Prayers for. Husbandsand wives. to pray with and for each other

P R A Y E R G U I D E Prayers for Husbandsand wives to pray with and for each other

prayer guide Prayers for Husbandsand wives to pray with and for each other PrayerPower P.O. Box 801368, Dallas, TX 75380-1368 1-800-949-PRAY www.learntopray.org

Prayers from God s Word These Bible-based prayers have been written in a way that makes them easy to pray. They include requests for not only practical, material needs, but for deeper spiritual needs as well. Because they are written from Scripture, they express God s will. And when we pray His will, He promises to answer! (1 John 5:14-15) Easy Ways to Use These Prayers Pray one or more daily for each other: Ideally, pray them aloud for each other as you sit together or over the phone if one is traveling. Read them just as they appear: Help to be willing to spend the time that it takes to know You. (John 17:3) Use them as an outline for your personal prayer. Pray a sentence or two, just enough to present a complete thought. Then add your own personal prayer, before moving on to the next thought: Help to be willing to spend the time that it takes to know You. (John 17:3) You might add something like I know that requires a lot of effort with our schedules the way they are; show us Your priorities for the way we spend our time.

Prayers Table of Contents Make Him a Spiritual Leader 2 Help Her to Grow in Christ 3 Lead Him to Draw Near to God 4 May She Live in God s Presence 5 Help Him to Be a Man of Prayer 6 Teach Her to Pray without Ceasing 7 Help Him to Be a Righteous Man 8 May She Live as a Godly Woman 9 Help Him to Live in Victory 10 Give Her a Tender Heart 11 Lead Him to Seek Refuge in God 12 May She Have God s Wisdom 13 Help Him to Rest in God 14 May She Trust God 15 As You Pray These Prayers 16-17 Are You a Child of God? 18

Make Him a Spiritual Leader Father, I pray for my husband,... Make him strong and courageous, and keep him centered in Your will, moving neither to the left nor to the right of Your commands. Help him to keep Your Word in his mind day and night, so that he ll be careful to obey You in the strength of Your Spirit. (Joshua 1:7-8; John 14:15-16) Help to be my spiritual leader, a man who decides and never wavers from the decision that our family will serve the Lord. May he be a man who sets the example. (Ephesians 5:23; Joshua 24:15) Give him a heart like David s a pure heart, broken and humble before You, an undivided heart. May he love You and praise You with all of his heart. (Psalm 51:10, 17; 86:11; Matthew 22:37; Psalm 86:12) Make a man after Your own heart, one who thirsts for You as a deer thirsts for water, one who longs to spend time in Your presence. Help him to delight in You, and fill his heart with Your desires. (1 Samuel 13:14; Psalm 42:1-2; 37:4) Make of Him a man of God. In Jesus name, amen. 2

Help Her to Grow in Christ Father, I pray for my wife, Help her to live a Spirit-filled life. May rivers of love, joy, and peace flow from her, along with patience, kindness, and goodness. Help her to have faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May the fruit of the Spirit be obvious in her life. (Ephesians 5:18; John 7:38; Galatians 5:22-23) May live in Christ, and may Christ and His words live in her, so that she will bear much fruit throughout her life for Your kingdom and glory. (John 15:7-8) May she love You with all her heart and soul and mind. May she show You her love through her obedience, and may she be compelled by the love of Christ in everything she does. Help her to love her neighbors as herself and others in the body of Christ, as Christ loves her. (Matthew 22:37-38; John 14:15, 21, 23, 24; 2 Corinthians 5:14; Matthew 22:39; John 13:34) Help to live in Your love. Keep her confident that nothing can separate her from Your love or the love of Christ. (John 15:9; Romans 8:35, 38-39) May she experience Your love. In Jesus name, amen. 3

Lead Him to Draw Near to God Father, I pray for my husband,... May he want to draw near You, to search for You with all his heart. Help him to desire to know You in a personal way, to know You better and love You more every day. Help him to know You through experience, not simply factual knowledge and understanding. (James 4:8; Jeremiah 29:13; 9:24) Help to be willing to spend the time that it takes to know You. Help him to make You a priority in his life, setting aside time to be with You at the beginning of each day, if only for a few minutes. May he learn to clearly understand You as You speak to his heart. May Your Spirit teach him all things. (John 17:3; Matthew 6:6; John 10:2-4; 1 John 2:27) Give him the wisdom to see clearly and understand who Christ is and all that He has done for him. May his roots go down deep into Christ s love. May he be able to feel and understand to experience how wide and long, high and deep that love really is. May he be filled with Your life and power! (Ephesians 1:17; 3:17-19) Help him to truly love You. In Jesus name, amen. 4

