Do you feel the need to pray more earnestly for your husband and your marriage but now sure where to start? We often don’t pray as if we believe God will show up and do something big, but prayer works, and God longs for you to be in prayer with Him. He especially desires you pray about your marriage and the one person you are spending the rest of your life with!
So often, we only pray about our marriages when crisis hits and we have nowhere else to turn. But God desires you and me to be praying for our husbands and our marriages long before disasters happen. You need to be in prayer for his spiritual life, his work, his friendships, and his ministries. You need to pray for God to sanctify the areas of his life that need the fruit of the Spirit; that he would be convicted to bring his sins and his struggles under submission to Christ. You also need to pray for your husband to see his strengths and gifts and to boldly use them to make Christ known.
If it feels like a lot of pressure, rest assured – we’ve got the easy end of the deal. When we surrender our husbands and our marriages into God’s hands, we are giving up control, letting go of the task of fixing our husbands and the pressure to make sure our marriages work. We are telling God, “I trust you with my husband’s life, and I trust you with our marriage.” God has the hard part – growing us more and more into his image – but he’s also up to the challenge.
And so with that, here are 20 prayers for you to begin to pray over your husband:
1. Pray for his relationship with God.
Pray that your husband would put his relationship with God above all other relationships, including yours. Pray he would have a burning desire to know the Lord more closely and surrender all of his life to God. [Luke 10:27; Psalm 84:12; Psalm 105:4].
Lord, help ______ put you above all things, even me and our marriage. Lord, I know that I selfishly sometimes want him to love me more than anything, but I know that it is so much better for me, my marriage and our family when _______ puts you above all these things. I pray he would have a burning, consuming desire to know you more closely and surrender his life to you.
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2. Pray for his spiritual discipline.
Pray for your husband’s devotion to spiritual discipline. Pray for consistent study of Scripture, memorization of the Word, and other spiritual disciplines like prayer, tithing, fasting, etc. Pray he would not be discouraged in his pursuit of God but would run the race of faith with endurance all his life. [Acts 20:24; Psalm 119:6]
Lord, would you help _____ be a man who is devoted to your Word, to study Scripture earnestly and faithfully? Would you give him a yearning and the ability to memorize Scripture and connect deeply with you in the pages of his Bible? Grow his disciplines of fasting, prayer and tithing. Help me encourage him in those pursuits. Help him run the race you've marked out for him all the days of his life.
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3. Pray for his work.
Pray that God would bless the work of his hands, that he would enjoy his work, and see God glorified in all facets of his job. Pray he would not make an idol or identity out of his work. When his work is toilsome, pray for endurance and perspective. [Psalm 90:17; Colossians 3:23]
Lord, please bless _____'s work. Help him enjoy what he does. Help him not to be too discouraged when work is hard; help him have perspective and wisdom to see trials as opportunities for growth and dependence on you. Gaurd him against the idolatry of making an identity in work. Give him endurance and perspective when work is hard.
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4. Pray for his friendships.
Pray God would grow his friendships with other men. Pray that God would bring godly men into his life to form close bonds with, men who would lead him closer to God and not away. Pray he would be a good friend to those who need friendship. Pray for selflessness on your part as he spends time with friends, even if that means sometimes sacrificing time with you. [Proverbs 13:20]
Father, please bless _____'s friendships. Thank you Lord for the good friends he has -- help him be a thoughtful, encouraging friend to them. Please Lord, bring godly men into his life -- that he would be lead closer to you through their faith in you. Lord, help me not be jealous or hold him back when he wants to spend time with friends. Help me to encourage those friendships and to be a welcoming host when he has his friends over. Help our marriage be an example to other marriages that we know.
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5. Pray for his role as a father.
Pray for his role as a father, if you have children. Pray he would actively seek to show your children God’s love and care for them. Pray he would seek out time with his kids and foster strong bonds with them. If you do not have children, pray for your husband’s influence in the lives of younger men in your church and community. [Titus 2:6-8; Psalm 103:13; Psalm 127:3-5]
Lord, thank you for the wonderful father that _______ is with our children. Thank you for his love and care for our kids. Help me see and encourage him when he is helping and loving on our children. Help him desire to actively seek and show our kids your great love for them. Grow the bonds between him and our kids. Lord, help him also be an influence to the younger men in our church, that he would set a good example of a kind and loving father.
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6. Pray for romance.
Pray for romance. Pray that your husband would know the ways you receive love and actively seek to show you love in those ways. Pray you could do the same for your husband. Pray especially for God to be your Great Romancer, that you would not lean on your husband to fill a place in your heart that only God can fill. [Proverbs 19:14; Ecclesiastes 4:12]
Lord, help ______ see the ways that I need and long to be loved, and to actively work to show me love in those ways. Help me also do the same for him. Help me always desire him, help me always be satisfied with his love. Lord, I do ask you help me let go of unrealistic expectations I have for my husband and practice thankfulness for the ways he does show me love.
