Praying in line with scripture is powerful. When we pray scripture, we agree with God’s purposes for us. In this plan we will go through 7 scripture-based prayers for your marriage. Learn the heart of God for your marriage, and pray in line with His word. Invite His love, protection, and presence into your union.
Awesome Marriage
Day 1
Scriptures: Romans 5:6-8, 1 John 4:16, 1 John 4:19, Galatians 5:22-23
From a worldly perspective, we often see the word “love” used to describe something we like or enjoy; something that brings joy or pleasure. What does Scripture say about love? 1 John 4:16 tells us that “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” Love is God’s character. Galatians 6 defines love as a fruit that grows in our lives when the Holy Spirit is present and at work.
From these passages, it is clear that love isn’t just a feeling that flows when we are happy and satisfied, it is a reflection of God’s character alive in us; a sign that we have received His love and now share it with others. This is very important in marriage, because our human tendency is to love when we feel loved. It’s counter-cultural and counter to human nature to love first, but it’s the way Jesus loves.
Before we ever knew or loved God, He loved us first. Romans 5:8 says, “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”When we were sinners, separated from His glorious presence, with nothing to offer in return, He loved us without reservation, sending Christ to reconcile us to Himself on the cross. As you follow Him, you can invite His Spirit in you to enable you to love as He does.
What does this kind of love look like in marriage? It’s looking to the good of your spouse, regardless of their response. It’s walking in obedience to God’s Word, rather than showing love in proportion to how loved your spouse makes you feel. In marriage, you will become more of the spouse God created you to be when you seek Jesus, and seek to follow Him closely. Today, ask God to help you understand and “abide in” the knowledge of His love.
Prayer: Lord, I praise you and thank you for your incredible love…love that reaches out to redeem and restore sinners. Help me to understand that in a new way today. Help me to love like you have loved me. Help me to love as an obedient response to receiving your love, not depending on the response I get in return.
Day 2
Scriptures: Matthew 5:14-18, John 1:9, Ephesians 5:8-9, Philippians 2:14-15, 2 Corinthians 4:6
In John chapter 1 (and throughout the book of John) Jesus is called the “light of the world.” Later in the New Testament we are called to “let our light shine” and “shine as lights” in the world. It is humbling that as children of God through Christ, we are called to walk in a way that reflects Him. He is in us, and His presence brings light to the world around us, in every place that we go.
A marriage that reflects Jesus is also a light in the world. In a dark world, even the smallest light is visible. As you look to Jesus, your marriage can be a mirror shining His light to everyone around you.
What does it mean to walk in the light? Ephesians 5 tells us that “the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true.” Spending time with God in the word and prayer, knowing and receiving God’s love, filling your mind with His word and fixing your mind on it, and walking in His ways will allow His light to shine through you.
In marriage, the selfless love and devotion you have for one another is a beautiful picture of Christ’s love for the church. Jesus loved His bride enough to lay down His life, and in marriage we have the opportunity to lay down some of our daily desires and preferences out of love and honor for our spouse. Ask God to help you grow more aware of Him and to love well in obedience to Christ.
Prayer: Lord, we praise you and thank you that you are the light of the world, and the source of all that is good, right and true. I ask that our marriage will reflect the light of your love into the world around us. Help us to shine bright in word and deed, serving and loving well. Use us to encourage and speak into the people we know who need your love.
Day 3
Scriptures: Matthew 19:6, John 10:10, Ephesians 6:11, 1 Peter 5:6-11
We know from today’s Scripture passages that the enemy of our souls is a “thief” that seeks to “steal, kill and destroy” and “devour,” while Jesus came to give life abundantly. The devil would love for your marriage to fail. He would love to tear apart what God has joined together.
The world around us, often including even close friends and family, will not do much to encourage us to keep working on our marriage when it gets really hard. In addition, there is so much temptation from within to be selfish, and to focus on getting – and keeping – our own way.
Our marriages need God’s protection and help! The good news is that He wants to help. He has overcome the world, and is enthroned in eternal dominion right now. He is for you and for your marriage. His desire is that nothing will separate what He has joined together in your marriage (Matthew 19:6).
Humble yourself before the Lord, and admit where your marriage is vulnerable. Acknowledge that while we do have a real enemy, God has the victory. Ephesians 6:11 tells us that by putting on the full armor of God, we are able to withstand the enemy’s schemes. Resist the temptation to believe marriage is too hard, not worth it, or too far gone.
Prayer: God, we acknowledge that you are at work at all times. We are also aware that there is an enemy at work in this world. We confess that by our selfishness and sin nature, sometimes we aid his destructive work. Please forgive us our sin and help us to follow you wholeheartedly. We ask you to protect and bless us, our marriage and our family. Amen.
Day 4
Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 3:18, Proverbs 27:27
Marriage is an amazing tool for sanctification; the process of becoming more and more like Jesus. It happens slowly, as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3, “from one degree of glory to another.” God invites our growth, but He does not force it. When we decide to pursue Christlikeness, we will find that opportunities to love, serve, and sacrifice are all around.
Since marriage is as close as two people can be on earth, it offers plenty of opportunities to lay down our selfishness, pride and preferences for the good of our spouse, marriage, and family. There are times I want nothing more than to lay on the couch undisturbed, but my spouse asks for help with something. Then there are the times we just can’t agree on where to go for dinner or what movie to watch, and the occasions when they forget something that was important to me.
