The Power of a Praying Wife Devotional (5 page)

L
ORD
, I pray You would help my husband make right decisions every day. Teach him to always discern Your will and to choose that over any desires of his flesh. Give him wisdom so that he won’t make any terrible mistakes. Where he has made a wrong decision in the past and it has cost us dearly, I pray You would redeem that situation and bring restoration where it is needed. Only You can bring good out of disaster. You have said in Your Word that “there is a way that seems right to a man,” but in the end it leads to death (Proverbs 14:12). Help my husband to discern between the way that
seems
right and the way that
is
right. Help him to distinguish the path that
leads to life
from the path that
leads to destruction.

Whenever he has a decision to make, instruct him “in the night seasons” (Psalm 16:7). Speak to him in words he cannot ignore. Keep him from moving out on a path without clear knowledge of Your will. Help him to hear Your voice saying, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21). Cause him to want us to pray together about important decisions so that we will always be in unity.

In Jesus’ name I pray.

6

Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,
and from the opening of my lips
will come right things.

P
ROVERBS
8:6

H
OW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HEARD
someone speak of their marriage relationship, saying the communication breakdown was so bad it had seriously hurt their ability to talk together at all? Have you ever thought or said something like that yourself? If you have never had communication problems in your marriage, you are greatly blessed and should thank God every day that you are married to someone who communicates openly with you. Pray it will always be that way.

One of the common problems in a marriage is miscommunication, which is different than no communication at all. At least there is an attempt to communicate. But when what is communicated is negative criticism, sarcasm, disrespect, or words that just came out wrong, then the problems between you begin to escalate. Enough poor or negative communication like that, along with the strife it brings, and eventually you stop talking because it is just not worth it. With some marriage partners there is no attempt to communicate. But unless something is wrong with a person mentally or physically, the reason for not communicating is usually selfishness—giving nothing—or extreme hurt, which means the person has been so emotionally injured in the past that they are afraid to open up to the possibility of being hurt again. It seems to them that it’s better to not talk at all, but that makes life miserable and a marriage impossible.

Pray that God will help you and your husband communicate good and positive things clearly with each other. Whatever has happened in the past with regard to that, God can correct it. Communication is something He desires. And He wants you both to speak of “excellent things” (Proverbs 8:6). Communicate with God about communicating with your husband. The Lord is an expert on this subject, and He can teach you both to open up to Him first and then to each other. Ask the Lord to guide you so you have “right things” coming out of your mouth at all times and miscommunication doesn’t happen.

My Prayer to God

L
ORD
, I pray You would help my husband and me to communicate openly and honestly with each other about everything. I pray that wherever our communication with each other fails, You would restore it to what it should be. Teach us to take the time needed and not be so self-absorbed that we cannot talk in depth to each other. Destroy our selfishness and teach us to open up to each other. Help us refuse to shut off. If we have stopped talking because the relationship has been strife filled and there have been many hurts, I ask You to heal those old wounds and give us peace. Help us to break through all that and tear down any wall that has been erected between us.

You are the God of new beginnings, and so I pray You would help us to start over. Enable us to see each other in a fresh way so that we can talk to each other in a productive manner. Make us whole enough to be truthful and honest in a loving and kind way, and not have to hide our thoughts, feelings, and experiences. If there is anything hidden that needs to be exposed, I pray You would shine Your light on our deepest thoughts and preoccupations. Help us to honor each other by listening and responding. May we never be so preoccupied that we don’t take time to communicate “right” and “excellent” things to each other.

In Jesus’ name I pray.

7

Moreover, as for me, far be it from me
that I should sin against the Lord
in ceasing to pray for you.

1 S
AMUEL
12:23

T
HERE MAY BE DAYS
when you just don’t feel like praying for your husband. Probably nearly every woman has had them. You may be disappointed in him or angry at something he did or did not do. Whatever the reason, when that happens it’s best to go before the Lord and pray for
you.
Don’t worry about praying for him at this moment.
You
need prayer first.
You
obviously have need of more of the Lord’s love, joy, peace, and comfort in your heart. And
you
must find release from your heavy burdens before you do anything else.

Bring all that is in your heart to the Lord. Perhaps there is deep hurt, sadness, anger, or discouragement you want to be free of right now. Maybe you have grown weary in well-doing. Go before God and tell Him what has happened and how you feel about it. He already knows, but He wants to hear it from you. That’s because He desires that you draw close to Him, and more than anything else, that is the main reason He wants you to pray. It’s your personal time in His presence.

Perhaps you have many challenges, and you’ve been praying and waiting for the answers, and you need God to redeem your soul “in peace from the battle” you are waging in prayer so you can rest (Psalm 55:18). Ask the Lord to give you renewal, rejuvenation, and revival in your heart and soul. Ask Him to show you the hope and power you have in Him. Don’t worry about the concerns you have for your husband, your family, or anyone else right now. You are not sinning in ceasing to pray for your husband. You are taking a break to pray for yourself and be refreshed in the Lord. Every warrior needs a time to rest from the battle, and you are no different. You will pray for your husband again tomorrow. Rest in the Lord today.

My Prayer to God