Confession: I don’t pray for my husband very often.
Can you believe it? I, of all people, have totally fallen off the “daily praying for my husband” bandwagon that I once so energetically led! Years ago I published a devotional for wives on praying intentionally for our husbands; one of my favorite topics to speak to women about is fervently praying for our husbands; and each week, on this blog, I post a Scripture-based prayer for our husbands. Yet my laziness frequently keeps me from offering up passionate petitions to the Lord on behalf of my husband.
In my heart I am truly passionate about the principle of a wife praying for her husband. But the reality of my life is that Jason will ask me to pray about something, and while I verbally commit to doing so, I often allow life to get in the way. The children are needy during the day, and once they are asleep in the evenings I choose to relax in front of the TV rather than pray for my husband and his specific requests. Fighting for Jason on my knees has become more of a pastime than a lifestyle. It is something I am intentional about exclusively during the trying seasons, but I give little attention to it during the comfortable times.
Friends, this should not be!
What good is it if I write a million prayers on this blog but never pray them over my husband? What use is the power of the Scriptures if I don’t boldly proclaim them over his life? What good is conviction over this shortcoming in my life if I don’t take action upon it?
Experts say if you do something for thirty days in a row, it will become a habit!
Thus, the 30-Day Prayer Challenge for our husbands is upon us! Beginning on Monday, I will send a daily e-mail which will contain a brief Scripture-based prayer for us to pray over our husbands. These e-mails will not appear on the blog, so you must opt in to receive them! For accountability reasons, I have added my personal e-mail address to the mailing list so that I not only will write the prayers but will be compelled to pray them upon their delivery to my inbox.
I am looking forward to what the Lord wants to do in the lives of our husbands during the month of September! Prayer is incredibly powerful, and I firmly believe it is the best way a wife can love her husband.
I need to love my husband better! If you do too, I hope you will join me!
Yasmin says
I’m with you! I’ve completely fallen off this summer because of my commitment to working our church’s summer camp FT, plus being married to an unbeliever, and the mom of 4 kids – I’m tired!! And lazy… more lazy than tired, I will admit. So I join you for the next 30 days to praying for my husband as well! Thanks for this – I’ve been feeling so guilty lately. This helps me to see that I’m not the only one this can happen to and it doesn’t mean I’m a horrible Christian and am not worthy of being a part of women’s ministry. It can happen to any of us, we just need to get back on track when it does! Thanks Darby!
darbyd says
Yay! So glad you will be joining me… and yes, lazy more than tired perfectly describes me! So glad we’re in this together. Thanks for commenting.
Cindy says
Thank you for being so honest! I feel so guilty about not following through on prayer for my husband. YET, I don’t change it. I get so stuck in my ways. I am completely with you and will be joining you on this challenge. Thank you!
darbyd says
Same here about not changing! Ugh, the flesh is so hard to fight sometimes. I am so glad we will be praying together! Thanks for commenting!
Ellen says
So far, 2014 has been an extremely challenging year for me. In late January I was layed off my job of over 13 years due to staff reduction. It was totally unexpected, though I had such a load of stress taken off of me, when they told me, I was actually thanking them for letting me go. The stress was mainly from working with people who lacked integrity. Unfortunately, I was unaware of the stress I was entering. Losing all of my routine, not to mention my identity, was extremely difficult. I tried to join my husband with his routine, but I really needed to find a new routine of my own. going from waking up at 4AM to 9AM, and the difference from spending maybe 5 hours together to 24/7 was more difficult than I had imagined. I choose to look at it as six months of adjustment. I knew I needed my own routine & gave myself the deadline of six months from the date I was let go, This time was also stressful for my husband, as he literally thinks I am crazy & feels he has lost the woman he had married. I am now fighting for my marriage with all of my might. I am currently on a month vacation on my own, spending time with each of my three grown children & their families, & time with one of my sisters. The break was one of my son’s ideas, insisting that we needed time away from each other. I am doing the Love Dare for the third time for my husband. I have come to the realization that I am responsible for my own reality, as my husband is responsible for his. I am hoping the two will overlap again. This opportunity to participate in a 30 day prayer challenge for my husband is a God send. I consider it a privileged to be a part of it. I also ask for your prayers that our marriage may be healed.
darbyd says
I am so sorry your year has been such a struggle. I will certainly be praying for you and your marriage! God can redeem anything! Can’t wait to see him at work in your life.
The Baby Mama says
Ellen, I am also praying for you. God will work a miracle – just take a deep breath and realize that losing your job has been a huge blow to you. You need healing from that, because after both my husband and I lost our jobs, I can honestly say it is traumatic and healing is required. God is on your side. Never forget that.