A Visual Prayer Guide for Your Husband (Present, Future or Ex)

“The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity. If we want to see mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God’s standing challenge, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not!’” J. Hudson Taylor

Marriages are falling apart.

I want to Fight For My Marriage.

One way I can fight is through PRAYER.

My roommate in seminary had a prayer guide for her future husband. It was just a stick drawing of a man. There were lines at specific parts of the body to guide you in praying for your future spouse (from head to toe).

I have been wanting to make one as a guide for me, when praying for Justin.

I decided to use an old wedding picture. I added the specific requests and Scriptures to pray over him. I also added some for myself (specifically in being a godly wife).

I encourage you to make one. 

Prayer is not about us.

I need to tell myself that again… prayer is not about ME! It is about GOD. Do not lay your request before the Lord in a selfish way (asking the Lord to make your husband “perfect”).

I struggle in this area. Prayer is a way of you coming along side your husband (current, future or ex) and lifting him up to the LORD.

GOAL: Isaiah 26:8 – “Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”

Single Ladies (yes, Beyonce’s song is playing in my head): draw a stick figure or pull a picture of a really good looking guy off the internet (kidding, kind of). Pray for your future husband.

Married Ladies: scan in an old wedding photo. I don’t ever want to lose the love and feeling I felt on one of the best days of my life. I want that love to grow deeper. A wedding photo is the best reminder.

Divorced Ladies: Prayer is powerfully healing and a powerful tool for allowing forgiveness. I recommend you praying for your ex. Especially if you have kids.

Make it specific to what the Lord lays on your heart. Keep it in your Bible or frame it.

Here is what I made. I used Photoshop, but you can use any software that allows you to add text to pictures. Paint.net is free and works pretty good. I printed it out on my printer. I used 5×7 photo paper. You can also take a picture and a sharpie and write out your guide.

I have the specifics listed below.

Here are some things I pray over Justin and myself.

Justin:

Wisdom: Leading & Parenting, Proverbs 4:5-7

Mind: Purity, Fear God & Lead with Integrity, Philippians 4:8, Nehemiah 7:2

Ears: Hear and Obey God, James 1:22

Mouth: Grace, Kindness, Clearly proclaim Gospel, Colossians 4:3-6

Heart: Peace & Purity, Colossians 3:15, Matthew 5:8

Hands: Hard Working, Proverbs 21:5

Feet: Protect, Bless, Guide, Romans 10:15, Psalm 119:105

Specifics: These are prayer request you know or he has specifically shared with you. If you don’t know any… ask him.

For me… I noted key areas where I struggle GREATLY and often FAIL. (I need alot of help! I’m thankful for God’s grace!)

Eyes: Protect, Romans 13:14

Mind: Imagination, Set above, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Colossians 3:2

Mouth: Kindness, Respect, Encouragement, Proverbs 31: 12, 26

Heart: Undivided, Psalm 86:11 (My life verse)

Hands: Diligent, Proverbs 31:17

Specifics: Fight Selfishness. Show me sin and changes I need to make. Be a true helpmate. Wisdom in parenting. To love and respect him.. deeper and more than I did in this photo.

Overall prayer: “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” Eph. 3:20

I Only Care Who is Last

This random thought came to my mind this morning. Sometimes we spend a lot of time pondering about our past, and sometimes when we share it with our friends, they would comment how "interesting" our past could be.

This thought came to my mind, "I do not care who was in my past, all I care is who stays with me till the end"; this is in the context of a life partner.

I have not been through many relationships in the past; strictly speaking, I just had been in one [1] relationship and that was many years ago, when I was still studying in college. At that time, I always hoped that my first shall be my last. Because I was young, I was flattered when a guy came to show his interest on me and within two [2] months (if I remember correctly), we started our relationship. It did not last very long, we were together only for about a year or so, and we broke up peacefully albeit due to not so pleasant reason.

Thereafter, I did have crushes on few other guys while waiting for God to bring me to THE ONE and lead THE ONE to me. There were guys who had crushes on me too, of whom I rejected them almost instantly. Why is that so? I guess I trusted my own instinct.

