(picture is of newborn baby Seth, during our hospital stay in February 2009)
I was confiding in my dear friend Mary the other day, telling her how I was not looking forward to labor and delivery. My words reminded of something she had read recently and today she passed along the most beautiful prayer; “For Women Near the Time of Travail”, from Matthew Henry’s book Method for Prayer. (available online here.) It is the most helpful and encouraging thing I have ever read at such a time as this.
I’m 37 weeks pregnant, the earliest I’ve had a baby was at 38 weeks, I am slow and tired, and as I type these words the baby inside me is moving with those third-term recognizable motions and kicks *in the strangest places*. My mind is constantly on BABY, my body is preparing for delivery day, and with these sweet words from Matthew Henry, my soul is soaking in the spiritual wonder and joy of giving birth yet again, to a precious tiny newborn.
This is what godly encouragement is all about: pointing each other, in our unique circumstances, to God, prayer, and Scripture. There is purpose and meaning in everything a Christian goes through. Sometimes it is hard to focus and apply ourselves to dig out those golden truths from the Bible, and that’s why I am so thankful for Mary today, in sharing this. I might have missed out on a spiritual blessing, and I don’t want to miss out. I plan on copying this and carrying it around!
The large type is the actual prayer, the italics are the verses that reenforce each phrase. I hope it’s not too confusing to read. If you would like to see the prayer in it’s original format, click here.
Lord, thou hast passed this sentence upon the woman that was first in the transgression,
1 Timothy 2:14: “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression”that in sorrow she shall bring forth children.
Genesis 3:16: “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”But let this handmaid of thine be saved in childbearing, and continue in faith and charity and holiness, with sobriety.
1 Timothy 2:15: “Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”Enable her to cast her burden upon the Lord, and let the Lord sustain her;
Psalm 55:22: “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”and what time she is afraid, grant that she may trust in thee
Psalm 56:3: ” What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”and may encourage herself in the Lord her God.
1 Samuel 30:6: “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”O let not the root be dried up from beneath, nor let the branch be withered or cut off;
Job 18:16: “His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off. “but let both live before thee.
Be thou her strong habitation, her rock, and her fortress, give commandment to save her.
Psalm 71:3: “Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.”And when travail comes upon her, which she cannot escape, be pleased, O Lord, to deliver her;
1 Thessalonians 5:3: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”O Lord, make haste to help her;
Psalm 40:13: “Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.”be thou thyself her help and deliverer, make no tarrying, O our God.
Psalm 40:17: “But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.”Let her be safely delivered and remember the anguish no more, for joy that a child is born into the world, is born unto thee.
John 16:21: “A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world”
Good to be Home 
That is beautiful. 2 of my 7 were born in Africa at a time when we had no planes or doctors available. There were possible complication with each, but God delivered me and the babies from them. He is able, and I praise Him!
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing (and thanks to Mary for sharing it with you). Praying for you these last few days! Much love, Hannah.
Very Beautiful.
I almost forgot, that picture is so cute!
That is beautiful! I am lifting you in prayer to have the easiest delivery. {{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}
Labor is no fun, but look what you GET! You’ll do fine. You have had a lot of practice. I’m praying for a quick and easy time for you, my dear. My neighbor’s babies practically FALL out! No kidding! She didn’t even know she was in labor when she went for a usual check up. The doctor informed her she was already 8 centimeters! She didn’t have time to go to the hospital, so she just had the baby in the doctor’s office. She said it didn’t hurt. WOW.
Beautifully written 🙂
shanda, You’ve really been on my heart these last few days. I’m praying for you excited for your bundle of joy that is about to come into your life! blessings this weekend!
Praying for you. God will be with you every step of the way!
30 Weeks along and I need this. None of mine have been born before 41 weeks. Thank you Mary and Shanda for sharing. I’ve been trying to take every thought captive, but it isn’t easy, this will help. (and now I’m crying, darn hormones)
I’m 39.3 weeks and so every morning I wake up thinking this could be the day. My last one waited till 41.3 weeks so I could still be waiting for a while. 🙂 Praying all goes well for you….
God is just so close to you right now, I can feel it! Relax knowing He is in control and He knows just the time for your little blessing to come into this big world. Praying all goes well and better then you ever thought it could.
