Girlfriends in God - Feb. 16, 2007

February 16, 2007

A Husband’s Prayer Warrior

Sharon Jaynes

(In honor of Valentine’s Day, I’ll be focusing on marriage during the month of February!)

Today’s Truth

“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).  

Friend to Friend

Of all the roles and responsibilities God has given us as wives, the position of a prayer warrior or intercessor is perhaps the greatest of all. An intercessor is a person who intervenes or prays for another person. It was derived from the Greek word, enteuxis, which means to go before a King with a petition or plea on behalf of someone else.¹ In essence, it means the same thing today. We go before the King of Kings with a petition or plea on our husbands’ behalf. What we accomplish on our knees in the invisible realm will ultimately affect the strength of our marriage in the visible realm. There is no other person who is more called or more qualified to pray for your man than you.

In the Bible, God describes the marriage of a man and a woman as a visual example of the spiritual union between Jesus Christ and the church (all Christians). Believers are called “the bride of Christ” (Revelation 19:7). We are walking, talking, earthly examples of the heavenly relationship between God’s Son and those who believe on His name. God instructs men, “Love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25)

There is someone who wants to destroy that living example, and his name is Satan. Jesus said, “The thief (Satan) comes to steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). He desires to destroy the God ordained and designed institution of marriage. He began with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and continues his destructive tactics even today. Satan is not very creative, but he’s very effective, and he uses the same temptations and tactics today that he used in the first marriage on earth. Satan has proclaimed an all out assault on the family and he begins at the top – with the husband and wife.

So many times, we fail to see the real enemy in our marital struggles. The writer of Ephesians explains, “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). When I am having a conflict with my husband, I need to stop, take a deep breath, and think…who is the real enemy here? There is a spiritual battle raging all around us that we can’t even see, but it is the greater reality than what our five senses detect. It is a battle that is not to be feared, but one that is to be recognized and fought the only place where it can be won – in prayer. 

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord, I pray for my husband, from head to toe.

• His Head –That he will look to You as Lord of his life. (1 Corinthians 11:13)
• His Mind - That he will have the mind of Christ and think as the Holy Spirit and not the flesh would lead him. (1 Corinthians 2:16)
• His Eyes –That You will keep his eyes from temptation and that he will turn his eyes from sin. (Matthew 6:13, Mark 9:47)
• His Ears - That he will hear Your still small voice instructing him. (1 Kings 19:12, Psalm 32:8)
• His Mouth – That his words will be pleasing to You. (Proverbs 19:14)
• His Neck –That he will humble himself before You and be strong, courageous, and be careful to do everything written in Your Word so that he will be prosperous and successful. (James 4:10, Joshua 1:8-9)
• His Heart-That he will love and trust You with his whole heart. (Deuteronomy 6;5, Proverbs 3:5)
• His Arms-That You will be his strength. (Psalm 73:26)
• His Hands-That he will enjoy the work of his hands and see it as a gift from You. (Ecclesiastes 3:13, 5:19)
• His feet – That You will order his steps and that he will walk in Your truth. (Proverbs 4:25, Psalm 26:3)  

Now It’s Your Turn

Consider asking your husband for some specific ways that you can pray for him today.

Look up each of the Scripture references above and make the prayer for your husband specific to his particular needs.

Find one friend with whom you can pray for your marriage. Commit to pray for each other’s marriage on a regular basis.

More from the Girlfriends

Praying for your husband is one of your most important roles as a wife. If you would like a more comprehensive list of Scriptural prayers to pray for your husband, you can find them in Becoming the Woman of His Dreams by Sharon Jaynes. Also, Sharon has the prayer above laminated on a prayer card that can be tucked in your Bible for easy reference. Just log onto www.sharonjaynes.com and click on resources. 

Girlfriends In God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC  28106