It's Marriage Prayer Friday!

Today's prayers are based on Psalm 19.

A prayer for your own marriage—

HOLY REDEEMER, there are many ways I bring offense to my spouse and I am not even aware of all of them!  I admit that sometimes I am defensive about my sins and weaknesses, very often I am overwhelmed by them, and other times I’m just plain blind to them.  Lord, please cleanse me of my faults for they are more offensive to You than they are to anyone else — and that is what should matter most to me!  Keep me from deliberate sin and don’t let them control me.  You promise great reward to those who obey and revere You.  I know it is also true that Your law has the power to make me and my husband/wife wise, to revive our souls and to bring joy to our hearts.  God, I want those things in my marriage but I need Your help to stay consistent, humble, hungry and hopeful.  I keep trying to do this on my own yet I am nothing without the power of Your Holy Spirit within me!  Please make Your Word and ways like sweet honey to me.  I want to be as passionate about my marriage as You are.  I want to find as much delight in my spouse as You do.  Soften and strengthen me so that my thoughts, words and actions are both pleasing to You and edifying to my husband/wife.  O Lord, You are my personal Rock and Redeemer.  In Your mercy, hear my prayer.  AMEN

Something to pray for a friend's marriage—

HOLY REDEEMER, there are many ways spouses bring offense to each other and they are not even aware of all of them!  My married friends (and me too) can become defensive about their sins and weaknesses, very often overwhelmed by them, and other times just plain blind to them.  Lord, please bring my friends to their knees in repentance so they can be cleansed of their faults.  Deepen their appreciation for the fact that their sins are more offensive to You than they are to anyone else — and that is what should matter most!  Keep them from deliberate sins and don’t let sin take control of them or their marriage.  You promise great reward to those who obey and revere You.  Help my friends to soak in this truth today — that Your law has the power to make them wise, to revive their souls and to bring joy to their hearts.  God, I want those things for my married friends but they need Your help to stay consistent, humble, hungry and hopeful.  They keep trying to work things out on their own yet they can do nothing without the power of Your Holy Spirit within them!  Please make Your Word and ways like sweet honey to them.  Make these husbands and wives as passionate about their marriages as You are about marriage.  Teach them to find as much delight in their spouse as You do.  Soften and strengthen each of them so that their thoughts, words and actions are both pleasing to You and edifying to their spouse.  O Lord, You are the Rock and Redeemer.  In Your mercy, hear my prayer.  AMEN