Love Intercedes

Marriage is for Keeps Series

Dare to love your husband. Dare to invest in the most awesome relationship that God has given you this side of heaven. You don't know how long you will have with your spouse before God takes one of you home. I dare you to have no regrets as you 100% do your part, unselfishly endeavoring to make your marriage last a life time.

I wasn't married long before I realized that we had some struggles in our marriage. What I didn't realize was that many of our problems were typical to many marriages. Sadly, many would give advice to separate or get divorced. Even Christians. Happily, we never took that advice and kept-on-keeping-on for what has turned into 33 years of marital bliss. Well, not quite.

For many years, I blamed my husband. It was his fault, you know. Or was it?! 

Instead, I learned to say, "Change Me, Oh Lord!!"

No matter how hard you try, you will likely not ever change your husband. Instead, I hope you take the Love Dare seriously, because if you do, you will likely be changed from the inside out.

I challenge you to read back over this series on 'Marriage is for Keeps' and purposefully carry out each dare.  If you do, your marriage will be affected in the weeks, months, or years to follow. I had been doing similar things in my marriage before I found this book. For me, nothing changed overnight but slowly and surely the depth and closeness in my marriage started to grow. 

One thing I have learned from raising children is that I cannot do anything in my own power and strength. As I have said before, I have failed in a myriad of ways until I knew that success is not of me but through the Lord Jesus Christ working in my life. Our marriage will not change and grow without something more powerful than anything else you have (The Love Dare, p. 77.) You will need a tool from your tool box!!

Effective prayer is the tool that you will need to tap into the Source that will change you and your marriage. You are not alone!!

Prayer really does work. It is powerful. A phenomenon. Unlimited. Amazing. You will not  be disappointed in the power of God working in your personal situation yielding results you never thought possible. Just remember, it didn't happen for me over night and may take longer than the immediate response we desire. It took a while for us to get ourselves into the mess we made and it takes time for God to work in our hearts to make the changes within that bring results.

Prayer for your husband:

• Pray from a humble heart: prayer works best that way!!
• Be in a right relationship with God and others: or your prayers go unheeded!!
• Confess your sins one to another: and pray for one another!!
• Turn your overwhelming insight of your husband's hidden faults into prayer: endless nagging is ineffective!!
• Turn your complaints into effective kneeling!!
• Stop ALL scolding and nagging: that is NOT what changes hearts!!

Talk to God instead in your prayer closet!!

• If your spouse in not saved: pray for salvation!!
• Pray for your husband's heart.
• Pray for his attitude.
• Pray for his leadership.
• Pray for his responsibilities.
• Pray for forgiveness (towards YOU) to replace bitterness.
• Pray for a breakthrough in your marriage.
• Pray for your hearts desire: love, honor, romance, intimacy to go to a deeper level. (The Love Dare: p. 75 & 76)

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 4:6-7~

"Confess your faults one to another, and  pray one for another,  that ye may be healed. The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. ~James 5:16~

Were you encouraged by these words today? Will you commit to praying for your husband? You will NOT regret your choice!!

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In Christ Alone,

~Judith~

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