Tag Archives: Christian marriage

Post 3 of 3: Praying through Galatians 5 and 6 with your spouse

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When it comes to marriage, I firmly believe praying for each other (and with each other) plays a vital part in strengthening the husband-wife bond!

The following prayers can be prayed as a couple or separately. I hope that you and your spouse will be blessed and encouraged through these prayers based on the book of Galatians!

Here is a link to the PDF of the following prayers.

Prayer #1 based on Galatians 5:1, 4-5, 7-8,13-18, 22-26

Dear Lord, we praise You for Your Holy Spirit. May we recognize the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives and the incomparable freedom that a relationship with You promises. Please help us to realize that attempts to justify ourselves through legalism prevent Your grace from doing its beautiful work in our lives.

Lord, help us be vigilant in preventing anyone from hindering our obedience to You. We pray that the freedom we have in You compels us to serve others humbly and never as an excuse to make selfish choices that reflect poorly on You. We pray that we will never interfere with anyone else’s desire to live according to Your will. May we consistently follow Your command to love our neighbors as ourselves. May we be sure to pursue Your wisdom when we are in a situation where we do not know how to express that love in a Christlike manner.

Lord, we want to be led by Your Holy Spirit and walk confidently on the path You have laid out for us. There are numerous temptations in the world. We need Your help to discern between desires of the flesh and desires of the Spirit. Set our hearts on pleasing You and realizing the effects of choosing the flesh over Your Holy Spirit. Enable us to strive to display the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May we always give You the glory when others see Your Spirit in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer #2 based on Galatians 6: 1-2, 9-10, 14-15, 18

Dear Lord, we praise You for the gift of forgiveness offered to all Your children. Equip us with appropriate words and actions that will gently influence our brothers and sisters in Christ to repent of sin and reconcile with You. Empower us to inspire others to trust us to share their burdens. Please help us be confidantes, encouragers, and exhorters who honor Your name in all our interactions with others. Give us Your strength to diligently pursue holiness and avoid temptation. Please help us make wise decisions to steer clear of places and people that could lure us into sinful thoughts and behavior. Increase our desire to become more like You.

We pray that You will develop the character trait of perseverance in both of us. Lord, help us be steadfast in displaying it, especially when sorrow and difficulty cause us to become weary. May we be on the lookout for opportunities to do good works in obedience to Your will. Sometimes, our good works will not produce the response we are hoping for, and frustration may start to set in. In those moments, please reenergize us, Lord. Give us a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit. We pray that we can be depended upon to treat others in a loving, Christlike manner despite any adverse reactions we may receive.

Lord, may we only ever boast about the life-changing power of Your love and salvation, for nothing we do on our own achieves anything lasting. May our spirits be saturated and strengthened by Your amazing grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayers for Your Husband (Based on Ephesians 5 and 6)

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Think about how you feel when you discover that someone is praying for you. I firmly believe praying for (and with) your husband plays a vital role in encouraging and empowering him!

I am sharing six prayers based on chapters 5 and 6 from the book of Ephesians. You will find the prayers (and the verses they are based on) below. You will also find a link to go right to the printout. Print them and use them as a bookmark, put them in your home where you’ll see them during your prayer time, or give them to friends. 

My hope is that these prayers will bless your marriage!

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Prayers for Your Husband (Based on Ephesians 4)

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Hello, Friends. Isn’t it a blessing when you discover that someone is praying for you?

When it comes to marriage, I firmly believe praying for each other (and with each other) plays a vital part in strengthening the husband-wife bond.

My hope is that these prayers will bless and encourage you and your spouse!

Below you will find prayers based on Ephesians 4. Print them and use them as a bookmark, put them in your home where you’ll see them during your prayer time, or give them to friends. (Here is the link for the printout.) Prayers for Your Husband (Ephesians 4)

This is what the printout looks like:

I’d love to hear from you if you pray these prayers for your husband…or if you are a husband who prays these prayers for your wife! Thank you!

Also, please go to the Printables page to access additional prayers for your husband from Ephesians 1, 2, 3, and James 1!

