Friday, April 29, 2011

It's "Marriage Prayer Friday!"

Please join us in praying for your own marriage or standing in the gap for a friend. Many marriages are hanging by threads but there is hope because of the cross! Thank you for seeking the Lord for the protection and fruitfulness of this sacred union.

A prayer for your own marriage—
RISEN LORD, it is only because of Your death and resurrection that I can trust You to refresh, renew, restore and heal the broken things in my marriage. I confess that sometimes my hope is small. Yet, because of You, I can expect to have a thriving relationship with my husband/wife. Thank You, Jesus, for connections I have with my husband/wife that are uniquely ours. Help me to recognize more of those precious things about our relationship and then show my gratitude more. Lord Jesus, sometimes I need to be reminded that You plan to prosper us as a couple. I get discouraged or complacent thinking that how it is right now is as good as it will ever be. Still, I yearn for more. I forget that You are always at work in the unseen and with a love for me and my husband/wife that always accomplishes more than anything we could ask for or imagine. Help me to trust You more so that I am ready for valuable things to be accomplished through my marriage. Help me to experience You more deeply so that I don't put expectations on my spouse that I need to put on You instead. Help me to fill up on my relationship with You so that the fruits of Your Spirit in me spill out into my marriage. You can do this, Lord! I ask these things in Jesus' name. AMEN

Something to pray for a friend's marriage—
RISEN LORD, it is only because of Your death and resurrection that I can trust You to refresh, renew, restore and heal the brokenness in my friends' marriages. Because of You, my friends can expect to have thriving relationships as couples. Thank You, Jesus, for connections each couple has that are uniquely theirs. Help them to recognize more of those precious things about their relationship and show gratitude to each other. Lord Jesus, please remind them that You plan to prosper them as a couple. When they get discouraged or yearn for something more in their marriages, help me to be one of many friends who point them to You and the cross. Thank You for being at work in the unseen and with a love that always accomplishes more than they ask or imagine. Please make them ready for valuable things to be accomplished through their marriages. Help each of them to experience You more deeply so that the fruits of Your Spirit in them spills out into their marriages. You can do this, Lord! I ask these things in Jesus' name. AMEN