A Prayer for the Most Important Moment in Your Marriage - Crosswalk Couples Devotional - February 12
A Prayer for the Most Important Moment in Your Marriage
By Gina Smith
“I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me.” Psalm 77:1
Pray This Prayer for Your Marriage Today:
Father, today, this moment, is the most important moment in our marriage. It’s a moment in which I can reflect back and see what You’ve done in our lives and in which I can learn more about You and how you want me to live as we move forward. It’s a moment in which I can live in a way that brings you glory. I invite you to be a part of this day and ask that You would enable me to live, one moment at a time, in light of Your Word, remembering that every moment is a HOLY moment when lived in Your presence.
In this moment: Help me to remember that the best thing that I can do is cry out to you on a daily basis. I need you!
“I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me.” Psalm 77:1
In this moment: Give me a humble heart that loves others, and that loves my spouse, in the way that you love us. Show me the areas in which I need to grow and where I need to repent of sin In my life. I need Your wisdom as I trust you, one day at a time, to knit our hearts together in a way that only you can do!
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10
In this moment: Give me compassion for my spouse and show me how I can be an encouragement to him as we fight this spiritual battle that we are both in. Thank you for the victories you have already given us and for all the work you are doing in our lives and in the lives of our children.
“Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
In this moment: Give me a heart that is grateful for the gift of marriage. Help me to remember that we really are better together! Help me to be intentional to value and love my spouse in the way that he needs to be valued and loved.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?" Ecclesiastes 4:9
In this moment: Help me to be committed to loving my spouse in the way that your Word tells me to love him.
"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself" (Ephesians 5:22-23)
In this moment: Help me to see my spouse’s strengths and help me to see how you are working in his life. Please continue to grow my love for him and help me to see ways in which I can show him respect.
“…let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:33
In this moment: Help me to love him and be patient with him in the way that you have called me to love him, and in the way that you love me.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs" 1 Corinthians 13:4-5:
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:14:
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." John 15:12
In this moment: Help me to humbly see my spouse through eyes of grace and strive to quickly resolve any conflict, in a way that honors You.
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5
“…not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 5
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12
“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” Matthew 18
In this moment: I commit to resolving any conflict in a biblical manner, and to be humble enough to admit when I need help from someone who that will direct me to You and Your Word.
“But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. “ Matthew 18: 16-17
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Thank you that you have provided Your Word, and that in it is written what we need for this moment, for life and godliness, and for marriage!
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Gina Smith is a writer and author who has been married for 31 years to Brian, a college professor and athletic trainer. For the past 20+ years Gina and her husband have served on a Christian college campus as the on-campus parents, and her husband has been a professor and dean of students. They have lived on the campus where they raised both of their now married children. In her spare time, she loves to write, writes for several websites, and recently authored her first book “Grace Gifts: Practical Ways To Help Your Children Understand God's Grace". She also writes at her personal blog: ginalsmith.com.
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