pray for your spouse

Happy Valentine’s Day! To celebrate, I have a guest on my blog. Ashley Pichea, of L.I.F.E. by Ashley Pichea is visiting to write about a subject very close to her heart.

In January, she hosted a challenge: 31 Days to Pray for Your Spouse. So as Valentine’s Day drew near, I asked if she would share her heart here at enCouragement. And that’s not all! In celebration of Love Day, there’s a very special giveaway. More details after Ashley’s post:

One of the greatest gifts you can give your spouse this Valentine’s Day is a commitment to pray for him. Nothing says “I love you” more than a promise {and follow-through} to take his every need to the throne of grace each day!

My eBook, 31 Days to Build a Better Spouse, walks readers through 31 different areas in which our spouses need prayer. {This set of prayers is in no way exhaustive.} As we meditate on and lift up our spouses in these areas, we begin to experience the power of God in prayer.

Today, I’d like to share just a few prayers that you can pray for your spouse this week.

7 Prayers to Pray for Your Spouse

1. Strength – Philippians 4.13

I pray that my spouse would rise up on wings, like the eagles, as he waits upon You. I pray that You would give him supernatural strength to defend against the attacks of the devil and to live in this fallen and sinful world. Strengthen his spirit with Your Word, through Your people.

2. Spiritual Growth – Philippians 3.14

Father, I pray that my spouse would not coast through his spiritual life on “cruise control,” but that he would continually and intentionally put himself in a place of grace – a place where he can learn and grow and mature. I pray that You would continue to grow him daily, bringing him to Christ-likeness.

3. Mind – Philippians 4.8

I pray, Lord, that my spouse would have control over his mind. I pray that he would submit his thought life to Your will. Purify his thoughts, make them honoring to Your name. Help him to dwell on good and not evil, for whatever he thinks on, so shall he be.

4. Courage – Joshua 1.9

Because we know that You are sovereign, we can have courage in the face of the unknown. Thank You, Lord. I pray that my spouse would be a man of courage – that he wouldn’t be thrown by life’s waves and curveballs, but that he would face life head-on, trusting that You are in control of all. I pray that he would hold fast to his faith in You.

5. Joy – Habakkuk 3.18

I pray that You would be the Source of my spouse’s joy. I pray that he would not only find his joy in You, but that he would share his joy with others. May his joy run so deeply that it overflows into every part of his life, drawing others to him and to You.

6. Love for God – Luke 10.27

Lord, I pray that my spouse would be overwhelmed by Your love for him and that he would respond in love for You. I pray that love for You would overflow out of his soul and into his everyday life. May his actions be a result of the love he has for You. May he long to spend time in Your presence, growing his relationship with You deeper each day.

7. Faithfulness – Proverbs 3.3

Father, I pray that my spouse would be faithful – that he would be known for his faithfulness. I pray that he would be faithful in his relationships – with You, with me, and with our family and friends. I pray that he would be faithful to his word – that his “yes” would be “yes.” I pray that he would be faithful to his commitments – that he would stick with each task until it is complete.

Will you commit to praying for your spouse each day this week?

If you’re looking for more prayer ideas, be sure to download my eBook, 31 Days to Build a Better Spouse!!

Ashley Pichea invites her blog readers to join her in “doing LIFE together – living intentionally by faith everyday” at LIFE by Ashley Pichea where she shares faith, family, and the adventures of homeschooling. Ashley invites you to connect with her on Twitter {@apichea} and Facebook {fb.com/ashleypichea}.

And now for the GIVEAWAY details. You can win the following giveaway package:

The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
Praying Through the Deeper Issues of Marriage by Stormie Omartian
The Spark by Jay and Laura Laffoon
The Power of Praying through the Bible by Stormie Omartian

You may enter the giveaway by completing the tasks below. The only one that’s mandatory is the first one, but you earn extra entries for each additional task, increasing your chances of winning. You can share on Twitter and Facebook each day of the giveaway for an additional entry. The giveaway closes at midnight EST February 20, 2012, and the winner will be announced one week from today. Happy Valentine’s Day!