hope and a future. That He would restore anything that the enemy had stolen from them. [Zephaniah 3:20]

I’m only telling a small part of their story, but enough for you to know that when we arrived home that day, darkness had given way to light.

Because of prayer and the spoken Word of God, the atmosphere had shifted from hopelessness, discouragement and despair to one of hope, anticipation and faith to move forward.

That was four years ago and true to His promises, God has been faithful in all of the trials of their young marriage. He has continued to provide and prosper them in their journey with Him. From the weekends and months apart, to the loss of their first home, through several trials, moves and job changes, and three darling little boys, they have prospered in their journey.

It’s experiences like this that have me full of hope and anticipation for what God is doing in and through His people who are moving into their prayer closets and coming TOGETHER to pray.

If we ever needed a SHIFT in the atmosphere, it is NOW!

And friends, I see Him doing it!! Are you in?

We have one more spot for a girlfriend in our hotel room in DC on 7-16-16.
Message me if you are interested.