This past year I set out to fervently pray for my marriage. Every single day I pray for my husband, our family, our home, and our spiritual lives.

After about ten days of prayer, I realized that I had only touched the tip of the ice berg, there were so many things to pray for, and so much to to be said. I got to praying for my marriage, and after hundreds of prayers I haven’t stopped yet.

 

James 5:16 tells us, “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Do you see that word “fervent” in there? That means that we’re going to be enthusiastic about prayer. That tells me that prayer is something we’re looking forward to. That says, I’m excited about praying for my marriage and I’m not going to give up on this man.

Sometimes I ask my kids to check if the water is boiling on the stove. They’ll often say, “I’m not sure. I see some bubbles coming up.”

Here’s my answer to them, “When it’s boiling, you’ll know it’s boiling. There’s no mistaking it.”

Let’s be that fervent when it comes to our prayer life. Let there be no mistaking the fact that you’ve brought your marriage before God and placed it at the foot of His throne.

Get down on your knees if you want to, or stand up with your hands raised to God. Whatever you say, and however you pray, do it with all of your might. Pour yourself out to God and let His Spirit pour back into you.

If you’re looking for someplace to start, here are 7 ways you can start praying today:

1. For Endurance

Dear Heavenly Father,

Give us the strength to endure to end—to have and to hold as long as we both shall live.

We live in a culture where people upgrade their smart phones, their computers, their homes, and in many cases—their spouse. Gone are the days when people held to the promise they made to endure till the end.

There’s stress and there’s strain, and some days there’s more heartache than we imagined there would be, but we’re in this together, and we’re not letting go.

Love is beautiful, but it’s messy at times, and so we’re asking for Your wisdom and strength to see us through to the end.

In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. – Romans 12:10-12, KJV

2. For Patience in Tribulation

Dear Heavenly Father,

Your Word teaches us to be patient. James chapter five tells us to take an example from the prophets who patiently waited on You.

We see Job who endured years of tribulation and trials. And even when He couldn’t see You at work in his life, he said, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

Give us the patience to wait on You regardless of how long we must wait.

We see Elijah who fervently prayed for rain, but didn’t see any rain for three years. Still, he patiently waited on You.

If we’re afflicted and if we’re sick, may we bring it to prayer, with the patience of Job who trusted in Your sovereign power.

And help us to remember the ones who have gone astray, Lord. Instead of giving up on them, may we fervently pray that they would return to the faith they once had.

In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. – James 5:10-11, KJV

3. The Temptation of Social Media

Dear Heavenly Father,

Give us the wisdom to choose well, and the strength to say “no” when we should.

The internet is one of the greatest temptations we face when it comes to guarding our minds. Sin is merely one click away. One peek, one look, one glance… and soon we’re drawn away by our lust.

Satan knows what appeals to us most. Like a lion after his prey, he watches and waits until our guard is down before he attacks.

Give us the strength to resist him, and the power to cast down the arguments that come with temptation. Help us to walk away from sin, making wise choices that are pleasing to You.

Teach us to live as though Jesus was coming today. May the blessed hope of His return dictate our lives in such a way that we might stand before You, having done all to stand.

We don’t know the day or the hour, but we do know that He comes like a thief in the night. And so we want to be ready. May we stand guard of our hearts and our home, as we prepare for the return of our Saviour and Lord.

In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. – Luke 12:37-40, KJV

4. For God’s Power and Strength

Dear Heavenly Father,

As long as we’re on this earth, we’ll have trials. As long as we’re here, we’ll have pain, which is why we need to stand strong together–for better or worse until death do us part.

Our home could be gone tomorrow, our house could be gone today, our health could fail us at any moment, and our jobs could be taken away.

If we didn’t trust in Your wisdom, we’d have nothing to stand on when the bottom falls out. If we didn’t believe that there was more in store for us than this passing world, we wouldn’t have the peace that we do.

It’s by Your strength that we’re more than conquerors. Your compassionate grace gives us hope. Your providence offers rest to the weary soul. Your power and might sustain us when we can’t stand on our own.

Thank You for Your goodness and strength, Lord. Teach us to trust in Your wisdom. Teach us to rest.

In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:31-39

5. Giving Thanks for Your Spouse

Dear Heavenly Father,

Day after day we come to you asking for help, and without hesitation You listen. You help, You strengthen, You transform our marriage, and draw us closer to You.

You’ve given us so many reasons to give thanks for this marriage. The gift is immense–the blessings are countless, and so today we want to give thanks.

Thank You for this friend who walks with me through better or worse.
Thank You for this intimate lover who quiets my soul.
Thank You for this confidant I can trust above anyone else.
Thank You for this companion I can laugh with, and one who wipes away tears.
Thank You for this partner who keeps me accountable and sharpens my soul.
Thank You for this ally who prays for me and hopes for the best in me.
Thank You for this advocate who defends my honour and keeps my heart safe.
Thank You for my better half who makes me better because I am loved.
Thank You for the one who is one with my soul.

In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. – Song of Solomon 3:3-4, KJV

6. For Your Marriage Bed

Dear Heavenly Father,

You’ve never left us in the dark when it comes to the topic of intimacy. You’ve instructed us in scripture, You’ve written Your law upon our hearts, and You’ve given us a conscience to follow You by.

Thank You for Your wisdom and guidance. Help us to honour both You and our marriage in this area of our lives.

1 Corinthians 7:5 warns us not to deprive each other, unless it’s by agreement and for a time. We understand the importance of mutual fulfillment, and we want to be intimate with each other in the best way we can.

If we’re tired, stressed out, irritable, or distant, give us the strength to work through our problems so that we can be the intimate partner we need to be. Give us a heart of understanding, and patience for each other as well.

May our hearts be pure, and our bed undefiled. Help us to keep our eyes on our marriage and away from the world. Eliminate any thoughts that would draw us away from Your will and the one that we love.

In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. – Hebrews 13:4, KJV

7. The Battle Against the Flesh

Dear Heavenly Father.

Help us to live our best life. Give us the power and strength to let go of the baggage that’s weighing us down. To say “no” to ungodliness, and say “yes” to a self-controlled, godly life.

We both struggle in different ways. We have different temptations and battles that we’re fighting against. But we serve the same powerful God.

With one Word, you’re able to strengthen, sustain, and establish our way. With one hand You hold the power of life.

In Romans chapter 7, Paul writes, “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”

We know that struggle too well, Lord. Life is a constant battle against the flesh, and some days it feels like we’re losing. It’s hard to get up when we keep sliding back. The sense of defeat weighs heavy on us, and so we ask that You lift it, as You carry us through.

Our flesh is at war with the Spirit, and we desperately want our spirit to win.

Not that we can say of ourselves, “We have won!” But that we might say, “Greater is He that is in me than He that is in this world!”

In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. – Titus 2:11-14, KJV

 

Visit Today’s Marriage Prayer where you’ll find a new prayer every day of the year.

You are loved by an almighty God,

Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife