The agony.
The pain.
The unknown.
As a prayer mentor and intercessor, I have learned that God will call His children to many things, and the mantle He placed upon Ministry in Motion Int’l intercessors mid-January 2020, had become a ginormous feat. We tried to dodge this particular prayer call; however, I could not ignore His request, especially after receiving two text messages and a telephone call within the hour of God impressing upon me to pray for marriages, including my own. There was a heightened level of discernment that marriages were under attack.
Loneliness.
Isolation.
It hurt so bad. It all began with, “Will you marry me?” Then the day arrives when the couple recites the following:
“I, (Name), take you, (Name), to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy law, in the presence of God I make this vow.”
I do!
Three years. Five years. Can we make it? Will we make it?
Ten years. Twenty years. Celebrate or separate?
The struggle is real. Don’t allow anyone to tell you otherwise.
I took to YouTube to record a short devotional and a prayer. With less than 100 subscribers, the ministry received more than 300 prayer requests, and they are still pouring into our inbox. Women far and near are asking for prayer for their strength, their husband, and their marriage. Some are women in their twenty’s, and others requesting prayer are in their sixties. Truthfully, we had a woman request prayer who is 79 years old.
Christian marriages are under attack. The weight upon the shoulders of husbands is taking a toll. Wives are frustrated and stressed, unsure of what to do or how to do it. Communications have been limited. What’s the saying, “Men only have so many words per day.” Well, women want to talk. Can men be vulnerable?
Tears
Outbursts
Anxiety
Arguments. Talk to me. I don’t want to. Slammed doors. Silence.
He is called the prince of the power of the air. (Ephesians 2:2]
Disobedience
Things begin to spiral out of control. Disagreements around downsizing homes, over the limit credit cards, medical bill balances, student loans, children’s needs, intimacy, money coming in does not match the money going out. Real-life. Real issues.
What do we do? It hurt so bad.
#WhenYouDontKnowWhatToPray…Pray and keep on praying.
Pray in this manner:
God, “For this reason (my marriage) I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of Your glorious riches You may strengthen me and my husband with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. And I pray that we, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” [Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV] Note: I have taken the scriptures as a prayer for you to pray for you and your marriage.
Scriptures to study and pray for your marriage.
- Lord, though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. [Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV]
- 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. {Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV]
- Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. [1 Corinthians 7:5 NIV]
- May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. [Proverbs 5:18 NIV]
- Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. [Ephesians 5:21]
- There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. [1 John 4:18 NIV]
- And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, [Philippians 1:9 NIV]
Let’s talk. How can we pray for you and your marriage? Please share in the comment section.
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Announcement: God has called me to host a 24-hour prayer summit for wives only. February 28 – 29, 2020, in central Ohio. Can you come? Women are coming by cars and vans loads — no registration fee. Just get here, pay for your hotel room (can have up to four in the room), take care of your food, and give $25.00 to help with covering the meeting room space.
Stay up to date with Gail and the marriage videos on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/gaildudley
Instagram: @GailDudley
Here’s a great book to add to your library by Nancy DeMoss. Clicking this image is an affiliate link. Purchasing through this link supports Ministry in Motion International.