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7. Pray for relationships with his family.
Pray for his relationships with his family. Where there is any unresolved conflict, ask God to step in and soften hearts. Where there is any unhealthy dependence or distance, ask the Lord to help create healthy, appropriate boundaries. If there is a history of abuse or any unsettled pain or trauma, ask God for grace and wisdom for getting your spouse the support he needs. [Genesis 2:22-24; Exodus 20:12; Proverbs 11:29]
Lord, please bless and guide _____'s relationships with his family. Help him always be quick to resolve conflict, charitable and grace giving, and to keep a soft heart toward the people you've placed in his family. Help him to also create healthy boundaries where they need to be.
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8. Pray for his weaknesses.
Pray for his weaknesses. Ask the Lord to give your husband clarity to see where he needs to rely more on Him. Pray your husband would not be ashamed of his weaknesses but see them as an opportunity to grow closer to his Heavenly Father. [2 Corinthians 12:10; Isaiah 40:29-31]
Lord, I know ______ isn't perfect. I know he struggles with ________. Help him see his sin clearly. Help him feel convicted and burdened to lay that sin at your feet and submit to your authority over his life. I know he also struggles with certain weaknesses and temptations. Help him not to be ashamed, but to draw close to you and know that where he is weak, you are strong. Grow him and give him strength to face the temptations and trails that come his way.
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9. Pray for his strengths.
Pray for his strengths. Pray your husband would not be prideful about areas of strength, but that he would bless others by stewarding his gifts and talents faithfully. If your husband doesn’t know what his strengths are, pray he would gain clarity. [1 Peter 4:10; Romans 12:4-6]
Lord, thank you so much for the strengths you've given _____. Help him not be prideful or boast about his strengths, but to model humility and good stewardship over the gifts you've given him. Lord, if _____ can't see these strengths, help him to have eyes to see them. Help him to find joy in the abilities you've given him. Help him glorify and enjoy you through them.
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10. Pray you would be quick to forgive him.
Pray that you could be quick to forgive him when he hurts you. Pray that you would let go of bitterness quickly. Pray he would understand the ways he has hurt you in the past, perhaps repeatedly. Pray he would repent of his actions and learn from his mistakes. Pray for God’s love to fill your heart and give you the grace you need to move forward in a positive direction. [Matthew 6:14-15; Isaiah 43:25]
Lord, please help me forgive _____ quickly when he hurts me. Help me let go of bitterness and resentment. Help him understand and see clearly how he has hurt me, and help him desire to be reconicled. When he does ask for my forgiveness, help me forgive quickly and fully. Give us grace to move forward without holding on to old wounds.
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11. Pray about any areas of disagreement.
Pray for any areas of disagreement you’re facing. Petition God to give you unity and clarity to move forward. Pray you can handle conversations about areas you disagree without petty bickering. Pray a prayer of repentance for any sinful responses you’ve had toward your husband, and then go to your husband and ask for forgiveness. [Ephesians 4:1-3; Proverbs 17:14]
Lord, be with us in this area of disagreement. Give us unity and clarity to make a choice and move forward with confidence and togetherness. Help us have hard conversations about this with kindness and thoughtfulness. I repent of my past sinful responses to our disagreements on this topic. Help him forgive me too, as I go and ask for his forgivenss.
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12. Pray about big decisions.
Pray for any big decisions you have coming up. Whether it’s a prospective new job, moving, parenting choices or caretaking responsibilities—any decisions you have in the future, lay them at God’s feet. Ask God to reveal any red flags or reasons you shouldn’t move forward. Pray for peace about your decision together as a couple. [James 1:5; Proverbs 4:6-7]
Lord, you know this big decision facing us? Yeah, help us handle this decision with wisdom and thoughtfulness. I lay this at your feet now, and ask you to reveal red flags or any reasons why we shouldn't move forward or go down a certain path. Help ______ to be praying about this too-- stir him to prayer. Help us be united over this choice and at peace with our decision.
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13. Pray for his leaders.
Pray for those in leadership in his life. Pray for his bosses, his mentors, and his Bible study leaders. Pray for the people he looks up to and admires. Pray they would consistently show him the gospel. If any of these people do not reflect Christ’s love, pray that he would not be tempted to imitate them and would find other godly men to look up to instead. [Proverbs 18:24; Proverbs 12:26]
Lord I pray now for _______'s bosses, mentors and Bible study leaders. Thank you Lord for these people; I pray that where relationships are good, you would continue to strengthen them. I pray too for the relationships that are more strained -- give each person grace and understanding. I pray these people would show him your gospel of grace.
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14. Pray for his physical health.
