Displaying items by tag: prayer

by Lauri Campbell, LAS,  Affiliation Coordinator

Sometimes we forget that the God who ordered the seasons of the earth also orders the seasons of our lives. Similar to the natural seasons of our world, there are four spiritual seasons of winter, spring, summer, and fall.

Since it’s February and most of us are experiencing some kind of winter in the natural world, let’s take some time to examine the purpose God has for a spiritual winter. You could be walking in this season now or may experience one later.

Farmers know that winter is not the time to plant, but it is the time to begin preparing to plant for the spring. If God has you in a season of winter, trying to produce something new may prove frustrating.

During a spiritual winter, you may experience darkness and unfruitfulness. You can feel like hopes, plans, and dreams are dying. It can seem that everyone else is flourishing, qualified, and just better than you.

It’s uncomfortable, even painful, and you long for spring.

Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Child of God, you must persevere through a spiritual winter to reap what God has in store for you in a spiritual spring. We can’t skip this season anymore than we can skip December through February. 

At times, hibernation sounds really good for this season, but you’re not a grizzly bear!  You’re a child of the Most High God, and He’s doing something in and through you. He’s faithful to complete what He started, remember? (Philippians 1:6)

It’s not a matter of if, but when. Spring is coming! Don’t grow weary. Don’t sit this season out.

Use this precious time to press into God. This spiritual winter season is appointed—Divine.  It’s ordered by your Creator. It’s part of the plan, not a diversion from the plan. Don’t let the enemy tempt you to believe that you’ll be left here in winter or that you’re walking alone.

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:
    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build… Ecclesiastes 3:1-3

We don’t like some of these words: die, uproot, kill, tear down. But they’re Scriptural words.  Holy words. Words of sanctification. God often uses spiritual winters to get us to, well…die to self. (Galatians 2:20)

The Holy Spirit may be prompting you to uproot some strongholds in your life. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

Is there an area of unforgiveness, bitterness, or disobedience that needs to be killed so you can heal? (Romans 6:6)

Do you have idols you need to tear down so God can build something holy and authentic into your character? (Micah 5:13)

God calls us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles (Hebrews 12:1-3). Killing off such things allows Him to cultivate holiness and joy in us, dismantle the shame we carry, and truly rest in His presence. We gain strength and stamina for what lies ahead. Learn to embrace the spiritual winter season because God is developing your root system. Don’t reject this time of deep growth that’s beneath the surface but so vital to the fruit He longs to produce in you. Learn what God is teaching so you can move to the next spiritual season.

How you respond to the Lord in this season will determine what you produce in the spring. Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. (James 5:7)

by Michele Cheresnick, Affiliation Coordinator

In the midst of serving clients and carrying out the day-to-day work of a Pregnancy Help Organization, prayer can easily be pushed aside. Yet taking time to pray with staff and volunteers is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen your team and your ministry.

Prayer isn’t just a spiritual habit; it must be our priority. When we take time to pray, we set the tone for a Christ-centered culture, reminding everyone that this mission doesn’t rest on human strength but on God’s guidance and provision. Moments of prayer create unity, encourage weary hearts, and build trust among staff and volunteers, a reminder that our work is a calling, not just a task.

Each month, we will share a prayer prompt and a prayer for you to use with your team. Post it in your center’s prayer closet, pray through it together, and invite God to lead your ministry through every conversation and decision.

Standing with You in Prayer: A meaningful affiliate benefit

At Heartbeat, we’ve always made prayer for our affiliates a priority, but we want to go even further. We are intentionally lifting up you and your ministry in prayer each day—and we warmly invite you to share your needs with us.

Whenever you feel led or face a challenge, reach out and use the prayer board. Know that every request will be personally prayed over by our Heartbeat staff, with care and consistency. We want you to feel the support of our prayers as you carry out the important work God has entrusted to your team.

This is more than a benefit—it’s a partnership. Standing together in prayer, we can invite God’s guidance, strength, and peace into every conversation, decision, and moment of your ministry.

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." – Matthew 18:20

Monthly Prayer Prompt
This month, let’s focus on gratitude for God’s provision.

• Thank Him for the donors and community partners who faithfully support your center.
  
  
• Pray for wisdom in stewarding every gift, every hour, and every opportunity to serve.
  
  
• Ask God to bless your physical space—that it would be a place of safety, peace, and hope for every client who enters.
  
  
• Lift up your team, asking God to encourage, inspire, and bless their faithful service.