Today’s Truth

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power…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 realm.” (Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV)

 

 

Note from Sharon: I know that devotions on marriage are difficult for many who are not married and perhaps would like to be. That’s why we usually keep the marriage devotions that minister to thousands of women in the month of February. Whether you are married or single, please join us at GiG in praying for marriages all around the world.

 

Friend to Friend

I can still remember being sequestered in the “Bride’s Room” of our church just moments before the organist began to play for the early arrivals. As I sat in front of an oversized gilded mirror trying not to wrinkle my dress, I daydreamed about the man who would become my husband in just a few moments. He was everything I had ever hoped for: handsome, smart, ambitious, and strong. And most important, he loved Jesus.

Yes, this was a good day.

As I stared at my reflection, an unwelcome thought popped into my mind. Doesn’t every woman feel this joy on her wedding day? What could go so terribly wrong that such a high percentage of marriages end in divorce? Am I fooling myself? Am I that much different from the thousands who have walked the aisle before me?

I decided right then and there that I would do everything in my power to make my marriage a success. It didn’t take long for me to discover that the words “in my power” were a problem. “My power” was not enough. Marriage was hard.

Fairy tales end with the words, “And they lived happily ever after.” But if we could see the Epilogue to those rides off into the sunset, we’d most likely find daily struggles, potentially divisive decisions, and angry arguments sprinkled throughout. Fairy tales stop short of telling us about tension over whose turn it is to wash the dishes, pay the bills, or put the kids to bed. They leave out the part about stress over holidays with in-laws, frequency of sex, and who gets to spend what when. We naively repeat the words, “for better or for worse,” and then are shocked when the first hint of “worse” rears its ugly head.

If you’ve been married for more than a few days, then you’ve most likely figured out that the blessed union doesn’t stay so blessed without a lot of work. And I dare say, the most important “work” we can do as wives is on our knees. Only God can truly protect our marriages and our men. And He invites us to participate in the unleashing of His power by praying for our husbands and turning the key to the storehouse of heaven’s door for blessings outpoured.

We’ve got to remember: The real struggle in marriage is a spiritual one. Our husbands are not the enemy; the devil is (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

Paul urged believers to enter into spiritual battle armed and ready with the Word of God. He wrote: “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…Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:12,17 NIV).

Through prayer, the enemy’s plans are intercepted; the principalities and authorities are defeated. Through prayer, the power and provision of God flows into the lives of His people.

I had to learn that prayer is not a means of gaining control over my husband, to whip him into shape and make him the man I wanted him to be. Prayer is a means of relinquishing control of my husband and asking God to shape him into the man that He wants him to be.

Regardless of where your man or your marriage falls on the continuum of terrific to tolerable to terrible, there is always room for improvement. Prayer can make a bad marriage good, and a good marriage great.

There’s no better way to pray for someone than praying Scripture. We’ll use the following as our closing prayer for today. While I love to pray for my husband from head to toe, today we’ll just focus on our husbands’ head.

 

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, I pray for __________.

  • His Mind – That he will have the mind of Christ and think as the Holy Spirit would lead him and not the flesh. (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. (Psalm 19:14)
  • His Neck – That the decisions that turn his head will honor You in all regards. (Deuteronomy 5:32)

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

Now It’s Your Turn

Ponder this verse today: James 5:16 “The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].” (AMP)

What is one area of your marriage that you feel could be better?

If you’re feeling brave, leave your prayer request, in just a few words, and then pray for the name above yours. I will pray for the first responder. (To honor your man, please don’t leave a lot of details. God knows all about it!)

 

More From the Girlfriends

Do you want to learn more about how to pray Scripturally and powerfully for your husband? Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe will show you how! Also, I’m offering a Valentine’s Day Marriage Bundle with discounts on some of my favorite books. Let’s make 2023 a year to strengthen our marriages and pray for our men.

 

 

Looking for a life-changing Bible study? Click here to learn about my on-line Bible study on When You Don’t Like Your Story: What if Your Worst Chapters Could Become Your Greatest Victories starting February 21.

©2023 by Sharon Jaynes.  All rights reserved.

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43 Responses to “Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe”

  1. Shell says:

    Pray that my husband remember his first love with Christ and once again allow it to drive everything in his life and over come hurts that he has experienced.

