June bursts with the fresh air and sunshine that marks the beginning of summer. Students take a break from school, graduates throw their caps into the air, and many brides and grooms say “I do!” As we welcome the arrival of summer, here’s a few ways you can pray with Only By Prayer through June.

1. National Cancer Survivor’s Day, June 7 — I included this event because of the sheer number of people who are battling/have fought cancer. I can’t imagine that there is a person who exists that doesn’t have someone in his or her life who is fighting this disease. I’ve lost dearly loved ones to cancer and know people in the throes of chemo right now, as I am sure you do too. Here is what the National Cancer Survivor’s Day website says about this day: “National Cancer Survivors Day® is a CELEBRATION for those who have survived, an INSPIRATION for those recently diagnosed, a gathering of SUPPORT for families, and an OUTREACH to the community.” Be sure to check out their suggestions; if you are putting together an event for this day, register it on their website.

Resources:

National Cancer Survivor’s Day website

American Cancer Society

Ways to Prevent Cancer

Verse: “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:14

Prayer: Lord, we ask for your healing touch upon those battling the scourge of cancer. We pray that in Jesus’ name the cancer cells would be decimated and that their bodies would be free of this disease. Please comfort and strengthen the sick and their families and friends. We ask for wisdom for doctors who are treating patients and for researchers trying to find a cure. Amen.

2. Summer Vacation  — Unless schools are on a year-round calendar, they will be taking a break starting in June. Let’s pray that kids will be healthily occupied this summer with jobs, enriching activities, and times for rest and play. Intercede against unhealthy associations, gang activities, violence, and criminal activity. We also need to remember the teachers who give so much of themselves and their personal resources throughout the year, while having to deal with ever-evolving rules and regulations in the schools.

Resources:

Avoiding Power Struggles with Defiant Children

Summer Break Is Here: Now What?

Keeping Your Teen From Getting Bored (and in trouble) this summer

Verse: “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.” Proverbs 3:1

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the break from a rushed schedule that summer gives us. May parents and kids find a healthy balance in the schedule where there is time for rest but also times of active engagement and work. We pray that there will not be an increase in violence. We pray for our teachers to receive rest, wisdom, and recharging for the next year’s work. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

3. Graduates — This is the time of year to celebrate high school and college graduations. For the graduates, it’s an exciting and stressful time. Most graduates are pursuing higher education and/or entering the job market and taking bigger steps toward independence. Some may also be getting married. Either way, it’s a transitional time of life filled with decisions.

Resources:

College Planning with Rachel Cruze

Real Life on A Budget with Rachel Cruze

Verse: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3

Prayer: Lord, we pray for our graduates. We ask for those a little further along the road of life to speak into their lives. We pray for wisdom. We ask that they will work hard, plan well, and manage their money wisely. Keep them from paths that would derail them in life, and help them to make decisions that bring life and health. May they know you as Lord and Savior of their lives. Amen.

4. Father’s Day, June 21 — While the modern world seems to minimize the importance of fathers in the lives of families, that is simply a lie the enemy perpetuates. A father’s presence in a family is critical to the development of children. Let’s pray for dads today that they will not be minimized or devalued, and that they will be active and involved in the lives of their kids.

Resources:

My View: How Badly Do We Really Need Dad by James McQuivey

Why Do People Continue to Believe Children Don’t Need Fathers?

Verse: “Listen to your father who gave you life.” Proverbs 23:22

Prayer: Lord, we pray that fathers would be a strong, loving presence in the lives of their children. Restore the dignity to manhood and a man’s proper place in the family, which is being denigrated in the mainstream media. We pray that our families will remain healthy and intact. We ask for wisdom for dads to be the godly leaders that you meant for them to be in a family. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

5. Prayer for Storm Victims in Texas — As you probably know, a huge storm dumped 10 inches of rain in one hour at the end of May, causing terrible flooding, damage, and the loss of several lives. Let’s be in prayer for all those affected by the recent storms moving through the country.

Resources:

Texas Flooding

Verse: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15

Prayer: Lord, our hearts ache for those suffering losses because of this storm: loss of homes, properties, and lives. We pray for healing, comfort, and peace for those grieving. We pray for needs to be met and help to arrive. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thanks for praying with us through this month. Please add any other requests below.

Pray on!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

I can hardly believe that the holiday season is already over.  Most people look forward all year long to the feast that they can devour without judgment at Thanksgiving and the festivities of Christmas, but for my family this year, those traditions were moved to the bottom of our priority list.

About two months ago, my mom started getting really sick, and the doctors couldn’t find any source to her illness. They ran test after test, yet nothing made sense as to why she had a low blood count and was losing weight at an alarming rate. Christmas was right around the corner, and we decided to take a break from all the doctors’ appointments and just enjoy the season with our family. We would worry about possible causes for these symptoms after the tree had come down and the media had stopped showing all their Christmas specials.

This seemed like a great idea, but God had other plans. Plans that would rock our world… but then again, God seems to like switching up our plans, especially around Christmas time. The whole point of this season is that God flipped the script and sent His Son born of a virgin to save us. So when everything stopped going according to plan this Christmas, for me it was a lot easier to deal with, because I knew that God was still in control, just as He was 2,000 years ago.

About a week before December 25, my mom started coughing up blood. It wasn’t a lot the first day. But then it continued day after day, until her whole hand would be covered with the blood. Christmas was just days away, but it was time to act. We rushed her to the hospital to find out that she had lung cancer the size of a baseball in her left lung. The doctors had not thought to look for that specific form of cancer because my mother had never smoked or worked in a vocation that might contribute to lung cancer.

After that, things started going pretty fast. We were rushing my mom to many CT scans and biopsies. It was originally believed that she had stage three cancer, which would have given her about eight months to live. However, my God is bigger than doctors’ diagnoses, and after much prayer my mother returned for another doctors appointment to find out that the cancer was not spreading as fast as they had first thought and that they might be able to get all of the cancer with surgery. That surgery is still going to be very rough and we are all anticipating January 18, when my mom will have her entire left lung removed, but we are trusting God and know that He will protect my mom and continue to give us all peace throughout this difficult and scary experience.

On behalf of my mom, I am asking that any one reading this would please pray for her on January 18 as she goes into surgery. It would be so powerful and amazing to know that thousands of people are out there praying for her to have strength and to feel God’s presence throughout this time. My mom’s own personal prayer is that God be glorified in all of this. Thank you.

Pray on!

Brittany

Brittany Jean is a nineteen-year-old college student living in the Midwest with her parents and younger brother. She is currently majoring in pre-law and is planning on using that degree for ministry.