I was drifting off to sleep, snuggled under the warm covers, secure within the four walls of my house. Next to me lay my strong, kind, and Christ-loving husband. I drank that moment in and wondered why I ever have trouble sleeping at night because reality is my life is full of many blessings. I’m not normally this pensive at night, but this night the only thing going through my mind are the images of the 21 people of the cross who were recently beheaded by ISIS. My heart grieved for them and my eyes wept for them.
I tossed and turned as I grasped the reality that beyond the predictable and safe world I call life are twenty-one widows. As they lay in their beds, probably wrestling with fear and doubt, I imagine they mourn for the God-fearing man who would never again sleep next to them. My heart grieved for them, and my eyes wept for them as I prayed for them.
My mind continued to race as I envisioned the home life of the men dressed in black… yes, the executioners. Perhaps they have wives, and I imaged the conditions in which they might find themselves sleeping. Once again, I grieved and wept and prayed.
Today we enter the season of Lent – a forty-day period of preparation for a believer through prayer and self-denial. Some people give up certain luxuries in order to focus more on the cross while other use these 40 days to add something to their lives to make their spiritual walk deeper and more focused. My particular denomination doesn’t enforce or promote Lent, and so I have often skipped over observing it altogether. But as I laid in my bed, hurting for the husbands of this world, I felt a prompting that I should commit to praying for all the husbands of the world over the next forty-days. Unlike my personalized 30-day prayer challenges (the next one starts in April, sign up here) which are specific prayers designed for a wife to personalize for her husband, this will be a pounding on heaven’s door for every husband.
- From the husbands who are persecuted to the husbands doing the persecution.
- From the husbands who ask for prayer to those who vehemently oppose the practice.
- From the husbands who faithfully come home to their families every night to the husbands who walked out on their wife and children years ago.
- From the husbands who are in prison for criminal charges to the husbands who have devoted their lives to vocational ministry.
- From the husbands who are hungry to the husbands who are wealthy.
- From the husbands who are having affairs to the ones who protect their vow to the wife of their youth.
- From the husbands who are nice and kind to the husbands who are mean and angry.
- From the abusive husbands to the sacrificial husbands.
- From the husbands who love the One, True God to the ones who deny the existence of any deity.
- From my husband to your husband and every husband in between.
Imagine intentionally covering every man in prayer during these next 40 days? Whether you know them or not, whether we agree with them or not, whether they deserve it or not, and whether they receive it or not. Let’s rally around each other and bow our knees for all men… all husbands. Want your husband lifted up by name? Leave his name in the comments or send it to me via e-mail.
Kim says
Please add my awesome husband Sal to your prayer list. And if I may, please pray for my sons Rob and Ryan who are future husbands 🙂 Thanks
darbyd says
I will! And yes, great idea about your sons! I’m now adding Jonah, Asa, and Hezekiah (my sons) too!
Kathleen says
Hi! I am from the Philippines! Please add the name of my husband Joseph Alfonso to your prayer list this lent.Thank you so much and God bless you more!
Angie says
Please pray for my husband Paul who is a police officer. Thanks so Much!!
darbyd says
Wow! Certainly will. Love to have details to go with the name. Please thank him for his service!
Melissa says
My husband Joe. Thanks!
darbyd says
Will do! 🙂
Michelle S says
Please pray for my husband, John. He’s in the military. Thank you so much.
darbyd says
I will! And, please, thank him for his service to our country and our freedom! Our military people (and their spouses!) are heroes!
Monica says
My husband Chris. Thanks!
darbyd says
Will add him! 🙂
taryn says
Please add my husband Shermus and my son Benjamin who will be a future husband. Thank you.
darbyd says
Will add both! Thanks!
Shannon says
Jerry, my husband, and sons, Justin, Jered, & Brent.
Thank you for your daily inspiration & encouragement!!!
darbyd says
Yay! Will add them right now! Thank you for your encouragement!
Pamela says
My husband-Milton Sr..my sons Klahid, Sho, Milton Jr Brian, Eric
darbyd says
Will do! Love the names of your sons! 🙂
tammy says
please pray for my my husband Jim
darbyd says
Certainly! 🙂
lamit says
I am so blessed by your ministry dear Darby. Please add my husband, Andrew.. God bless you
darbyd says
Thank you for your kind words! Just added Andrew. 🙂
Joan says
Please add my husband Mark.
Thank you – God Bless
darbyd says
Will do. And God Bless you too!
Lisa says
I would like to add my husband John and my son Brandon who with Gods blessing may be a husband in the future.
darbyd says
Awesome. Just added their names. Thank you!
Bobbi Wineberg says
My husband, Bob, is a full time prison chaplain and also a mission pastor. Pray for his ministries and the strength to do both with God’s power.
darbyd says
Wow! What an amazing (yet I’m sure challenging) job. Will be praying for Bob!
Milly says
Pray for my husband, Jose.
Thank you.
darbyd says
Will be praying for him.
Shaquita says
Pray for my husband, Devin.
darbyd says
Just added his name. 🙂
Danielle says
Pray for my husband, Justin
darbyd says
Will do!