Prayers for Your Husband Based on Ephesians 4

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; Ephesians 4:2-4 (NIV)

Dear Lord, reignite in my husband a yearning to pursue You above everything. May Christlike patience, gentleness, and humility radiate from him, and may the people he associates with be motivated to emulate those characteristics in their lives. Awaken him to the eternal impact he can have on others when he demonstrates Your love. Reveal to him how to be a unifying presence in all situations. Entrust him with the ability to exemplify Your perfect peace in a world that is desperate to experience it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built upuntil we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves,and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:11-15 (NIV)

Dear Lord, thank You for granting spiritual gifts to all of Your children. Give us Godly courage to use our gifts to point the world to You and to invigorate the body of Christ. Strengthen my husband’s confidence in You and help him have unshakeable faith, especially when he grapples with adversity. May Your Spirit encourage him to selflessly and actively love people the way You do. May the love with which he uses his gifts bring unity to Your family. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:21-24, 29, 31-32 (NIV)

Dear Lord, thank You for graciously offering new life to anyone willing to receive it. I pray for my husband to joyfully accept Your gift and wholeheartedly rid his life of former mindsets or activities that do not glorify You. May he be ethical and diligent, bringing honor to You in his family life and career as well.  Motivate him to be a man whose conduct is not dictated by anger, but by Your love. Speak through him with language saturated in unity, compassion, forgiveness, and kindness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.  

Prayers for Your Husband (based on Ephesians 1)

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Marriage can be full of ups, downs, twists, and turns. But it is a team effort (husband, wife, and Jesus!) and nothing can match how rewarding a marriage relationship is.

Praying with and for your spouse can make a powerful difference. Personally, I would describe it as a gamechanger for my husband and me.

In May and June, I shared some prayers from the book of James, chapter 1. Here are the links for all three of the PDFs – PDF #1 Prayers from James,   PDF #2 Prayers from James,    PDF #3 Prayers from James

Now I would like to share with you some prayers that you can pray for your spouse based on Ephesians chapter 1. But before you scroll down to read them, here is a prayer for each one of you:  Lord, I pray for the people who read these prayers and lift their spouses up in prayer. Touch their marriages, Lord. Reveal to them a way where they previously thought a way did not exist. Renew their hope in You and Your ability to strengthen their relationship. Give them a fresh perspective on how to celebrate You, celebrate each other, and celebrate the gift of marriage. In Your name, Amen.

Below you will find three sections of Ephesians 1 and a prayer that goes with each one. Click here for a PDF containing these prayers! You can print them out to use as a bookmark or tape them to your mirror, etc.  (More prayers based on Ephesians will be coming, so be looking for those.) Continue reading →

When Expectations in Marriage Take Over

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This is an “In case you missed it” post that I would like to share with you. Last month, I had the honor of being a guest contributor on AWifeLikeMe.com where it originally appeared: Link to original post     (***I would love hearing your feedback on this…this was a tough topic to share about.)

 

When I was twenty, the future I dreamed of included a loving husband and four kids. By the time I was twenty-nine, my husband and I excitedly welcomed our fourth child into our home, and we were living that dream life.

 

However, in my early thirties, my feelings and my reality were not in sync. Looking back, I can safely say I was in the midst of a mild depression. The blessings in my life were somehow not enough, and I felt something was missing. I began to look for and expect that missing piece to be found in my husband.

 

One memorable morning, my husband and I sat on the edge of our bed. Tears streamed down my face as I once again expressed that I was struggling with nearly constant sadness. I will never forget the defeated look in his eyes.

 

Numerous times before that day, he had lovingly pointed out the positives, embraced me, and prayed both for me and with me. But on this particular day,  when my tear-filled eyes locked with his, I realized he was weary and out of ideas about how to satisfy an unfair expectation I had unintentionally placed on his shoulders. Somewhere along the way, I had started looking to my husband to be the solution to my feelings of emptiness.

 

Confiding in my husband about my lack of joy was part of the covenant of marriage, but looking to him to be the solution was not contained in the vows we made to each other back in 1992.

 

Like the line from the movie, “Jerry Maguire,” I was looking to my husband to complete me. In this famous scene, when Tom Cruise’s character declares to Renee Zellweger’s character that she completes him, many viewers see it as the ultimate romantic gesture.

 

But in real life, it is an extraordinary amount of pressure to thrust upon anyone; especially someone we deeply, dearly love. Not only this, it is unfair to ask a person to be for us what God can only be. But here I was, seeking to find in my husband a fix for my empty.

 

I wish I would’ve known that as a wife, looking to my husband for my source of purpose, joy, or identity would only bring disappointment and frustration. And in my case, a low-level depression.

 

Friends, we have a promise-keeping God, and one of His promises is that we can indeed possess complete joy.  God’s Word assures us that our journey to complete joy starts by remaining in an obedient, loving relationship with Jesus.

 

John 15:9-11 (NIV) says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

 

God goes above and beyond, because a different version of the bible (the NLT) reads, “our joy will overflow.”

 

Let us never burden our husbands with the impossible task of completing us. How wonderful it is that God truly wants us to look to Him to do that. Let us rejoice that He is willing to fill us to overflowing!

 

This truth is freeing and life-giving. God has what your heart longs for. Turn to Him, and see your heart come alive.