Pray for his physical health. Pray for any upcoming medical appointments. Pray for any chronic issues—that God would grant healing or continued endurance for the health issues he faces. Pray your husband would let go of any habits that make his health worse. Pray for his doctors – that they would have wisdom and kindness toward your husband during appointments. [Philippians 4:19; Psalm 107:19-21; Psalm 103:2-4]
Lord, please look over and care for ______'s body. I pray for the particular chronic issues that he suffers through - please heal him. Give him endurance while you heal him. Help him to also let go of habits that I know make his health worse. Give his doctors wisdom when he goes in for appoinments. Help me also let go of any fear or anxiety over my husband's health, and instead quietly trust in your healing hand.
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15. Pray for his emotional health.
Pray for his emotional health. Pray he would recognize the importance of acknowledging his feelings- both good and bad. If there is any emotional pain in his life, pray God would bind up those wounds and that he would find the help he needs to work through them. Pray for sensitivity to his feelings and guidance for talking to him about emotional issues. [Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 147:3]
Lord, I pray now over _______'s emotions. Please help him recognize the importance of acknowleding his feelings, the good and the bad. Lord, please heal him of emotional wounds and pains he has experienced. Help him have reconciliation, or if that is not possible, peace to move forward. I pray I would be sensitive to his feelings. Help us both to not brush feelings under the rug but rather help us to talk and pray through emotional issues together.
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16. Pray for any persistent areas of sin.
Pray for any temptations to sin or persistent sin issues he is facing. Pray he would see clearly the evil of sin, the devil’s schemes and his own insufficient means to do battle alone. Pray he would love obeying Jesus more than whatever is tempting him. [Mark 14:38; James 1:13-18; 1 Corinthians 10:13]
Lord, you know the sin issues my husband faces. You know even the sins and struggles that I am not aware of-- nothing is hidden from your site. Lord, I pray you would help _______ clearly see the evil of his and turn and repent. Lord, I pray now against Satan, that his schemes would not prevail and that my husband would firmly stand in his faith. Even when my husband fails short, remind him that you are always for him and never against him. Help us both to be quick to confess sin, repent and turn back toward you.
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17. Pray for his service to the church.
Pray for his role in your church. Pray he would serve faithfully and humbly, pray for ministry opportunities that meet real needs in your church body and also allow him to use his gifts and talents. Pray for his relationships with the people he does ministry with and for- that any disagreements or misunderstandings would be handled with grace and kindness. [1 Samuel 12:24; Romans 12:11; James 4:1-7]
Lord, please be with ______ as he serves our local church. Help him serve faithfully and humbly. Please provide opportunities for him to seve others with his gifts and talents. I pray too for his relationships with other members of ministry teams and other people in our congregation -- that disagreements and misunderstandings would be handled with grace and humility.
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18. Pray for money management.
Pray for money management. Pray God would give you both wisdom for how to handle financial responsibilities. Pray your husband would be thoughtful as you work together to create a budget, pay off bills, and spend for needs. Pray you would be aligned on tithing and stewarding your money for God’s Kingdom. Pray for any areas where you disagree about spending or saving money, that God would give you clarity and agreement. [Matthew 6:21; Malachi 3:10; Romans 13:8; Hebrews 13:5]
Lord, money can cause so much marital stress - save us from that stress, I pray. Help ______ have wisdom for handling issues around our budget, spending and tithing. Help him be thoughtful and prayerful as we work through financial challenges and setbacks. Lord, help us each month to meet deadlines on bills and take care of our needs. Help us be aligned on tithing and other financial stewardship issues. Thank you Lord for the ways you've blessed us monetarily, help my husband and I to be a united front when it comes to our money.
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19. Pray for his passions.
Pray for his passions – for the things that God has created in him to love and enjoy. Pray for a vision for how to help him pursue the things he loves in such a way that God is glorified. Help him see how his loves are a gift from God, to bless him and bless others. [Ecclesiastes 8:13; 1 Corinthians 10:31]
Lord, thank you for the passions you have given _______; in his work, his ministry, and his hobbies. I love watching him enjoy those things. Help him have a vision to see how he can pursue those things in a way that God is glorified. Help him see his loves as gifts from you to bless others.
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20. Pray that your marriage would be a faithful witness to Christ.
Pray that you could partner with him to faithfully spread the gospel. Take a moment to thank God for your marriage. Recall and give thanks for the blessings God has given you both. Recall and praise Him for any trials God has faithfully seen you both through. Ask God to help you both see how you might share the gospel with your children, your neighbors, you coworkers, your community, and the greater world. Ask for hearts that long to share the good news of Christ’s death for our sins and the resurrection hope you now have. [Matthew 19:4-6; Acts 20:24;Psalm 105:1]
Lord, help my husband and I be faithful to spread your gospel of grace to those who need to hear your good news. Thank you Lord for our marriage. Thank you for the blessings you've given us, without reason or merit. We are so thankful. Help us see how to share the blessing of your love with our family, friends, neighbors, and community.
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Originally published Friday, 26 August 2016.