Tabitha says
Please pray for my husband, Daniel, and my sons, Xander and Wyatt. Thank you for your ministry.
darbyd says
Will be praying for all three! Thanks for the encouragement!
Allison says
Please add my husband to your list. He is a backsliding Christian. His name is Shimon. *just in case you’re wondering how to pronounce it, it’s Shi-mon…short I sound, short o sound*. Thank you and God bless you.
darbyd says
I added him! Thanks for the pronunciation and for the details!
Janice Fisher says
Would love to add my husband Robert and my 17 year old son, Taylor. The enemy is relentless, therefore we must be relentless in our prayer and support of the men in our lives. Thank you Darby for your leadership.
darbyd says
Very true about needing to be relentless, Janice! I added both of your men. 😉
Lauren says
Please pray for my husband Jesse as he searches for a new job. <3
darbyd says
Will do. My husband is also currently looking for a new job!
Angie says
I would like to add my husband, Dustin, to this list. He is currently deployed and is at a point in his life where prayer is much needed.
darbyd says
Wow, Angie… I will be praying for him and for you! Thank you both for serving our country!
KevyAnn says
Please add my husband Zac L.
KevyAnn says
Please add my husband Zac L. He has struggled with his faith and our marriage has taken the brunt of it this past 6 months. He is currently overseas traveling away from my son and i. We can use all the prayers we can get. Thank you so much!
darbyd says
I will add him and pray for him as he travels and wrestles with faith. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Carola says
Husband – Jim and son/sons-in-law – Cameron, Eli, James, Dan, Stephen and Jason-Michael. Thank you for the inspiration
darbyd says
Added all those names! Thanks!
Angel Harp says
Please add my husband Eric and our sons Justin, Gavin, Jake, Jarred, Jarod and Jeffy! Thank you so much!!
darbyd says
Added them! What a great heritage of boys you are raising!
vicki boggs says
I will join you in this challenge. Please add my Christ-loving husband to the list. He’s an amazing man. Samuel Boggs
darbyd says
So wonderful to hear. I will add him!
Starla says
Please pray for my Husband Nathan. We are overcoming porn addiction.
darbyd says
Thanks for the honesty. Will be praying! God is stronger!
Nicole says
I would love to add my husband William to the prayer list. Thank you so much!!
darbyd says
He is added! 🙂
Brittany says
Please uplift my husband Marquis Keyes he ia currently deployed after a week of me having our three son. I am left with our 13 month and 5 year old and its taking a toll on us
darbyd says
Oh, Brittany! I can’t imagine. Will be praying for him and for you! Thank you both for serving our country.
Tracey says
Please pray for my husband, Eugene. Thank you. 🙂
darbyd says
Will do!
Shay says
Please pray for my husband, Rory, that He will seek God to lead our marriage in the direction the Lord desires for us.
darbyd says
I will certainly pray for that for Rory.
renee says
My husband Rick and my three sons Tyler Adam and Mason
darbyd says
Added all four names! 🙂
Brooke says
Please add my husband, rusty, who has given up on God and our marriage. He is currently living with another women. Please pray for my two young sons too. Thank you
Gina Sena says
I will be praying for your marriage. I’m sorry about what you are going through. Hugs.
Candice says
Brooke, I will be praying. I’m going through the same storm. Remember God is faithful….
darbyd says
I love all the community support going on here. And yes, I will be praying too! I will pray for his heart to be soft to the Holy Spirit’s conviction, for him to wake up to the vows he walked away from, and for God to be your husband in the meantime!
Gina Sena says
Please pray for my awesome husband Jason as he guides our home and learnd our church. Thank you.
darbyd says
I will pray for your Jason and I pray for mine. 😉
Gina Sena says
I know! Sometimes while reading your posts and it says Jason I totally get the impression that you are talking about mine haha.
Gina Sena says
I meant he leads our Church, this autocorrection isn’t helpful
Brenda says
My husband Paul
Thank you
darbyd says
Added him.
Luz says
Please pray for my husband Frank and my son Jacob whose 15 but one day God willing will become a husband! Thank you and God bless you!
darbyd says
Yes! Will pray for both!
Caroline says
Please pray for my husband John, who travels a lot for work. Also, for my son Ryan who is in boot camp in the army!!
Lynn Turner says
As a blue-star mom myself, I can empathize with the pride and also fear you must be feeling. Prayers up for you and yours.
Candice says
Please add my husband Mike F. To stand against temptation for him to come back to the Lord. Thank you Darby!
darbyd says
Am praying!
Nicky says
Please pray for my husband Mark who is truck driver. He is also on a path to developing a deeper relationship with God. I pray for for his continued growth as a man, husband and father to be.
Teresa says
Please add my husband, Luther Richardson, and also my son, Joe Carano, who is a single dad raising his son
darbyd says
Yes, will add both… and even your grandson… who I assume if far off from parenthood, but can’t hurt to pray for the man he will become!
Alex says
Please pray for my husband Clint. Pray he will turn to Jesus as he leads our family. Pray the Spirit would give him discernment and wisdom!
