25 Prayers for My Husband

Thank you, Melissa, for sharing these with me. :)

Source: flickr.com via Ashley on Pinterest

I pray…

- that he continues to grow spiritually through the disciplines of Bible study, prayer, and quiet times. (Proverbs 4:23)

- that his relationship with God will bear much fruit in his life, and that he will be a man who seeks wisdom and understanding. (Proverbs 3:7, Psalm 112:1)

- that he would walk humbly with God, and would always be convicted quickly about any sin in his life. (Micah 6:8)

- that he will continue to grow as the leader of our family, and that God would be glorified in our marriage. (Ephesians 5:25-29)

- that he would have a teachable spirit and a servant’s heart, and that he will listen to God and desire to do His will. (Proverbs 15:33)

- that he would always look to the way of escape from any kind of temptation, and that he would rely on God to remain faithful to our marriage, and to God. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

- that he would safeguard his heart against inappropriate relationships with the opposite sex, and this heart would pure and undivided in his commitment to me and to our marriage. (Proverbs 6:23-25)

- that he would continue to be able to provide for our family, and that he will not become discouraged by doing work he does not enjoy.

- that money would never become a source of discord in our family, and that we would be wise in handling finances and in stewardship. (Luke 16:13)

- that the words he speaks will build our family, and reflect a heart of love. (Proverbs 18:21)
that our physical intimacy would be a positive reflection of selfless love. (Song of Solomon 7:10)

- that the men in his life would encourage his accountability before God, and that he would be a godly influence on his friends and coworkers. (Proverbs 13:20, 27:17)

- that he would choose healthy foods and activities, and honor God by taking the best possible care of his body as the tabernacle of God. (1 Corinthians 6:19)

- for his strength — physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. (Ephesians 3:16)
for him to have wisdom and discernment in training/disciplining our children, and that You would enable him to love them unconditionally. (Ephesians 6:4)

- that he would always have an eternal perspective, and make the most of however much time he has in this life. (Ephesians 5:16)

- that he would always be a man of peace, who allows the Holy Spirit to lead his responses in all situations. (Romans 14:19)

- that he would have a balanced life in regards to work and play, and that he would submit his schedule to You. (Proverbs 16:9)

- for him to find favor with the Lord, but also with people he knows and interacts with. (Luke 2:52)

- that he would enjoy peace and refreshment in his relationship with the Lord. (Psalm 16:11)

- that he would always be courageous in his stand against evil and injustice, and that he will protect our family from Satan’s attacks. (Ephesians 6:13)

- that he would be a man of prayer, seeking God in purposeful ways. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

- that he will serve God and others with pure motives, and that God would be glorified in everything he does. (Colossians 3:23-24)

- that he would offer all this dreams to the Lord, and pursue only those that bring God glory, and that count for eternity. (Jeremiah 29:11)

- that he would offer all this dreams to the Lord, and pursue only those that bring God glory, and that count for eternity. (Jeremiah 29:11)

- that he will recognize the lies of the enemy in his life, and that he will always be guided by the Truth. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

Creative Reminder to Pray

Source: thecreativeplace.blogspot.com via Jen on Pinterest

One of my coworkers saves all her Christmas cards / photos and prays for each person throughout the year. This year I'm going to put all the cards I get into a book like this & do that, too! LOVE this!

Okay, I made mine, so I'm adding it to this post. So easy & fun!

Preparing Your Heart For His

This prayer is from Praying for Your Future Husband: Preparing Your Heart For His by Robin Jones Gunn & Tricia Goyer.

Lord, I pray that my future husband will see You as his strength and his song. "The Lord Himself is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2 b

Happy Monday, Friends! :)

Celebrating 5 Months!

Friends, for those of you who started with me way back in late February of this year, do you realize we've been praying for over 5 months now? This is the longest I've stuck with consistent prayer for my husband and having this accountability has really helped me not to "get weary in well doing." I hope the same has been true for you.


My latest conviction has been that I wasn't praising God in advance for an answer to my prayer. So, today (whether you're praying for a change in your marriage or for your future husband or whatever is on your heart) would you join me in praising God for the way His glory will shine in our love story? Praise Him for His faithfulness and goodness in fulfilling your heart's desires. I know, this might be the hardest thing I've asked you to do so far in this journey. At least, it's been the hardest for me. The first time I attempted this, I could hardly get the words out with all the doubts and "What ifs" bombarding my mind. Before you pray, it might help to pray on the spiritual armor.

