It's Marriage Prayer Friday!

Today's prayer is based on Ephesians 4:25-32.

A prayer for your own marriage

—

GRACIOUS LORD, help me to be genuine and truthful with my husband/wife about what goes on in my heart but help me to be tender and compassionate. Keep me from sin as I remember that we are one in You — part of the same body. Please keep the enemy from gaining any foothold in my marriage. Show us how to work out our differences in grace and sleep in peace together. Keep my tongue from unwholesome talk, especially about my husband/wife whether I am in his/her presence or not. Make everything I say about my spouse beneficial to those who are listening. Help me not to grieve You, Holy Spirit, with bitterness, rage, brawling, slander or malice. Strengthen my resolve and fill me with Your grace to be kind and compassionate, forgiving my husband/wife, just as You forgave me through Christ. Make us a stronger, Lord, and sow Your love generously in our relationship so we may give generously to others in need. AMEN

Something to pray for a friend's marriage—

GRACIOUS LORD, help my married friends to be genuine and truthful with each other about what goes on in their hearts but help them to be tender and compassionate. Keep them from sin as they remember that they are one in You — part of the same body. Please keep the enemy from gaining any foothold in my friends' marriages. Show them how to work out their differences in grace and sleep in peace together. Keep their tongues from unwholesome talk about each other. Make everything they say about each other beneficial to those who are listening. Help my friends not to grieve You, Holy Spirit, with bitterness, rage, brawling, slander or malice. Strengthen their resolve and fill them with Your grace to be kind and compassionate, forgiving each other just as You forgave them through Christ. Make them stronger, Lord, and sow Your love generously in their relationships so they may give generously to others in need. AMEN