I am still waiting for THE ONE. Sometimes when I think back, have I made the wrong decision to reject those who confessed their feelings for me? Perhaps I did regret rejecting one of them, but a friend told me this, had I accepted him back then, we might not have a good ending given the circumstance at that point of time. Well, she may be right.

I always thought that I am used to being alone. In fact, I did the Spiritual Gift test and celibacy was scored one of the highest. I told God, "Lord, I know I enjoy being alone but I think I do want to get married!". I was still quite young back then, and up to last year, I was almost convinced that I might end up as a celibate.

One incident changed my point of view and changed my life: that was when this particular person who came into my life and made me realise that I do want to have a partner and settle down. Lately, there have been many who approached me on this matter as well; I guess it may be time for me to pray about this aspect of my life diligently and start to do something about it.

I am not sure who is THE ONE and I do not care who were in my past; all I want and need is, one who will walk through the journey with me till death draws us apart.

The Beauty Of Understanding That Not All Relationships Are Meant To Last Forever

ELYSSA CARR • MAR 4, 2014

When people come into your life, it is hard to dissociate from the shared moments and move on. Oftentimes, we find ourselves forced to leave people whom our lives once revolved around behind. You will always carry memories of the sights, the sounds and the experiences you shared. But, sometimes people change; sometimes we move on and oftentimes, we simply grow.

As days turn into months and months into years, it is still difficult to understand how to detach yourself from the people of your past and to accept the reality that they will no longer be part of your present.

People who made up such a large part of your life at one point (ex-boyfriends, teachers, old roommates, friends, etc.) are not always meant to be in your life forever.

Sometimes, those people come into your life for a brief moment in time — however brief — and then, they are gone. And in a moment, the people in whom you invested turn into mere pictures stored somewhere in the back of your mind. The moments you shared meant something — and they still mean something. You are subject to an internal battle to understand how the people you once valued are no longer of importance to you in your daily life.

In a way, those people in your past became your family and you probably find yourself struggling to let them go. They gave you advice when you needed guidance. They gave you hugs when you felt alone. They gave you unique experiences that defined a stage of your life. Most of all, however, these people gave you a sense of comfort in the unfamiliar and unpredictable journey that we call life.

And during those unusual times when you return back to those people and those places, you realize that your connection to that city, to those people and to those memories still holds strong. While you may have left and may have a new life completely unlike your past, those connections do not dissipate. Just because you left a place or left people, it does not mean that those memories somehow become void. And when you return, you are reminded of the friends you made, the people you knew and the moments you shared. All of these things suddenly become fresh in your mind. It is in these instances when you’ll realize the importance each one of these people has in your life.

It is still difficult to look back, knowing that your current life does not quite leave room for everyone in your past. And while you’re not sure it will ever get easier, when you know that people you once considered to be family are continuing to live a life separate from yours, it is comforting to know that at any point, you can stop and remember the experiences you shared together.

As we grow, we realize that all people are not permanent fixtures in our lives, that they can be fleeting fixtures of happiness, love and comfort. It is a difficult concept to grasp that people we consider to be staples in our lives may not be here for us tomorrow. But, we must learn to accept the idea that whether it be a lover, a coworker or a friend, his or her place in our lives may not always be meant to last forever.

When we begin to understand that relationships are not always meant to last, we can also have a deeper appreciation for the experiences we share with people while they are in our lives. Though it may sadden you to consider the end of a relationship, you can begin to appreciate the people in your life for the sheer reason that they exist in your present. People come and go, but memories last forever.

The lessons people teach us and the hardships they help us navigate are never forgotten. These memories become permanent parts of us and continue to shape who we become. Just because a relationship does not last does not mean that it is insignificant in any way. It is not the amount of time these relationships last that is important, but instead, it is the ability to remember them.

Once we can accept the realization that relationships are fleeting, our lives will be filled with vast moments of appreciation. Appreciation for each relationship in its entirety and the uniqueness of the moments that you share together — appreciation for the present.

Leaving people behind is never easy — it never feels right to move on to the next chapter. But, as life continues onward, so do we, and just because we leave people, it does not mean we must forget the times we shared. It does not mean that all those things must be lost in some unknown abyss. All we can ask is to remember and that those whom we once loved remember us, too.