Ephesians 6:10-18: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

Praise Changes Things

I came across this in my devotional time, and it hit me like a bucket of ice water. Why hadn't I seen this before? Why have I waited until now to START doing this? Read this excerpt from Streams in the Desert and we'll "chat" at the end of it, okay? (it's funny typing this all into my computer, because I feel like we all should be sitting down having iced vanilla lattes at my house on my big couches instead! Sometimes I pretend that we are. :) ) Here goes:

Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me." John 11:41 The sequence of events in this passage seems strange and unusual. Lazarus was still in his tomb, yet Jesus' thanksgiving preceded the miracle of raising him from the dead. It seems that thanks would only have been lifted up once the great miracle had been accomplished and Lazarus had been restored to life. But Jesus gave thanks for what He was about to receive. His gratitude sprang forth before the blessing had arrived, in an expression of assurance that it was certainly on its way. The song of victory was sung before the battle had been fought. It was the Sower singing the song of harvest - it was thanksgiving before the miracle!

Who ever thinks of announcing a victory song as the army is just heading out to the battlefield? And where do we ever hear a song of gratitude and thanksgiving for an answer that has not yet been received?

Yet in this Scripture passage, there is nothing strange, forced, or unreasonable to the Master's sequence of praise before the miracle. Praise is actually the most vital preparation to the working of miracles.

Praise Changes Things:

Nothing pleases God more than praise as part of our prayer life, and nothing blesses someone who prays as much as the praise that is offered. I once received a great blessing from this while in China. I had recently received bad news from home and deep shadows of darkness seemed to cover my soul. I prayed but the darkness remained. I forced myself to endure but the shadows only deepened. Then suddenly one day, as I entered a missionary's home at an inland station, I saw these words on the wall: "Try giving thanks." So I did, and in a moment every shadow was gone, never to return. Yes, the psalmist was right: "It is good to praise the Lord." Psalm 92:1

Isn't that so good?? I've been faithful in praying, but I haven't once praised God in advance for answering my prayer for a godly husband. So, I stopped and closed my eyes and did just that. And it was so hard to get the words out. Doubts from the enemy threatened to steal my faith. What if God doesn't have marriage for you? Aren't you being a bit presumptuous? I ignored the lies and decided that I would pray boldly and praise Him for the gift of marriage and prepare myself for that role until God either brings that about or He leads me in another direction.
If you haven't praised God for your future husband or praised Him for the work He will do in healing your marriage (or whatever it is you're praying for), I encourage you to stop right now and do just that! :)

Love & Blessings,
Jen

Week 17: His Protection

Lord,
I pray that You would protect my future husband from any accidents, diseases, dangers, or evil influences. Keep him safe and hide him from violence and the plans of evil people. Wherever he walks, secure his steps. Keep him on Your path so that his feet don't slip (Psalm 17:5). If his foot does slip. hold him up by Your mercy (Psalm 94:18). Give him the wisdom and discretion that will help him walk safely and not fall into danger (Proverbs 3:21-23). Save him from any plans of the enemy that seek to destroy his life (Psalm 103:4). Preserve his going out and his coming in from this time forth and even forevermore (Psalm 121:8).
Amen

My friend Katherine told me about a book called Praying for Your Future Husband: Preparing Your Heart for His by Robin Jones Gunn and Tricia Goyer. I just finished it & one of my favorite parts of the book reminded me of my dear friend Jamie, who is getting married this week:

"When the day comes that your love story is celebrated by your closest friends and family, you'll know that every prayer was worth it. Every whispered word from a tender heart is precious to God. No request is ignored. No moment spent with your Heavenly Father is wasted.

You might even wish you had prayed more. Why? Because your prayers are the first gifts you will give to your future husband. Gifts in which heaven participates. Gifts send ahead before the two of you have even met."

Such a beautiful thought! I'm nearly in tears as I type. May that encourage you to keep praying boldly, single women, for the man God has for you.

Much love,
Jen

Week 7: His Choices

Lord, give my husband wisdom and discernment for every decision that he makes. May he reverence You and Your ways and seek to know Your truth. I pray that he will listen to godly counselors and that his heart would be teachable. I pray he will do what is right rather than follow the leading of his own flesh. May he not buy into the foolishness of this world, but keep his eyes on You and have ears to hear Your voice.

Proverbs 1:5 ~ A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.

Week 6: His Purpose

Lord, I pray that my husband will clearly hear the call You have on his life. Help him to realize who he is in Christ and give him the certainty he was created for a high purpose. Enable him to walk worthy of his calling and remind him of what You've called him to be. Don't let him get sidetracked with things that are unessential to Your purpose. Strike down discouragement so that it will not defeat him. Lift his eyes above the circumstances of the moment so he can see the purpose for which You created him. Give him patience to wait for Your perfect timing. I pray that the desires of his heart will not be in conflict with the desires of Yours. May he seek You for direction and hear when You speak to his soul.

