It's "Marriage Prayer Friday!"

It's Friday once again, and we're praying for marriages — our own and for those we love.

A prayer for your own marriage—

SOVEREIGN GOD, You stand in authority over our hearts. Thank you for your grace that softens even the hardest heart (like the Apostle Paul’s). I want to have a soft heart too — toward You and toward those I love, especially my husband/wife. Lord, I confess that my faith grows cold sometimes and my heart gets hard. This bitterly affects my marriage. Sometimes, it’s only for a moment or one bad day. But even cancer grows from one tiny bad cell. Help me to do my part in nurturing the “good cells” in my marriage. I know that you desire my marriage to strengthen me and my spouse both individually and together. I want to be a Christ-like encouragement to my husband/wife. I want to be more empathetic and truly understand his/her perspective. I want to see my spouse through Your eyes. Even when it seems necessary for us to correct or guide each other, I want Your help to do that graciously and tenderly as Christ would do it. Please stand in authority over my heart, God. Thank you for the healing and growth that is to come in Jesus’ name! AMEN

Something to pray for a friend's marriage—

SOVEREIGN GOD, You stand in authority over our hearts. Thank you for your grace that softens even the hardest heart (like the Apostle Paul’s). Please make my married friends receptive and soft-hearted — toward You and toward their spouses. Lord, I know that cold faith and hard hearts bitterly affects a marriage. Sometimes, it’s only for a moment or one bad day. But even cancer grows from one tiny bad cell. Help my friends to nurture the “good cells” in their marriages. I know that you desire them to be strong both individually and together. Help them to give Christ-like encouragement to each other. Help them to be more empathetic and truly understand each other's perspectives. Help them to see each other through Your eyes. Even when it seems necessary for them to correct or guide each other, help them to do that graciously and tenderly as Christ would do it. Please stand in authority over their hearts, God. Thank you for the healing and growth that is to come in Jesus’ name! AMEN