May She Live in God s Presence Father, I pray for my wife, In the midst of her busy life, help her every day to find time to sit at Your feet, to listen to what You have to teach her. (Luke 10:38-42) Instruct and show her how to live. Give her Your guidance and counsel, and watch over her. When she s going down an unfamiliar path, doing something she hasn t done before, may she be confident that You are with her. Turn what seems like darkness into light. Straighten out the path ahead. (Psalm 32:8; Isaiah 42:16; Matthew 28:20) Teach her what s best for her. Show her where to go, what to do. Help her to realize that You ll never forget her that You ve engraved her name on the palms of Your hands. (Isaiah 48:17; 49:15-16) May choose to live in Your presence. Help her to love You, to know You and trust You, to call out to You whenever she has a need for if she does, she ll find You faithful to help and protect her, to answer when she calls. (Psalm 91:1, 9, 14-15) Turn her heart toward You. In Jesus name, amen. 5

Help Him to Be a Man of Prayer Father, I pray for my husband,... May he, like Christ, pray before making major decisions. Help him to never be anxious about anything, but instead to pray about everything with a heart that s full of thanksgiving. (Luke 6:12; Philippians 4:6) Help to be a man of prayer who prays all the time, and who is willing to take the lead to pray with me every day. Help him to be persistent in prayer, to always pray without giving up, even if answers don t come right away. May he never stop praying. (Matthew 6:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Luke 11:5-8; 18:1) Help him to come before Your throne with clean hands and a pure heart, confident that Your grace will help him with any need. May his prayers never be hindered by unconfessed sins or broken relationships. (Hebrews 4:16; Psalm 24:3-4; Isaiah 59:2; 1 Peter 3:7) May clothe himself with Christ every day Christ, his armor of light. May he put on the full armor of God and be determined to stand his ground in prayer. (Romans 13:12, 14; Ephesians 6:11, 18) Help him to stand fast. In Jesus name, amen. 6

Teach Her to Pray without Ceasing Father, I pray for my wife, Help her to be a woman of prayer, always able to find time to get alone with You. Teach her to pray, to be one who asks, seeks, and knocks with the faith that moves mountains. (Matthew 6:6; 7:7; Mark 11:22-23) Your Word tells us sometimes we don t have because we don t ask so help to pray about everything, especially daily needs. Help her to always pray with pure motives, and without doubt. Through her prayers may she live in a personal relationship with You, and have a growing sense of spiritual intimacy. (James 4:2; Matthew 6:9, 11; James 4:3; 1:6; 1 John 1:3) Help her to fill her prayers with verses of Scripture, for Your spoken Word becomes a sword in our hands to defeat the devil as it was for Jesus in the wilderness. (Ephesians 6:17; Matthew 4:1-11) In those times when may not know what to pray for, help her to trust the Spirit who lives within her to help her with her prayers, praying in ways that can t be put into words. (Romans 8:26) Keep her strong in prayer. In Jesus name, amen. 7

Help Him to Be a Righteous Man Father, I pray for my husband, Help him to keep Your ways, living a blameless life before You, keeping himself from sin in Your strength. May he seek Your kingdom and righteousness as he moves through each day. Help him to have a hunger and thirst for righteousness. (2 Samuel 22:22, 24; Matthew 6:33; 5:6) I know that is a work in progress, as we all are. Complete the good work You have begun in him. May he give himself completely to You every day, holding nothing back. Help him not to live by the world s standards, but to set the example for others, spending time in Your Word daily. As he does, renew his mind and help him to think more like Christ. (Philippians 1:6; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 2:16) Help him to live as the new creation in Christ that he is, putting off his old sin nature and putting on the new every day. May he actively pursue righteousness, desiring to live according to Your will in every way in thought, word, and deed. (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:22-24; Proverbs 15:9) May he live rightly. In Jesus name, amen. 8

May She Live as a Godly Woman Father, I pray for my wife, Direct her steps according to Your Word, and help her not to be dominated by any sin. Help her to live by Your Word, treasuring it, hiding it in her heart, for it will keep her free from sin s control. (Psalm 119:133, 11) May live a life of obedience that s pleasing to You. Help her to be good and honest and truthful, and more than anything, devoted to You. May she live a Spirit-filled life. (1 John 3:21-22; Ephesians 5:8-10; 2 Chronicles 17:6; Ephesians 5:18) May her words and thoughts please You. Help her to set her mind on You and Your Word, so she ll not be consumed by the concerns of life. May she focus her mind on what the Spirit wants, and live to please You. Help her to guard her heart, for it affects all she does. (Psalm 19:14; Colossians 3:2; Romans 8:5; Proverbs 4:23) Search s heart, test her thoughts. Bless and protect her, show her mercy and kindness, be good to her and give her Your peace. (Psalm 139:23-24; Numbers 6:24-26) Show her Your love. In Jesus name, amen. 9