These are the moments when the sanctification of marriage feels most real to me. The unheroic, unsung small daily sacrifices that no one else will ever know about.
This is one of the benefits of such a close relationship. We are sharpened by one another, “as iron sharpens iron.” When we desire to grow closer to Jesus and invite God to work on our sanctification in marriage, we will certainly have moments when our sharp edges can be refined.
It takes humility to allow God to work on our sanctification. You have the choice to look out for yourself and your desires, or to prioritize your spouse and their needs just as you do your own. You can insist you’re right, or you can invite their feedback, and use their perspective to help you grow. Which will you choose today?
Prayer: God, we are so thankful that you have given us the gift of marriage. We pray that we will have the wisdom and humility to submit to your pruning and teaching, and that we would be refined and sharpened through our relationship. Grow us closer to you, Lord, as we grow closer to one another. Amen
Day 5
Scriptures: John 15:4-7, Luke 8:5-8, Luke 8:15-21, Ephesians 2:10
God’s love brings about growth and thriving. Where God is at work, fruit follows. His Kingdom is compared to a growing seed, an abundant harvest and the yeast that transforms bread dough from floppy to fluffy (Luke 8). As Jesus walked the earth, He multiplied loaves and fishes, overflowed wine barrels, and restored the sick and hurting.
These are all images of abundance, thriving, fruit and harvest. Christ’s love bears fruit in our lives and, in our marriage, love is also meant to be fruitful. The fruit of your marriage may be that you grow more Christlike over time. It may be a church or ministry you pour into with your time, talents or finances. It may be the family you raise or the community you cultivate. Or any combination of those!
What fruit do you see in your marriage? Affirm the fruit – the good things and godly growth – you see in your spouse. Ask how they have seen you grow over time. Ask God to help you see ways He wants to bring fruit and abundance in each of you and in your marriage.
It’s in Him that we are fruitful. We don’t have to attain this on our own, rather through lovingly and faithfully walking in the roles and responsibilities where God has placed us, in the strength He supplies. Think together of ways you can use your time and talents to serve and build up your church, family, and community. Dream of ways God might use each of you to do good in the world.
Prayer: Lord, we pray that you will help us to love each other well, encouraging one another toward growth, good works and fruitful living. Teach us to abide in you. Let us seek your Kingdom in our life together, that your will be done in us, and around us. Amen.
Day 6
Scriptures: Proverbs 5:16-21, 1 Corinthians 7:3-7, 1 Corinthians 6:18
The marriage bed is meant to be enjoyed throughout the course of a marriage. Sex is very powerful, which is why God ordained for it to be within the confines of marriage. In marriage, it brings enjoyment, as we read about in Proverbs 5, and serves to strengthen and protect the marriage. We see the protective nature of married sex demonstrated in 1 Corinthians 7.
Outside of marriage, sex is a destructive force, harmful to all parties involved. Nonetheless, temptation can lead us to believe that we’re missing out. We might think there is a better or more exciting version of sex out there, but the truth is that there is no better place for sex than inside a healthy marriage.
There is no better sex than between two spouses who are connected spiritually, emotionally, and physically. But that can’t happen if you’re entertaining thoughts or fantasies of sex with anyone else but your spouse, or if there is any infidelity in your heart or mind, including the use of porn. It’s when you devote yourself fully and exclusively to your spouse and faithfully work to strengthen your marriage that you will enjoy the satisfying and connecting sex God intended.
Confess today if you have fallen into sin. Ask God to keep your sexual desire for your spouse only. Ask for Him to help you experience all He has for you in your sexual relationship. Pour into your spouse and marriage. Get curious about how to grow your connection and your sex life.
When you pray the prayer asking God to confine your desire to your spouse and marriage, I believe He will answer in amazing ways.
Prayer: Lord, I pray that my sexual desire will be for my spouse only. I pray that I will treasure our relationship deeply and be devoted to purity. Help me to flee the temptations I face. Guard my mind and remind me when I need it. I pray you will fortify our marriage through our sexual relationship.
Day 7
Scriptures: Hebrews 10:24, Ephesians 2:10
Loving your spouse well doesn’t mean you put them on a pedestal, expect them to be everything you need, or try to change them. Love means you see them as God does. He created your spouse, on purpose, for a purpose, and loves them deeply. He uniquely gifted them with their personality, skills, talents and temperament. And loving them well also means allowing them room to be human and being willing to give grace for their imperfections.
In marriage, it’s so encouraging to notice and appreciate the unique ways that God has made each of you uniquely suited to complement each other. You are stronger as a pair than either of you would be alone. If you are total opposites, let go of trying to change them and instead thank God for the ways that you balance one another well. If you are very compatible, thank God for the commonalities you enjoy.
Today, notice and appreciate the unique ways God created your spouse. Thank Him for the gift your spouse is to you.
Prayer: Lord, I pray that you will help me to see my spouse as you do. Help me to remember that they are your child, uniquely created and dearly loved. Help me to encourage their strengths and point them toward you. Thank-you that you designed each of us according to your purpose and plan. I pray you will help us to live that out each day.