As the bride takes in the fanfare, glitz, excitement, and anxiety on her big day, what can those close to her do to help her sail through the day and, better still, to fortify her marriage? We are glad you asked - you can pray for her.
As a bride, your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life. This is the day you get hitched to the most amazing guy on God's green earth. It's also the day you give singlehood the boot, trudging a path of no return. Understandably, you may be swirling in a mix of emotions that day. You may be ecstatic on the one hand yet jittery on the other. Not forgetting that all eyes will be on you. Lots of friends and family will be shifting in their seats just to catch a glimpse of you.
As the bride takes in the fanfare, glitz, excitement, and anxiety on her big day, what can those close to her do to help her sail through the day and, better still, to fortify her marriage? We are glad you asked - you can pray for her. Praying for a bride on her wedding day helps calm her down, perks up her confidence, and lets her put things into perspective. Even though she may be too rattled to listen intently to the prayers made that day, we are willing to bet that she will watch her wedding video not too long after the wedding. Here are seven prayers for a bride on her wedding day.
1. Pray That She Will Build Her Marriage on the Rock
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." (Mathew 7:24)
Dear Lord, we pray that you will enable (the bride's name) to build her marriage on the rock and not on sand. We pray that she will be not only a hearer of your Word but also a doer. Your Word asks her to love, respect, forgive, submit to and honor her husband. We pray that you may enable her to heed all the instructions in your Word where her marriage is concerned.
We pray that she will be a wise woman who builds her house with her own hands and does not tear it down. We pray that she will be able to weather all the challenges that she may face in her marriage. We pray that her marriage will withstand all challenges to the glory of your name.
2. Pray That She Will Experience Great Joy in Her Marriage
"The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it." (Proverbs 10:22)
"The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly." (Psalm 118:15)
Dear Lord, we thank you for blessing (the bride's name) with a spouse. We pray that her marriage will be a fountain of joy and not sorrow. Your Word tells us that two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. We pray that you will usher her into a new level of joy and happiness as she savors life with her husband. We pray that you may give her wisdom to ward off the things/people that may try to sabotage her joy in marriage.
We pray that her home will be filled with laughter and rejoicing to the glory of your name.
3. Pray That She Will be Clothed With Strength and Honor
"Strength and honor are her clothing, she shall rejoice in time to come" (Proverbs 31:25).
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
Dear Lord, we pray that you may endow (the bride's name) with the strength to tackle all the responsibilities that lie ahead of her in this new phase of life. We pray that your strength will be made perfect in her weaknesses. We pray that she will be diligent in her work. We also pray that you will enable her to honor you in everything she does. We pray that whatever her hand finds to do, she will do it with all her might. Help her to do her work heartily, not unto men but unto you. May her work bring glory and honor to your name.
4. Pray That She Will Keep Her First Love
"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love." (Revelation 2:4)
"Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." (Mark 4:18-19)
Dear Lord, we pray that as (the bride's name) steps into this new phase of her life, she will not forsake her love for you. We pray that she will seek your kingdom first and its righteousness so that all the other aspects of her life can be aligned. We pray that she will not forsake prayer, studying your Word, and fellowship with other believers. We pray that she will not allow the busyness of marriage to sabotage her fellowship with you.
We also pray that she will not forsake her first love towards her husband. We pray that she will not allow familiarity and sluggishness to creep into her marriage. May she continually tend to her marriage and seek to serve and honor her husband to the glory of your name.
5. Pray That She Will be a Blessing to Her Husband
"She does him good and not evil, all the days of her life." (Proverbs 31:12)
"He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord." (Proverbs 18:22)
Dear Lord, we pray that (the bride's name) will seek to be a blessing to her husband all the days of her life. Grant her strength to extend kindness to him even when she feels he doesn't deserve it. Help her find delight in loving, serving, encouraging, and praying for him. May she seek to fulfill his needs and support his dreams. Your Word tells us that we were created for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. May (the bride's name) identify all the good works that you have ordained for her in her marriage, and may she execute them to the glory of your name.
6. Pray That She Will Willingly Forgive Her Husband
"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." (Mark 11:25-26)
Dear Lord, we acknowledge that marriage is the most intimate relationship, and that's where offense easily takes root. We know that sometimes (the bride's name) will feel aggrieved by her husband's words or actions. We pray that you may give her the strength and grace to forgive her husband in such times. We pray that you may remind her of the need to extend mercy to him just as she has received mercy from you. Your Word asks us not to allow any root of bitterness to spring up among us, causing trouble and defiling many. We pray that she will be quick to forgive, to the glory of your name.
7. Pray That She Will Submit to Her Husband
"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body." (Ephesians 5:22-23).
Dear Lord, we pray that you will grant (the bride's name) the grace to submit to her husband. We pray that you will enable her husband to love her sacrificially as Christ loved the church so that submission for her will not be a burden but a delight. Help her respect, serve, love, and honor her husband for the glory of your name.
