Powerful Prayers for your Husband

With Lent beginning tomorrow, I've been thinking and praying about how best to use this holy time. God has beaten me over the head told me one major area he'd like for us, He and I, to work on together. I'd lie if I didn't say I was nervous about beginning this season, so confident about the impending failure of this task. But, like my friend Elizabeth reminded me, courage is a quiet whisper saying 'I'll try again tomorrow.' I'm anticipating needing a lot of courage for the do-overs. 40 days of Lent have me thinking I'll need about 40 of those.  Anyway, one of the easier, but certainly no less important, commitments I'll make this year was spurred by the Homily at Mass this weekend. Deacon John reminded those of us on a Christian walk that our most important goal is to lead our spouses closer to Jesus. I could write a whole post on all the ways I have done the opposite in our short marriage but agreed with all of the ways He encouraged us to lead our loved ones toward the Cross, most importantly, simply praying for them. I try to remember to pray for Ross and MK and I often say a quick "Help Daddy feel Jesus right now" or "Jesus hear dad's prayers today." I enjoy that with Mary Kate, making praying for her daddy and my husband a part of our day. But outside of the church, there were these beautiful cards, called Powerful Prayers for Your Husband by B.J. Reinhard.  It is helping me take praying for Him to a deeper, more specific level. So, in addition to that thing God beat me over the head with, I'll spend this Lent praying for the partner he gave me.

*I have the original card that I can email as an attachment if any of you want it.
 by b.J. ReinhaRd

Peace.
Lord, as my husband faces another day of challenges,
reveal Your deep love to him. Cast out his fears. May your peace
rule in his heart. (1 Jn. 4:18; Col. 3:15)

Strength.
Thank You, Lord, for daily bearing my husband’s
burdens. Remind him that You uphold him—physically,
emotionally, and spiritually. Refresh him with a sense of Your
presence. (Ps. 68:19; Col. 1:17; Jer. 31:25)
 
Intimacy with God.
Lord, remind Ross of Your deep, personal knowledge of him, and assure him that he can pour out his heart to You. May his walk with You be more than an intellectual
exercise. Reveal Yourself to him so that he can know and worship You as You are. (Ps. 62:8, 139:1-4; Jer. 9:24; Jn. 14:21)

Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, thank You that You live in and reveal truth to my husband. Teach him to
live in Your power—filled with, motivated by, and in step with
You. May he listen to Your voice and follow wherever You lead.
(Jn. 16:13-14; Gal. 5:16, 22-25; Is. 30:21)

Significance.
Lord, show Ross how valuable he is to You. May he know that his true worth comes from You. (Mt. 6:26; Jer. 29:11; Zeph. 3:17)

Success.
Cultivate in my husband a diligence and desire to do his best for You. Establish the work of his hands, and grant him success. Direct him into roles best suited to his gifts, talents, and personality. (Col. 3:23; Ps. 90:17, 139:13-15)

Finances.
Lord, as my husband provides materially for our family, help him to serve You, not money. Enable him to rest in Your provision. (Mt. 6:24; Gen. 22:14; Phil. 4:19)

Perseverance.
Strengthen Ross with faith and patience in the difficulties he faces. Assure him that You are with him and are working all things together for good. (Eph. 3:16-17; Col. 1:11; Ro. 8:28, 38-39)

Spiritual protection.
Lord, protect my husband from the temptations he faces today, especially concerning  (name specific area of temptation). Teach him to guard what enters
his mind, to focus on You, and to resist the enemy by faith.
(1 Cor. 10:13; Col. 3:1-2; Jas. 4:7; 1 Jn. 5:4-5)
Sexual purity.
Lord, Satan would twist his God-given desire for sex into something ugly. Prompt him to turn to You for safety and freedom from lust, pornography, sexual fantasies,
and inappropriate relationships. Let him find acceptance and satisfaction in You and within the context of our marriage. (Ps. 90:14; Prov. 5:15-20; Heb. 13:4)
Influence.
Thank You, Shepherd, for leading my husband as he interacts with and leads others—at home, at work, and in our church and community. Enable him to set a good example for and love those under his care. (Is. 40:11; Acts 20:28; Titus 2:7-8)
Marriage.
 Lord, on his own, my husband cannot fulfill Your desire for him to love me as You love the church. But You are love, and You live in him. Teach him how You want to love me through him. (Eph. 5:25; 1 Jn. 4:8; 2 Cor. 4:7)
Vulnerability.
 Lord, give Ross the courage to share his innermost thoughts and feelings with me. Grant me grace to listen with acceptance and to share honestly with him. (Prov. 31:10-12; Ro. 15:1-3)
Fatherhood.
 Be my husband’s wisdom in the challenges we face as parents. Teach him how to relate to and love our children the way You, our heavenly Father, relate to us. (1 Cor. 1:30; Ps. 103:8-14; Prov. 3:12; Eph. 6:4)
Friends.
Lord, bring my husband friends with whom he can share his joys and struggles—friends who speak frankly with him and remind him of Your love and power. Show him how to be a good friend in return. (Prov. 18:24, 27:6; Eccl. 4:9-12)
Loving others.
Give my husband courage and opportunities to share Your love with others in words and actions. When people frustrate him, help him to respond in humility and peace. When he sins against others or is sinned against, guide him to ask and
grant forgiveness. May those who interact with him touch Your
light and life. (2 Thess. 2:16-17; Col. 3:12-14; Phil. 2:14-16)
Physical protection.
Keep my husband safe and healthy. Teach him to care for his body, and heal his diseases, especially (name specific ailments). (3 Jn. 1:2; Ps. 103:2-3)

Passion for life. Father, show my husband his true purpose
for living, especially in areas that seem mundane. May Paul’s
claim, “To live is Christ,” always be true for my husband.
(Jn. 4:13-14, 6:35; Phil. 1:21) © 2007 by B.J. Reinhard
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**Be back with original material later this week lest y'all think I simply copy and paste for blog posts :)

 

 

 

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