The "P" in PREHEAT

Now to start with the prayers. The "P" in PREHEAT stands for protection. I want to be regularly praying for Amy to not only be protected (actually) but also to feel protected (existentially). My favorite Psalm is 91, where the psalmists describes God as a "refuge" and "fortress."

While Amy is driving-which she hates-I pray God to be a refuge and fortress to not only keep her safe, but allow her to feel safe.

And obviously women are more prone to violent attack or rape, so it would be foolish to simply ignore prayers for such protection in today's world. In addition to physical protection, a helpful paradigm from my Reformed tradition is the "world, flesh, and devil."

"Devil"

Women, the same as men, are subject to spiritual attack. So it would likewise be foolish to ignore this aspect-though most often presbyterians (and I) do. Satan can easily place little doubts, like "Am I a good enough wife? A good enough Mom? Fit or trim enough? Pretty enough?" To take down a man, Satan will often go after his wife so that he can get a two-for-one deal.

"Flesh"=our tendency to struggle with general and specific sin

A prayer of protection for daughters, sisters, and friends could deal with protection from "settling." It's sad and far too predictable how young women settle for dudes who are just too spiritually immature or are unbelievers. So Queen's "Another one bites the dust" just plays in the background of their lives, but never loud enough for them to hear it. We really need to be praying not just for patience and protection but for the actual provision of godly husbands.

"World" = the specifically sinful cultural assumptions

Our ladies need protection from the world's depiction of success: career woman, perfect super soccer mom, completely independent, sexy pre-baby bodies even for mothers who've had many children. Of course Christian ghettos have their own unhealthy depictions of what moms and women are supposed to be, but I don't have time to go into those. I would categorize them under "world" just as Jesus categorized the religious and cultural assumptions of his day which were contrary to scripture. But those don't seem as much of an issue where I'm serving now, so I'll leave it at that.

One man wisely said, "I'm not man enough to be a woman." I agree. At the heart level, the only weapons we have against this battle are sacrificial and active love, God's word, and prayer, so lads, let's get to it.