  2. Denise Wagner says:

    I would like prayers that my husband, John, and I would pray more together and read the Bible daily together. He loves Jesus but for some reason never wants to do this together. I pray that the Lord will put a burning desire in his heart to read his word daily, and that we could carve out time to read together even if it’s a short time. I pray that the Lord would guide him to become the head of our family spiritually and that we would pray daily for our family, friends, and the world other than a quick prayer when we eat together.

  3. Tamara Davis says:

    Dear GiG staff,

    In Now It’s Your Turn (in Praying for Your Husband devo on 02/01/23), Sharon Jaynes asks us to leave a prayer request for our husband and pray for the name above ours. I don’t see any responses or names. I have never seen that on your website. I assume that responses are only for Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, correct? (I am reading devos on website.)

    My prayer for my husband is that he can process the death and absence of our son and turn that deep sorrow and suffering into a calling honoring the Lord. We know that “God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”(Rom 8:28). It is so hard to see the good from where we are right now. I pray that we can serve God together in our retirement.

    Thank you for the wonderful life giving words in your devotions each weekday. They are a blessing to my soul. In Christ, Tamara

  4. shereen says:

    Pray for God to shape my husband into the man He wants him to be, and I pray for our communication to improve.
    Thanks and blessings

  5. Leyana says:

    Please pray that my husband will trust that God will heal him from past emotional hurt. Also please pray for me as the wife to strengthen my mind while going through the long healing process. I desire to be patient throughout, but it’s so hard.

  6. Cherise says:

    I pray that my husband will continue to develop his relationship with Christ and that our connection to each will continue to strengthen. Amen.

  7. Debbi says:

    Thank you for this prayer!!
    Please pray for my husband’s mind, he is thinker, pray he goes to Christ to help him process his thoughts. Pray as he leads our family, pray for our kids to look to him to lead them and he leads them closer to Christ

  8. Gaylon says:

    I pray that my husband would seek after God and be known as a man after God’s own heart. That he would take the lead in our home spiritually.

  9. Gaylon says:

    Lord, please hear Shereen’s prayer for her husband. Open up their line of communication with one another. Help them to see one another through your eyes. Give them your wisdom and understanding and compassion in their conversations. Help them to take time to cultivate their relationship through communication. Lord, I pray for Shereen’s husband that you would draw him to you and he would have a desire to seek you and know you better. We ask all this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

  10. Beverly says:

    Please pray that my husband will return home to me soon and be the husband God wants him to be and me to be the wife God wants me to be.

  11. That my husband would open his heart to the love of Jesus and that he would receive salvation that calms all his fears and ends his hurts.

  12. Kelly says:

    Please pray for my husband that God will guide his life. That he will bless our marriage.

  13. Christina says:

    My Husband is wanting a divorce after 13 years. Praying to stand strong and his eyes, heart, mind and body be open to what God wants for us.

  14. Louise says:

    Lord I pray for better communication in my marriage. Help me to more carefully word my comments so that he does not feel judged and help him to believe in me enough that he knows I’m not meaning to judge him.

  15. Jennifer says:

    Please pray for my husband and i to both be emotionally healed from the miscarriage of our 3rd child. This year the passing of that date has been extremely hard. Pray that he and i could be restored to having joy in life, praying together regularly, and that our children would not be so affected by our grief. Thank you sincerely for your prayers, they are needed and appreciated.

  16. jennifer says:

    Kelly,

    i pray that God would guide your husband in every area of life. Lord, please lead him as the gentle shepherd you are. You know what he and Kelly need. Father, bless their marriage so they will just grow closer to You and each other. Please give them sweet times of connection with You and with each other. Thank you for Kelly’s heart for her husband and help her to know how very much You love her and her husband. Amen

  17. Lois says:

    I pray for God to guide Billy physically, mentally, in all aspects of his life. To give him strength. Have Billy Believe in himself. Today,Tomorrow, everyday is a new opportunity

  18. Sharon,

    I am not married (divorced now for over 20 years), but I am using this prayer to pray for my grandsons. My oldest is in 2nd grade and is having problems in school staying on tasks, admitting his responsibility in making bad decisions, not following directions resulting in not being respectful to his teachers. As we know Satan particularly attacks our young people. This is a good prayer for the men and boys in our lives at all ages.

    Thank you!

  19. GLORIA says:

    I PRAY THAT THE LORD WILL TOUCH MY HUSBAND FROM HEAD TO TOE AND REMOVE ALL THAT IS WICKED AND NOT OF GOD.

