It's "Marriage Prayer Friday!"

Today we are praying for marriages as it relates to the work couples are doing — individually and together — paid or unpaid — and satisfying or not. With so many marriages (including my own) facing the strain of unemployment or underemployment, let's take these things to God together remembering that He intimately knows our needs, has designed us with good plans in mind, and never leaves us or forsakes us.

A prayer for your own marriage

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HEAVENLY FATHER, thank you for the many ways you have given my family work to do. You have given my husband/wife and I individual projects and responsibilities as well as some things we do together. Sometimes we are paid for our work and sometimes we are not. Whether we labor in careers, volunteer efforts or other needs and passions, please make it fruitful. In particular, I lift up my husband/wife to you asking that you put him/her in places where he/she can do work that suits the ways you have equipped him/her with talents, temperament, experiences, and passions. Would you also make that satisfying work for him/her, Lord Jesus? In all the ways that my husband/wife applies him/herself, help him/her to be yielded to You so that where You go, he/she goes. Please make my spouse efficient, wise, creative, bold, and insightful so that he/she makes valued contribution to the life, work and businesses of others. Give him/her favor with the people he/she serves and make him/her a fragrance of You in the world where You have placed him/her. And, Lord, help us to trust in what You to provide for our family and teach us to live within the boundaries of what is given. In Jesus' name, I ask all of these things. AMEN

Something to pray for a friend's marriage—

HEAVENLY FATHER, thank you for the many ways you have given my family and friends work to do. In particular, I want to pray for my married friends who are working on both individual and collaborative projects. Sometimes they are paid for their work and sometimes they are not. Whether they labor in careers, volunteer efforts or other needs and passions, please make their efforts fruitful. Please put them in places where they can do work that suits the ways you have equipped them with talents, temperament, experiences, and passions. Would you also make that satisfying work for them, Lord Jesus? In all the ways that these couples apply themselves, help them to be yielded to You so that where You go, they go. Please make my friends efficient, wise, creative, bold, and insightful so that they make valued contributions to the life, work and businesses of others. Give them favor with the people they serve and make them a fragrance of You in the world where You have placed them. And, Lord, help them to trust in You to provide for their family and teach teach them how to live within the boundaries of what is given. In Jesus' name, I ask all of these things. AMEN