Thanks Darby!!! 🙂
darbyd says
Yes! What great things to pray… will pray for Clint as I pray for my husband!
Lynn Turner says
Please pray for my wonderful husband, David Turner. He has had an exacerbation of an old back injury and will likely need surgery. He is in immense pain and his consultation is still two weeks away; then another 1-2 weeks before he would have surgery. Thanks, Darby, and any other sisters who want to pray as well.
Gina Sena says
Praying for your husband and for a speedy recovery!!
Aleruchi Oleru says
Please add my husband Chima to your list. We are going to a very tough patch now. We need Gods intervention and mercy. Pray for me to really let go and not be bitter and for wisdom I need to live with my prebeliever
Thanks
Aly
Tiffany says
Rough patches are hard, we have had our fair share in our 13 years of marriage. You are seeking out the best. I will lift you and your husband in pray.
Tiffany
Tiffany says
Please lift my husband Franklin and the Father of our 6 beautiful children in pray. He is our provider and is needing clarification on his next step in life, to continue to provide for us.
Thanks
Tiffany
darbyd says
Just added him! Love that you have six kiddos! 🙂
Kolyn says
Please pray for my husband, Emmanuel. We are currently separated and I am praying for restoration in our marriage….we both need healing. Praying God reveals truth to my husband, yes we made mistakes but we are forgiven and God can restore anything! Thank you!
darbyd says
I will pray for him and for the restoration of your marriage. Thanks for sharing.
Chrystal says
This is such a blessing! Please pray for my husband Charles and our 2 sons, Chauncy and Avery (future husbands).
darbyd says
I will add all three names! 🙂
Sarah says
Please lift my husband John up and add him to the list.
Pray for the restoration of his salvation and the restoration of our marriage. The healing of our family. He is a Marine and also suffers from PTSD. Thank you
darbyd says
I will certainly be praying for John, healing for his PTSD, and for the restoration of your marriage! Thankful for his service!
Sarah says
Please add my husband Carl. Were going through a pretty rough time right now. Also my son Matthew (a future husband). This is a wonderful idea! Thank you!
darbyd says
Adding Carl and Matthew to my list. Praying the rough time will come to an end soon!
Kim says
Please pray for my husband Tyler. He is a corrections officer and a reserve police officer. What a great idea! I love this so much!
darbyd says
I am praying for Tyler… that line of work must be so challenging sometimes!
Amber B. says
Please add my amazing husband to your list. His name is Robert and he’s a civilian contractor working in Afghanistan. Also please pray for our 2 sons, Jonathan & Jacob, who still have while until they’re husbands, but it doesn’t hurt to start praying for them now!! Thank you so much!!!
darbyd says
I just added all three to my list. Especially for Robert’s safety! My boys are still young too, but you are right, it doesn’t hurt to start praying for them now.
Cynthia says
Blessings! Please pray for my husband Reggie Escaler, specifically for him to have more xompassion with our eldest daughter (mine from a previous relationship), Ariana -8yrs old. That when he speaks or reprimands her, may he do it with a fatherly love. Thank you.
Also for my brother, a NY fire fighter, David Camasca. That he may come back to walk with Jesus.
Thank you, thank you, that you!! ♡♡♡
darbyd says
Certainly will pray for Reggie… and what a great idea to add your brother! I will do the same for my brothers! 🙂
Mindy says
Thank you for this! My husband’s name is Joshua, ours sons are Bradlee and Gabriel, and my father is Kendall. I will join you in prayer.
darbyd says
You’re welcome… and thank you for joining me in prayer! My husband is Jason and our sons are Jonah, Asa, and Hezekiah. My dad’s name is David.
I just added your husband, sons, and father (great idea!) to my list.
Busi says
Please add my husband Njabulo who is really struggling with infidelity, resulting in our 7 year marriage to be destroyed and a 2 year child out of wedlock
darbyd says
So sorry for your pain. Will be praying for Njabulo
Lynda says
Plese pray for my Husband Michael. His job ended in November and there are no job prospects for him. He has applied to go back to school at age 52. He/we are exhausted. He has stress migraines.
Pray with us as he trusts in God for school and a job at the end of the road.
Thank you
darbyd says
I’m sorry for this trial. I will be praying for him, his future job, and his stress level!
Deanna says
please pray for my husband Paul.. He is a corrections officer. Thank you so much!
darbyd says
Praying for him! 🙂
Katrina Knotts says
This is a really beautiful idea. Thank you for sharing it with us. I’d like to add my husband Peter To the list. Thank you.
darbyd says
You’re very welcome! I will gladly add Peter!
EB says
Please pray for my marriage and husband Niinoi has asked me for a divorce.
He thinks he can’t make happy anymore. I feel I have put too much pressure on him to achieve. I still love him and want to make it make it work. I am so sad and sorry. We need prayer and a healing.
darbyd says
I am praying for prayers and healing. Thanks for sharing that with me.
Paula C says
please pray for my husband Michael as he’s been seeking full time employment for over a year without much luck. Thank you.
darbyd says
Thanks for adding his name… will be praying for him and his employment situation.