Help Him to Live in Victory Father, I pray for my husband,... Help him to daily grow more sensitive to sin in his life not only what s obvious, but the more subtle sins that are easy to ignore or try to explain away. May Your Spirit reveal to him any sins he needs to confess, and help him to be willing to confess them and receive Your forgiveness and cleansing. (Psalm 51:3-4; Matthew 6:12; 1 John 1:8-9) Keep from sin. In Your strength, help him to live an upright, blameless life of integrity. Strengthen him according to Your Word; give him wisdom and good sense. Grant him a pure heart and a steadfast spirit, and help him to seek You with all his heart. (Jude 1, 24; Psalm 25:21; 119:28, 66; 51:10; 119:10) Help him to be willing to study Your Word, to memorize it and hide it in his heart. Don t let him simply read the Bible, but apply what he learns, do what it says. May he mature in his Christian walk, to never be content with basic, elementary teaching. Make him eager to grow in his understanding of Your truth. (Psalm 119:15-16; James 1:22; Hebrews 5:12-14) May he grow in Christ. In Jesus name, amen. 10

Give Her a Tender Heart Father, I pray for my wife, May she be a woman who considers others more important than herself, who puts their needs ahead of her own. Help her to treat others the way she would want to be treated in every circumstance. (Philippians 2:3-4; Matthew 7:12) May follow Jesus example and be willing to serve others with a humble attitude, for she ll be blessed if she does. Give her a heart like the good Samaritan s, the desire to help anyone in need. (John 13:14-15, 17; Luke 10:33-34) Help her to share generously with the poor, and to be known for her hospitality. Let her be joyful in hope, patient in trouble, and faithful in prayer. May she encourage others and build them up. (Romans 12:13, 12; 1 Thessalonians 5:11) Help, as far as it depends on her, to live at peace with everyone. Lead her to be kind and compassionate and willing to forgive. (Romans 12:18; Ephesians 4:32) May others see the love of Christ in her. In Jesus name, amen. 11

Lead Him to Seek Refuge in God Father, I pray for my husband,... When he faces difficult times, help him to seek his refuge beneath Your wings. Help him to know You as his strength and shield, his shelter from the storm, his shade from the heat. (Psalm 57:1; 28:7; Isaiah 25:4) Be s Rock, the Rock on which he can stand, the Sure Foundation of his life, the Rock on which he and we can build our lives. Keep his feet from stumbling, and help him to cling to You. Help him to know You re holding him with Your strong right hand and You ll never let go. (Psalm 18:1-2; Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 7:24-25; Psalm 56:13; 63:8; John 10:29) Give him the confidence and faith that there is no storm that will ever come into our lives that You can t make still no need we will ever have that You can t meet. May always look to You as the One who will be with us to make a way through any difficulties we face. May he see You as our Refuge and Strength, always ready to help us in times of trouble. (Mark 4:39; 6:34-44; Isaiah 43:2; Psalm 46:1) May he know You will never leave him, never fail Him. In Jesus name, amen. 12

May She Have God s Wisdom Father, I pray for my wife, Give her a wise and discerning heart, so that she can sense what s going on beneath the surface. Help her to use common sense and good judgment. (Proverbs 15:14; 3:21) May s good sense be obvious when she speaks. Help her to put a guard over her mouth, so that she ll never regret what she says. May she speak with wisdom, sharing the truth and refusing to lie. (Proverbs 10:13; Psalm 141:3; 49:3; Proverbs 8:7) May she search for wisdom as she would for hidden treasure. Give her a healthy fear of You, a reverence and sense of awe in who You are, for that s the beginning of wisdom. Bless her with insight and understanding, and let her see the meaning of Your words. Enlighten her mind. (Proverbs 2:1-4; Psalm 111:10; 1 Kings 4:29; Psalm 119:130) May the wisdom and understanding receives from You, help establish a firm foundation for our home. (Proverbs 24:3) Grant her Your wisdom. In Jesus name, amen. 13