  20. Rosie says:

    God first I wanna thank you for the gift you’ve given me, William. I ask that you improve our communication and you word my mouth and open our hears to hear each other’s hearts even when the words fall short. I also want to pray for Sharon’s grandsons, cover them, protect their hearts and mind and direct them in the way you would have them to go. Keep all Harm and danger from them. Order their steps, put the right people in their path, God you go into their hearts and minister to them even in their dreams. God I thank you and I praise you, we give you Allll the Glory, in you Name. AMEN

  21. Aurora says:

    I’m married, but I always worried about my dad every since my mom passed away. is it wrong for me to care more for my dad more than my husband? We now constantly argue about my dad.

  22. Laura Lynn says:

    For strong communication and more fun activities together 🙂

  23. Cyndie Lyon says:

    Praying for my husband Jim! God is working in his life, but still praying he will return to church! Great devotion!

    Praying for Vanessa. Lifting up your grandson. Rejoice Marriage Ministries is another great resource if you don’t know about it.

  24. Amanda says:

    Please pray for my Husband Joe we have been thru alot in the 7 months we have been married. His body and mind need prayer he has been in a few relationships with unfaithful women and he is consistently worried that I am going to leave him which is not true.

  25. amanda says:

    his physical healing is that in the last 7 months we have been thru 3 surgeries neck and back for him and he is still in alot of pain and is turning to marijauna to help with the pain and i am afraid that it is over taking his life

  26. Carol says:

    Please pray for my husband also, who is good man, generous and kind…but, feels his good works are enough to see Heaven. I pray that God works a miracle in his heart and opens his eyes to see that his good works are not enough. God wants his heart!

  27. Carol says:

    “Father God; we are so grateful that you still show blessings and mercy to all who ask and seek for your guidance. Please Father, bless Amanda and heal Amanda’s husband who needs You so desperately. We ask that You speak to Amanda’s husband and make him aware You see what he is going through. We ask for his complete deliverance from pain and his possible drug dependence. Lord Jesus, in Your Holy name we ask that You heal this brokenness in their marriage and in health, we pray….Amen.”

  28. sally says:

    My husbands salvation and our marriage restored

  29. sally says:

    My husband believes the same thing Carol. I pray over your husband to see and hear the truth of Ephesians 2:8-9

  30. Tamara says:

    Sally,
    I pray your marriage is filled with the love of God and that your husband’s relationship with God be restored and a fresh wind brings you both peace, Amen

    My prayer request for my husband is a fresh word and reconnection with his boldness in Christ along with wisdom as leader of our family.

  31. Patty says:

    I pray that my husband Jim is walking with Jesus in heaven. I was lucky to have such a wonderful husband.

  32. Daisy says:

    Please pray that God heals my husband from the chronic pain he endures everyday and from the grip that alcoholism has on his and our lives.

  33. Ann Javoroski says:

    Overcome his doubts and enable him to forgive unkind treatment of the past.

  34. Chrissi says:

    I pray my husband will desire to serve the Lord more, lead our family spiritually, heal his emotional pain from childhood and help us in our communication. I pray he will not project his hurt internal feelings on others.

  35. Paula says:

    I pray for my husband’s salvation. That God will speak to his heart in a mighty way. That the Lord will allow Him to cross paths with someone that will be a great witness and the words will be received and penetrate through the depths of my husband’s heart. And that my husband will open up and begin a relationship with the God.

  36. Agness says:

    I pray that my husband comes back home. And he should be a Godly fearing husband.and i should a good wife he needs. In Jesus’s name Amen.

  37. Tammy says:

    Please pray in for Tim and I as we grow deeper in love with each other and closer to the Lord bless us as we walk in to a new marriage. Lord thank you for the gift of each other and you said what you have joined together Tim and I let no man or woman sperate! Thank you that I am Tims and he is mine! I look forward to a beautiful life together in the name of Jesus Christ I seal this prayer in the blood of Jesus yes and Amen!

  38. Dominique says:

    Thank you Daddy (GOD) for what the Mom you gave to me was giving me. As I glance at the look of the face of the person saying “ You know what you getting?

    I helped that person. The Spirit of the Lord is what the person that was across from me is getting

    No sleeping with dogs here

"We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well…" 1 Thessalonians 2:8