"The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory. . .give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. " Ephesians 1:17, 18

~ The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian

Week 4: His Mind

Lord, I pray for Your protection on my husband's mind. Shield him from the lies of the enemy. Help him to clearly discern between your voice and any other, and shoe him how to take every thought captive as You have instructed. May he thirst for Your Word and hunger for Your truth so that he can recognize wrong thinking. Give him strength to resist lying thought. Where the enemy's lies have already invaded his thought, cleanse his mind. Enable him to be transformed by the renewing of his mind (Romans 12:2). Help him to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let his requests be made known to You; and may Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard his heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6-7). And finally, whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, having virtue, or anything praiseworthy, let him think on these things (Phil. 4:8).

Amen.

Week 3: His Finances

Lord, I pray that You will give (my husband or future husband) wisdom to handle money wisely. Help him make good decisions as to how he spends and show him how to plan for the future. I pray that he will find balance between spending needlessly and being miserly. I pray that he will not be anxious about finances, but will seek Your kingdom first, knowing that as he does, we will have all we need. Help us to remember that all we have belongs to You, and be grateful for it. Amen.

Week 2: His Work

I'm posting this early as I know that some of you might not have Monday night free and would rather pray on your lunch break or before you leave for work. There's really no right or wrong way to be involved in this - just set aside time to intercede for the man in your life (or the one who will be!). :)

God, I pray that You would be Lord over my future husband's work. May he bring You into every aspect of it. Give him confidence in the gifts You've placed in him to be able to seek, find, and do good work. Open up doors of opportunity for him that no man can close. Show me (when the time comes) what I can do to encourage him. I pray that his work will be established, secure, successful, satisfying and financially rewarding. Give him strength, faith, and a vision for the future. Help him also to see that he doesn't have to work himself to death for man's approval. Let him be like a tree planted by the stream of Your living water, which brings forth fruit in due season. May he never wither under pressure, but grow strong and prosper. (Psalm 1:3)

(excerpt from The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian)

I highly recommend this book, because it helps me stay focused when I pray and it's so specific for every area of a man's life.

His Wife / WPB "How To" :)

This quote really encouraged me & I hope you are blessed by it, but more than that, I hope it serves as a catalyst for a more meaningful and dynamic prayer life. May our longings bring us to our knees before His throne of grace!

"You don’t need to deny your longings, your aches, your confusion or your hopes. Rather, let those realities become the powerful fuel for your prayers—for our prayers—for new and robust life."

* For my single readers, please say "my future husband" when applicable. My married or engaged readers will say their husband's name.

Lord ~

help me to be a good wife. I fully realize that I don't have what it takes to be one without your help. Give me a new heart and work in me Your love, peace and joy (Galatians 5:22-23). Only You can transform me.

I pray that the commitment my husband and I have to You and to one another will grow stronger and more passionate every day! Enable him to be the head of the home as You made him to be, and shoe me how to support and respect him as he rises to that place of leadership. Reveal to me what he wants and needs and show me potential problems before they arise. Breathe Your life into this marriage. Make me a new person, Lord. Give me a fresh perspective, a positive outlook, and a renewed relationship with the man You've given me. Help me to see him with new eyes, new appreciation, new love, new compassion and new acceptance. Give my husband a new wife, and let it be me.

I lay all my expectations at Your cross. I release my husband from the burden of fulfilling me in areas where I should be looking to You. Help me to accept him the way he is and not try to change him.

"Ask, and it will be given unto you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened unto you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

"Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." Mark 11:24

Wives in Prayer: A "How To" :)

*****

Oh, Friends! I'm so encouraged by all the texts, phone calls and emails already about this Wives in Prayer Venture - I'm excited to see so many who are equally passionate about praying for their marriages (current or future!).

There really is no "right" way to be involved, but for those who would like more guidelines, here's my personal plan:

Each Monday night, I'm setting aside time to pray for my single friends who desire the ministry of marriage as well as those married friends God lays on my heart. You can pray by yourself, with another friend or group of friends - in person, on the phone, skype - whatever you want! You can also fast - from food, a liquid fast, a fast from T.V. or anything He leads you to set aside.

I took some time to pray for all the single friends on my prayer list and the prayer I pray goes like this:

"Lord, you created (friend's name here). And I believe You created marriage for her good and Your glory. I don't know Your timeline, but I'm asking You to fulfill her desire to be married. Thank You, Lord, for this strong desire You've placed in her heart. Thank You that You've already been where she's headed and that You already know what her future holds. Thank You for marriage and for her future husband. Please be with him and prepare his heart to do Your will."

Then I prayed (see post on blog titled "His Wife") with my mom for her marriage & she prayed for my future one.

My plan works for me, but feel free to pray as you feel led.

Much love,
Jen