Help Him to Rest in God Father, I pray for my husband,... In times of stress, may he always be willing to enter Your rest, to know You as his resting place where he can feel secure. Help him to turn to You as his Shepherd who will lead him beside still waters, where he can have his strength renewed and refreshed. (Hebrews 4:1, 3; Jeremiah 50:6; Psalm 23:2-3) Give strength when he s weary and power when he s weak, so that he feels he can soar on wings like an eagle. Help him to run and not grow weary, to walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29, 31) Keep him from stretching his days by getting up early and staying up late for You give rest to those You love. Don t let him feel pressured to lay up treasures on earth. Instead, lead him and me to be content, to live with almost nothing or with everything. (Psalm 127:2; 1 John 2:15; Matthew 6:19; Philippians 4:11-12) May You, who are the God of all grace, restore when he s weak, and make him strong, and firm, and steadfast. (1 Peter 5:10) Renew him when he s tired. In Jesus name, amen. 14

May She Trust God Father, I pray for my wife, Help her not to worry, not to be troubled or be afraid, but instead to give You every anxious thought. Lead her to know how much You care for her. Give her the confidence that You will always be there for her. May she put seeking Your kingdom and Your righteousness first in her life and refuse to worry about tomorrow. (John 14:1; 1 Peter 5:7; Isaiah 43:2; Psalm 55:22; 54:4; Matthew 6:33-34) Help to be aware how precious and honored she is in Your sight, that she s the apple of Your eye, created for Your glory. When she s discouraged or overwhelmed, pick her up and carry her close to Your heart. (Isaiah 43:4; Psalm 17:8; Isaiah 43:7; 40:11) May she trust You as her Shepherd. Make her aware that You are with her when life seems overwhelming, ready to provide for her needs, to protect her and give her comfort. Strengthen s hope in You, so that it will be an anchor for her soul, firm and secure. (Psalm 23:1-4; Hebrews 6:19) Give her unshakeable faith, and help her to keep her eyes on You. In Jesus name, amen. 15

As You Pray These Prayers You Are Praying God s Will Think what it will mean to you as man and wife as God hears and answers these prayers. You re praying His will into your lives and marriage! If you ve prayed one prayer a day, you ve realized it takes only a minute or two. Keep praying through these prayers, each time adding your own prayers to make them even more personal. Consider that Prayer Is More than Asking The main purpose of prayer is to help us know God. To do this, we have to spend time with Him, just as we must with any person if we want to know that person well. (John 17:3; 1 John 1:3) 1. Begin Each Day with God Jesus taught us that it is important to have some quiet time with our Father every day. Early morning is usually the best time, before we re caught up in busyness. If this isn t a part of your daily life now, ask God to help you begin with just a few minutes, and He will. (Matthew 6:6; 9-13) 16

2. Come with clean hands and a pure heart. The Bible promises that we can draw close to God if we have clean hands and a pure heart, and He will come close to us (James 4:8). That simply means we must confess our sins. When we do, God forgives us and makes us clean (1 John 1:9), and we may come to Him. 3. Have a listening ear. God usually speaks to us (John 10:4-5) as we read the Bible. You don t have to spend a long time in the Word, but for you to hear His voice clearly, it is important to spend at least a few minutes in the Bible every day. Pray as you read. Ask God to speak to your heart: What do you want me to know today? What do I need to learn? Knowing God Personally Jesus said that eternal life is knowing God (John 17:3). We have that life the moment we trust Jesus for salvation. We can then live every day in a real, vital, personal relationship with God. What a privilege, available to all of God s children! (See page 18.) 17

Are You a Child of God? This is a question that is easy to answer if you aren t sure by verses from the Bible that reveal this truth: Have you believed in Christ, trusting Him, relying on Him for everything? Have you received Christ into your heart and life? (John 1:12) Have you believed in Your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and spoken with your mouth that Jesus is Lord? (Romans 10:9) Do you sense that you are a new creation in Christ evidenced by a desire to spend time in God s Word? (2 Corinthians 5:17) Are you experiencing God s call to live as a child of light, including the conviction and power to turn away from sin? (Ephesians 5:8-9; Luke 13:3, 5) Is the fruit of the Holy Spirit influencing your life and relationships in increasing measure? (Galatians 5:22-23) If these things don t seem real in your life and you want them to be, speak to a pastor or godly friend, or pray like this: God, I believe Jesus is Your Son. I now receive Him as the Lord, who is the Savior of my life. I believe that Jesus died for my sins, that He was buried and raised again from the dead. I confess that I have sinned against You and I am sorry. Thank You for forgiving me! Thank You for the gift of salvation! Please strengthen me to love You, to serve You and to turn away from the temptations and sins of this world. Thank You for the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal and forever Savior! I pray in His name, amen. 18

For other Scripture prayer guides: Praying for Children Praying for Teens Prayers for the Overwhelmed...and more PrayerPower www.learntopray.org 19

A Scripture Prayer Guide Prayers for Husbandsand wives to pray with and for each other P.O. Box 801368 Dallas, TX 75380-1368 1-800-949-PRAY www.learntopray.org