 

A note for anyone struggling with depression: the church has historically not been an advocate for mental health. We do not want you to read this and think there must be something wrong with you, because you are looking to God for joy, but still not experiencing it. Please know that sometimes, like in my case, my feelings (of low-level depression) were due to my misplaced source of joy. But for you, it may be due to a chemical or hormonal imbalance, or due to a traumatic brain injury, which may possibly require medication. If you believe you may be suffering from depression, we encourage you to seek the care of a professional to help you seek the Lord in navigating your own unique journey of healing.

 

Wife Step: Spend five minutes alone with God, sharing your heart with Him. Tell Him how you desire new joy in your heart and in your life. Bare your soul to Him and tell God how you’re struggling with your expectations of your husband. He wants to hear, and He wants to fill you with His presence and joy.

 

Prayers (#3 of 3) For Your Husband

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This is the third post in a series of three printable prayers for spouses!

I firmly believe praying for our spouse is one of the most important things we can do to strengthen our marriage. I want to encourage you to begin or continue (whichever the case may be) taking time each day to pray for your spouse or significant other.

(Praying together is also a faith-building relationship-strengthening activity in marriage and there will be an upcoming blog post about that!)

Here are three prayers based on the book of James, chapter 1: 19-21, 22-24, and 26-27.

Scroll down for a printable that includes these prayers!

Also printable #1 and #2 are included at the end of this post!

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1:19-21

Dear Lord, fill my husband with Christlike gentleness and lovingkindness. Before he reacts to potentially volatile situations, instruct him how to be attentive to and considerate of all viewpoints. May he be intentional in becoming more like You: quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Lord, show him how to deliberately separate himself from the rampant evil in this world. Produce in him a righteousness that glorifies You, and lead him toward Your will and Your way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. James 1:22-24

Dear Lord, develop in my husband a passion for diving into and studying Your Holy Word. Teach him to earnestly listen for Your voice as he strives to remain on the path You designed for him. May he allow Scripture to direct every aspect of his life. I pray he will wholeheartedly enjoy the freedom that living for You provides. Lord, reveal to me how to be his trusted source of encouragement as he learns to surrender to You more and more. Generously bless his devoted obedience to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1: 26-27

Dear Lord, make my husband’s relationship with You his first priority. Instill in him the ability to control his tongue and speak with Christlike wisdom and love. I pray that the manner in which he speaks, acts, and treats others will influence them for You. May he be compelled to reach out to those in need, and may Your mercy, generosity, and love be visible through his actions. Lord, guard his heart from becoming distracted or gripped by the sin in this world. Help him to boldly walk in integrity. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Here is the link for these prayers. Download them, print them, tape them on your mirror or use as a bookmark, etc.

Click here for the 2nd printable in this series!

Click here for the 1st printable in this series! 

 

Prayers (#2 of 3) for Your Husband

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(This is the second post in a series of three printable prayers for spouses. Be watching in a few more days for the third post!)

I would venture to say that praying for our spouse is one of the most important things we can do to strengthen our marriage. I want to encourage you to begin or continue (whichever the case may be) taking time each day to pray for your spouse or significant other.

(Praying together is also a faith-building, relationship-strengthening activity in marriage and there will be an upcoming blog post about that!)

I would like to share three prayers based on the book of James chapter 1:9-10, 13-15, and 17.

Scroll down for a printable that includes these prayers!

Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. James 1:9-10

Dear Lord, may my husband clearly see every blessing You have granted to him. No matter what his current circumstances are, help him to be thankful to You for those blessings. May his grateful spirit be emulated by his loved ones. Put in him a Christ-like contentment whether he is in a season of need or of having all that he hopes for. Lord, stir in him a concern for those that are struggling and a desire to come alongside them in Christlike support and love. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15

Dear Lord, I pray that my husband will plainly see the dangers of sinning against you. Replace any of his sinful desires with a longing for a thriving relationship with You. May false promises of fulfillment through sinning not appeal to him, and may he instead be attracted to the genuine fulfillment of living a Christ-following life.

May he refuse to put himself in positions where temptation may be difficult to avoid. If he commits sin, teach him to take responsibility, and help him to humbly accept the forgiveness and restoration You readily extend. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Dear Lord, Thank You for entrusting my husband with countless blessings. Help him to be mindful of the fact that all good gifts come from You. I pray he will always give You the glory for those gifts, whether big or small. May he be a man who faithfully and openly praises You, and may he inspire others to praise You as well. In this world of disorder and confusion, reassure my husband that You are unchanging, constant, and in control. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

***Click here for a PDF with these prayers. You can download them or print them out. Tape them to your mirror or use as a bookmark, etc.!

***There are 3 more prayers from James chapter 1 that I will be sharing with you in the next few days…be watching for them!

Here is a link for the first PDF of prayers for your husband from James 1:2-6