Welcome back, friends.
I wonder—am I the only one who can sometimes find prayer exhausting? Often I’ll focus so much on a specific prayer burden, it can become mentally and physically draining.
Is there a “me too” in the room?
If you’re like me, our prayers aren’t an effort to control—we know God’s bigger than it all.
Rather, we’re praying because hope is birthed in prayer. Hope begets prayer, and prayer begets hope. And on and on and on…
Hope can be addictive, can’t it?
Since February’s the “month of love,” what do you say we bend the ear of God on behalf of those we love the most—our families. Spouses, significant others, children, god-children, in-laws, extended relatives—whatever “family” looks like in your world.
If you’re comfortable, please share the first name or initial of someone we can join you in prayer for this month.
So seemingly passive, yet—our greatest influence is prayer. 
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P.S.) I made this printable with the names shared in our last If My People post. I hope it’s helpful for us as we continue to lift these hearts to heaven and wait expectantly on God. Please feel free to download. 
FUN NEWS!
Stay tuned next week for exciting announcements about a fun new March series featuring some exciting guest writers! And! There’ll be giveaways each week of the series! Fun! Details coming next Thursday!
And, Next week is our February Drawing! Woohoo. (I love these so much!) Everyone who’s linked-up with us during the month of February will be entered to win.
Thank you for Chasing Community here with us each week, friend—because ministry is always more fun with friends. 
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It’s a pony-tail and sandals environment around here. No fancy rules, just a few things:
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- Please visit and comment on the post linked before yours–and others as you’re able.
- Please grab the #ChasingCommunity button, or link back here underneath your post. (So others can find us and join the fun too!)
Thank you for bringing your dish to the table–May your ministry of words find community here.
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Prayer can feel like another thing on our to-do list, at least for me. I try to remember that it is just conversation, a back and forth with a dear friend who knows me better than anyone. There’s no magic time or formula. No words better than another. God understands even our groans and our sighs. Such a gift remembering that He knows our hearts. He just loves when we bring them to Him.
Exciting news in March 🙂 and that graphic was such a thoughtful simple way to encourage me to pray for each person!
Becky Hastings recently posted…Finding Joy in a Simple Calling
So glad there’s no magic formula because I’m not good at magic. I’d mess it up every time. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing, Becky. ((hug))
I’d love for you to pray for my friend Alicia who is having surgery tomorrow. She has two young girls and will be out of commission for a few weeks. Pray peace over her before the surgery, wisdom and skill for the doctors during, and a speedy recovery after as well as strength for her hubby while he tackles both sides of parenting for a while! Thanks for this great community here, Brenda! XO
Liz recently posted…Word Nerd Wednesday – Eschatology
Praying now for Alicia, Liz. Thanks for sharing. Will continue to pray for her recovery. ((xoxo))
Brenda,
I would like to lift up Nicole in prayer…an unspoken one at this time, but desperately needed.
Thanks all,
Blessings,
Bev xx
Bev @ Walking Well With God recently posted…True Hope For The Perfectionist
Prayers for Nicole, Bev. Thanks for sharing. ((xoxo))
Prayer is the delivery room of hope….LOVE THIS! 🙂
Nicki Schroeder recently posted…Love Your Valentine All Year Long
Thanks for your sweet encouragement, Nicki. 🙂 ((hug))
Thanks for this encouragement Brenda-hope does beget prayer and prayer begets hope! I’d love prayer for J & M, N and all of us who love them. Thanks for creating a community of support, hope and prayer!
Jill recently posted…Soulful Habits
Adding J & M, N, and all of you who love them to the list, my friend. Praying now for them as well. Thank you for being a sweet part of this community. ((xoxo))
I’d like to have Vickie added to your list! She is dealing with a chronic illness and is going through a divorce also. She needs some encouragement!
It’s comforting to know what prayer does. We can approach God whenever we need Him and know He listens.
Such a comfort, indeed! Adding Vickie to the list and praying for her now as well. Thank you for sharing, Julie. ((hug))
I’d love you to pray for my Brandon. He’ lost his way with Christ and I long to see him return.
~Sherry
xoxo
Sherry Stahl recently posted…Make God Shine
((Hug)) Praying with you for Brandon, Sherry. Thanks for sharing. ((xoxo))
I pray when I am walking or running because I can shut off my brain and my surroundings so that I can get personal with the Lord. Often those prayers, the ones I start with, don’t ever end up going in the direction I thought because i am choosing to let God dictate the prayer focus. I think that is when I start to give up on prayer, when I am dictating the focus…when I am telling God what to do…instead of letting the Holy Spirit lead my prayers.
