A Prayer For My Husband Day 8

If you have made it this far, congratulations! We are now in week 2. This is your friendly reminder that the enemy does NOT like what you are doing. A united husband and wife working for the kingdom of God in any capacity (yes, even to raise children!) is a huge threat.

In case you are new here, below you will find:

1. Scripture - this is the Scripture assigned for the day

2. Meditating on the Word section

3. Digging Deeper section with some reflection (optional)

4. A Prayer for our husbands: one for those whose

5. A Challenge to help you with your marriage and prayer life in some manner.

Gratitude

James 1:2-3 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

In verse 1, James called himself a servant/bondservant of God and “Lord” Jesus Christ.

The Ancient Greek word used for servant here is doulos. Early history of the church says that James was such a man of prayer that his knees had large and thick calluses, making them look like the knees of a camel. It also says that James was martyred in Jerusalem by being pushed from a high point of the temple. Yet the fall did not kill him, and on the ground he was beaten to death, even as he prayed for his attackers. (David  Guzik Commentary) Wow! What a beautiful testament to who James was known to be-a believer in Christ. I have to pause as I am writing this. Do people know this about me? Do I reflect the light of Christ in every circumstance?

James was the half-brother of Jesus, yet this is not how James introduces himself in the beginning of his letter. Where most people today do not hesitate to use the name of Jesus to further their ministry, we find that James did exactly the opposite. He calls himself a bondservant, a “doulos.”

A doulos is someone who belongs to another without any ownership rights of their own, or in laymen's terms a slave. In the New Testament, this word is speaking specifically of believers who willingly live under Christ's authority as His devoted followers. It is also important to note that the word Lord used here is the word for the master of a doulos! Is Christ your Lord? Are you living submitted to His authority?

Sisters; trials are inevitable. When we are living Submitted to Christ and being sanctified, trials produce faith, so count it all joy when you experience trials my sisters! If we aren't doing this and expressing gratitude in the midst of a storm, we shouldn't ask our husbands to do the same.

Scripture

Philippians 4:4-6

Meditating on the Word

Think about the Scriptures today. Ask the Lord to help you identify ways of expressing gratitude not only towards Him, but your husband as well. Write these verses on an index card if this will help remind you or set an alarm on your phone to reflect and pray on these things throughout the day.

Digging Deeper

If you are inclined to dig deeper, here are some application questions.

1. How does knowing the cultural context of the Philippians' support for Paul shape your understanding of expressing Thanksgiving and rejoicing in the Lord in every circumstance? (Click here to read about it.)

2. Paul is telling the Philippians to be in prayer and Thanksgiving in all circumstances. Can you think of a time in the past in which you have expressed gratitude to God when things were extremely difficult? What about expressing gratitude towards your husband when you didn't "feel" like it?

3. What steps can you take to cultivate a practice of gratitude to the Lord AND your husband when trials get to be too much to bear? Remember, God will give you more than you can handle to remind you why you needed Him to begin with!

Prayer for My Husband Today

(For those whose husband proclaims Christ)

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You so much for my husband, his growth, strength and perseverance. Lord, I pray that he is able to find blessings where there seem to be none. Thank You for the love, mercy, grace and generosity You continually show my husband, myself, and our children even when we do not recognize it. Father, I ask that You help me continue to be Your hands and feet in my home. Remind me to express gratitude to You and my husband so that he may see You in me. Thank You and I love You.

In Your heavenly name I pray, amen.

Day 8 of 30 Prayer Challenge for Wives

Prayer, Option #2

(For those whose husbands are not in Christ)

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You so much for my husband, his growth, strength and perseverance. Lord, I pray that he is able to find blessings where there seem to be none. Thank You for the love, mercy, grace and generosity You continually show my husband, myself, and our children even when we do not recognize it.

Father, I ask that You help me continue to be Your light so that my husband may come to know you as Lord. Remind me to express gratitude to You and him so that he may come to know who You are through me. Thank You and I love You.

In Your heavenly name I pray, amen.

Day 8 of 30 Prayer Challenge for Wives

Challenge

Ask your husband to pray with you today, whether together or separately. I want to encourage you to ask him at some point. It is important that your husband knows you are praying for him. It really helps your husband to see the words that you are praying for him. (Firsthand experience!)