I love how the Lord leads and encourages us in various ways but especially in the time we need it most.I remember a dear friend of mine who btw just so happens to be you… telling me over the phone once after I had another baby and I was having a rough time spiritually telling me that God loves His new mothers too.” It was just what I had needed at the moment and the Lord used that to minister to my heart. 🙂 Glad to hear how He is sustaining you. Praying for you and am eager also for baby to arrive. 🙂 All my love to you.
Praying things go well for you. The last few weeks can get really long with waiting. Great verses to dwell on in your time of waiting.
I join the others in wishing you God’s blessing, peace, and strength.
~ when i see that picture of Seth i’m reminded and amazed how quickly time truly flies!! such a special thing for God to have linked all us women together to watch and share and be a part {in a small way} of these things together. thinking of you & praying peace of mind and calm of spirit as you prepare to welcome another sweet little one~
how wonderful. I am praying for you… He will keep us in perfect peace when our minds are fixed on Him!
@DanishDoll – This makes me mad! (kidding – but half serious I guess!) As the oldest of 12, I had always loved children and hoped to have a big family of my own, but could not believe the agony involved in having my first baby! I thought I might not be able to consider going through the process of pregnancy and labor again! However, I put everything in perspective by thinking, “Well, women have done this all through the ages, I can too!” And yet I have met and heard of women like this, who really and truly don’t have a very hard time…it totally, totally baffles me!!!!
“Travail” – such a choice word for that condition!!!This prayer, and the included Scriptures, are a great blessing to me. Thank you so much for taking the time to share them Shanda! I am compiling some Scriptures to have on hand for my next labor, and this will be a wonderful addition.Love and prayers for you during the next few days…Angie
Oh so sweet to see Seth when so new. Praying for you dear Shanda. Wonderful words of God’s faithfulness and care in that prayer.
May your baby soon be safely here ~ God bless ~
Our family (especially me) has prayed daily that your baby would grow to a healthy size – full term, that your own body would be without complications, and that other people would step up and help you around the house when you were too tired. With the visit of your m-i-l and all of the months you’ve been through, I’d say my prayers were answered.Now I will pray (with my whole family) that your baby is safely delivered and that God has mercy on you, regarding the “pain part” of the delivery. Seth came quickly and that was hard on you. Quick births are hard on everyone. I can only recommend you find a position (perhaps sitting with knees wide apart and feet on the grown) and gently lean into each contraction, blowing “the pain” out through your lips. You are a pro, so I’m not going to suggest anything else, but I give you my word I’ll pray about the delivery part!xoxoxoxo
P.S. My girls just said they would pray that “it doesn’t hurt too bad and that God has mercy on you” during labor – that’s 4 of us praying in agreement!
Oh Shanda…thank you, thank you, thank you. I am now 35 weeks along and have expressed my concern as well with labor. I just cannot believe with this being my fifth, that I am still concerned about it. Glad to hear, again, that I am normal. I am very slow and sleep is nonexistent with the way I feel. Also, this time heartburn has been the worst I’ve ever had. Thank you so much for sharing this. It’s exactly what I needed right now. I’ll be praying for you as you near birth. I had my last baby at 36 weeks. I still doubt I will beat ya with this one. Will be watching for good news 😉
That’s a wonderful quote, Shanda. I’ll be praying for you to have a safe and relatively easy delivery. Baby Seth is so precious in the photo!
That’s a great quote…thank you for sharing it. I pray God allows me to have more children someday soon, I have to simply wait upon Him. 🙂
Oh, Shanda!!! These are all the things I learned with Lucy–carrying a child and then delivering a child is such a beautiful picture of the work of Jesus on the cross for us. We know Him more fully as we embrace the pain of giving birth. He birthed His church in great pain and beauty and was VICTORIOUS! Oh, praise Him for His sacrifice! And you are blessed to share in His sufferings! I pray you know Him more fully through your birthing of Sarah JOY–may your joy be made full!!!P.S. I have a baby in my belly.
hugs!
Shanda,I gasped when I opend up your xanga site this morning! I thought you had your little girl! That is the sweetest picture! Each mamma that visits here feels your anxiety, your exhaustion, your fear and of course your excitment! It’s the stuff us hormonal gals are made of. :o) “When I am overwhelmed, lead to the rock that is higher than I.” I am reminded that in my weakest state, it is then that I am able to see His strength the best. Love you, and I will be praying for you today.—Ooooo, I can’t wait to see her! How exciting!!!!!!!