Please pray for my friend Jane who has decided to give up the battle against the cancer spreading in her body. Her love for the Lord is immensely inspirational and her joy through this journey has never wavered.
Blessings,
Dawn
Dawn Boyer recently posted…When the brushstroke of grace is in your story…#GraceMoments Link Up
“…letting the Holy Spirit lead my prayers.” — Beautiful, Dawn. — Prayers for Jane. I’m so sorry. ((Hug))
If hope is addictive, then it must also be contagious! Thanks for splashing some of it on me this morning!
Michele Morin recently posted…Long Live the Queen! Till We Have Faces Discussion Group Week 8
Back at ya, friend. 🙂
Prayer is just so darn powerful in such a mysterious way. I like that we can be in prayer and not utter a single word, the Holy Spirit will do it for us. Yes, of course I would love prayer for my family. Thank you. Sending prayers up for you right now. Thank you for blessing all of us with you blog.
Such mysterious power! Agreed 🙂 — Thanks for your words of encouragement, Maree. Prayers for your family. ((hug))
Love the graphic idea, Brenda. Seeing my loved one’s name on there brought a smile. I’ll be downloading and praying for those listed. Please add K to the prayer list this time around. Thanks so much!
Kristi Woods recently posted…WORD17, Week 7
Adding K to the list, and praying now as well. Thanks for sharing, Kristi. ((hug))
Brenda,
YES YES AND YES again to the call to pray. Since December I’ve had a tremendous burden to elevate my prayer life and God has faithfully shown me how to increase my faith in prayer, how to pray targeted specific prayer and how to pray prayers that expeditiously move heaven and earth. Thank you for this opportunity to join you in seeing His will be done here as in heaven. Pls add Donnie & Chrissy to the list. May the Father protect you under His Mighty Wing as you intercede for others.
Love your heart for prayer, Tyra. ((hug)) Adding Donnie and Chrissy to the list. Thank you for sharing. <3
K – for depression and family dysfunction. thanks!
Sue Donaldson recently posted…Mold and Weeds, Pt. II–No Fence-Sitting Allowed
Prayers for K, Sue. Thanks for sharing. ((hug))
Breanda, Thank you so much for this. I would love prayer for my son, Chris. He is lost and wondering.
Oh, friend. ((HUG)) Prayers for Chris. Thank you for sharing. xoxo
Hi Brenda, I would love prayers for my brothers; George, Charles and Obed to accept God’s salvation in Jesus Christ. My hope is strong and alive and I believe that as we agree in faith it is done. Thanks a lot for stirring some more hope in us today.
Have a super blessed day!
Love
Ugochi recently posted…I Want To See God!
Hi, Ugochi. Agreeing in faith with you and lifting up prayers for George, Charles and Obed. Adding them to the list. Thank you for sharing. ((hug))
Brenda, loving this Thursday link-up of yours, it is fun. I’ll take prayers for those I love anywhere I can get them, please pray for JSF.
Thanks for your sweet words of encouragement, Paris. Adding JSF to the list, thank you for sharing. ((Hug))
Brenda, you’re doing such a unique thing here with your posts that encourage us to be deliberate as a community praying for our loved ones… it’s fantastic! I feel inspired every time I visit your site! Have an amazing weekend! Keep shining for Him!
Christine, your sweet words are an encouragement to my heart. Thank you for sharing. You, too, are an inspiration to me, friend. 🙂 ((xoxo))
Hi there, Brenda! I know what you mean about how sometimes prayer for a loved one can be like a burden on the mind. (your first paragraph 🙂 ) Just yesterday God spoke to me about that and helped me to trust and hand those people over to him. And interestingly I saw an answer to prayer in someone’s life after I did that. (I mean after I prayed and handed it over, instead of pray/worry/pray/worry)
I’d love prayer for Grace, but please don’t put her name on a graphic? 🙂 Confidential.
Betsy de Cruz recently posted…When You Need More Grace, More Hope, More Jesus
Love that testimony of God’s faithfulness to answer prayer, Betsy. <3 Will be praying for Grace. (Without adding her name to a graphic.) Thanks for sharing. ((hug))
Yes, indeed. That’s exactly what it is: hope is birthed in prayer. I love that!
So sorry I missed the link up this week. I was busy with my book release parties all day. It was a blast! But exhausting. What a blessing. I will be joining you gals again next week, though. I love the community you’ve built here!!!
How exciting, Kay. I finally had a chance to sit down and start your book this weekend–on chapter four and enjoying it. 🙂 Look forward to seeing you again next week. 🙂 ((hug))
We so need something like this.
Let’s spread hope and not hate.