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February 6, 2014
Five Scriptures to Pray Over Your Marriage |
"[Jesus] also told them this parable: 'Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?'" Luke 6:39 (NIV)
I sat down to write some thoughts for a young friend getting married. I wanted these words to be encouraging but also realistic. I didn't want to pen the typical "best wishes on your wedding day." Wishes might be sweet for a church full of flowers and white tulle, but it takes a whole lot more for a marriage to go the distance.
So I wrote honest thoughts as they came to me:
"Being married is incredibly difficult. Being married is amazing. Being married can seem impossibly hard. Being married can seem incredibly beautiful. There is no other person who can frustrate me the way my husband can. There is no other person who can make me feel as loved as my husband can."
As these words tumbled out I wondered if my friend would think me a bit crazy. One minute I painted marriage as blissful as a kite catching wind and rising to the sky. And the next minute it was as if the string had gotten caught in a thorny bush and sent the kite crashing to the ground with thuds of disappointment.
So which is it? Bliss or disappointment?
It's a fragile blend of both.
In the end, I crumpled up my original note and simply wrote this: "Determine to pray more words over your marriage than you speak about your marriage."
I wrote that note not because it had been true for my relationship but because suddenly I wanted it to be true.
The teacher being taught by her own lesson.
And you know what I've discovered in the weeks since? I haven't been praying nearly enough for my marriage.
I think about things. Discuss things. Complain about things. Attempt to fix things. Work on things. Apologize for things. Want to change things. And then I discuss things some more.
But talking about things, thinking about things and working on things ... these are not at all the same as praying for them.
In Luke 6:39 Jesus asks an important but simple question, "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?" My husband and I need Jesus leading us, guiding us, teaching us, redirecting us and showing us how to have a marriage that honors Him and each other.
This year, my goal is to spend a lot less time in the pit. And I think praying more words over my marriage will certainly be key to this.
Here are some Scriptures I'm praying:
"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters ... You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light" (2 Samuel 22:17 and 29, NIV).
"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" (Colossians 4:6, NIV).
"What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31, NIV).
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12, NIV).
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23, NIV).
Actually getting intentional about praying for something in my marriage today is the first step toward that marriage I've been dreaming of—the one that seemed so possible for Art and me 20 years ago in that church full of flowers and tulle.
Making sure I'm headed in that direction as a wife is only a few intentional prayers away.
Dear Lord, I want to honor You completely with my marriage. Help me to remain dedicated to praying over my relationship with my husband. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
If you're seeking more encouragement for your marriage, Lysa's books, Capture His Heart (for wives) and Capture Her Heart (for husbands) can help. Get both of these books to read through with your husband for a special bundle price! Click here to purchase your bundle.
Proverbs 31 Ministries is also offering other intentional Valentine's Day gifts for married couples, singles and hurting hearts. Click here for more information.
Reflect and Respond:
It's so tempting to think praying for your marriage would be a good idea but then not take the next step.
Assign yourself the next step you want to take with getting more intentional in praying for your marriage. Choose one of the Scriptures above and pray it out loud each day for the next week.
© 2014 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
630 Team Rd., Suite 100
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Thursday, 06 February 2014.
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