The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If One of You Decides to Leave Home

Boaz Ministries

The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands. Psalm 138:8

Lord, where my husband (wife) has separated from me in any way - whether physically, or mentally - I pray You would bring him (her) back. Thank You, Lord, that even though he (she) may leave me, You have promised that You never will (Deuteronomy 31:6). Lord, I pray for restoration of any emotional and physical separation between us. Change our hearts and help me to be the loving mate he (she) needs me to be. Restore us emotionally - bring us together again. Give me the courage and strength to fight for our relationship until it is the way You want it to be. You are a good God, and we will find the greatest blessings by following You and trusting in Your ways (Psalm 34:8). Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If One of You Decides to Leave Home

Boaz Ministries

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.
Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 Amplified Bible

Lord, I confess any place where I have separated myself in my heart from my husband (wife). I breath that hardness in me that has kept me distanced - whether as a self-protective measure or just by being preoccupied with other things. I know that any kind of distance between two people, especially whom You've made to be one, goes against Your will. I recognize this state of mind as an offense against You. Thank You, that because of Your love for me, I am more than a conqueror, and I can conquer this. Thank You, that nothing can ever separate me from Your love (Romans 8:37-39). I will not let my heart be troubled, but I will trust in You instead. Amen.

A Word on "What God has joined together" (Matthew 19:6; Mark 10:9)

Boaz Ministries

The issues we've been sharing and praying over in this series are geared for and directed at couples who profess to be followers of Christ. Couples who made the decision to marry and lead their lives in accordance to God's will, His principles, and as He commands in His Word, are the audience we are addressing. Problems can and do occur in the life of a Christian. We do go astray, wander off the path of righteousness, stumble and fall into the traps set by the enemy who is out to discredit and destroy the sacred institution of marriage. Though we may be tempted to even believe the devil's lies, Christian couples are blessed with the fundamental knowledge that God can and will restore even the most hurtful situations. This series is for the encouragement of those whom God has joined together. He can and will restore!

Every marriage isn't God-joined, however. And there are marriages that have the outward appearances of godliness (occasional or even regular church-attendance, etc.), when the only semblance of God was on the wedding day at the church with the preacher. But the two parties never had personal relationships with the Lord, and did not invite Him in after marriage.

We want to keep it real. These prayers are for believers whose faith has taken a blow; for those who sincerely wish to seek God's face for the reconciliation and restoration of their unions. We hope readers will seriously examine themselves, and have honest conversations with their mates about where they are with God. And PRAY for one another - together.

This is for people "of the Book." It is not our goal to "throw the Book" at those who don't believe it. But - we prayerfully share, hoping to touch the heart of anyone who wants to learn of "a more excellent way" and be transformed by God's love ... (1 Corinthians 12:31 through 1 Corinthians 13).

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage will continue Wednesday, January 28, with prayers and Scripture: "If One of You Has Left Home."

Blessings,

B&B Edwards

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If the "D" Word Becomes an Option

Boaz Ministries
A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. Ephesians 5:31

Lord, where my wife (husband) has entertained thoughts of divorce, I ask that You would open her (his) eyes to see how far away that is from Your best for her (his) life and our lives together. For any time we have discussed divorce or she (he) has used the word "divorce" as a way out of our problems, I come before You on my wife's (husband's) behalf and ask for Your forgiveness. I ask that You would destroy the lie of the enemy that says divorce is an option we should consider. Show her (him) a better way, which is Your way for our lives. Let there be no divorce in our future. Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If the "D" Word Becomes an Option

Boaz Ministries

Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate. Matthew 19:6

Lord, I pray You would help my wife (husband) and me to rise far above any thoughts of divorce as a solution to our problems or a way out of our marriage. Keep our hearts so close to You and each other that we never even speak the word "divorce" in regard to each other and never harbor the idea in our minds or hearts. God, help us to be affectionate to one another, "in honor giving preference to one another" (Romans 12:10). Show us where were are doing things that are breaking our marriage down instead of building it up. Help us to grow stronger in You and learn to treat each other in a way that pleases You. Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If the "D" Word Becomes an Option

Boaz Ministries

If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 1 Corinthians 7:12-13

Lord, I confess any time that I have ever considered divorce in my mind or have uttered that word to my husband (wife), friends, or family members in regard to my marriage. I reject any spirit of divorce that I have invited into my heart and our marriage by careless words I have spoken or thoughts I have had. I recognize that thoughts of being married to someone else are evil and adulterous, and I repent of them before You. I turn to You to find solutions to any problems in my marriage. Give me wisdom to do things Your way. Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If the "D" Word Becomes an Option

Boaz Ministries

'For I hate divorce!' says the LORD, the God of Israel. 'To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,' says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. 'So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.' Malachi 2:16 NLT

Lord, help us to stand strong together through every problem and to not be afraid to seek outside help when we need it. I repent of any time I have even thought about what it would be like to be married to someone else. I repent of these thoughts before You. I turn to You to find solutions to any problems in my marriage. Whenever I have thought of divorce as an option or a way out of our problems, I ask You to forgive me, for I know it displeases You. I know You hate divorce and it grieves Your Spirit, so I pray that You would help me to never do that again, from this day forward. Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If Outside Influences Pollute Your Sexual Relationship (part 4 of 4)

Boaz Ministries

How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of Your Word. I’m single-minded in pursuit of You; don’t let me miss the road signs You’ve posted. I’ve banked Your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin against You. Psalm 119:9-11 The Message

Lord, I pray You would bless our marriage in every way and specifically protect our sexual relationship. Help us to always put each other first and never sacrifice one another out of selfish disregard for the other's needs. Keep our eyes from looking at anything that would compromise our relationship. Keep our hearts from being enticed and drawn away from each other. Help us to walk properly and not in lust or strife (Romans 13:13). Enable us to always live in the Spirit so we don't fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Open our eyes to recognize ungodliness and worldliness so that we can reject those enticements and learn to live Your way. Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If Outside Influences Pollute Your Sexual Relationship

Boaz Ministries

Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord, but the blameless in their ways are His delight.
Proverbs 11:20


Lord, I lift my eyes up to You in heaven and deliberately take them off the things of earth (Psalm 123:1). I take comfort in the fact that You are my refuge that I can go to any time I am tempted to look at anything ungodly, or see in my mind that which does not please You (Psalm 141:8). Help me to be a wife (husband) who is faithful and true in my thought life, that my actions will stay above reproach. Take away all that is in me that holds the door open for sinful and lustful thoughts. Keep my mind in check, that the meditations of my heart are acceptable to You. "O Lord, You have searched me and known me...You understand my thought afar off" (Psalm 139:1-2). "Show me Your ways, O Lord...on You I wait all the day" (Psalm 25:4-5). Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If Outside Influences Pollute Your Sexual Relationship

Boaz Ministries

When wisdom enters your heart, moral knowledge will be attractive to you. Discretion will protect you, understanding will guard you, to deliver you from the way of the wicked, from those speaking perversity. Proverbs 2:10-12

Lord, I pray You would make me the wife (husband) You want me to be. Help me to fulfill my husband (wife) sexually. Teach me how to be attentive to his (her) needs before my own. Please help me to be a wife (husband) who is faithful and true in thought and deed. Help us both to become so committed to You that nothing else matters more than living in obedience to Your ways. Enable us to see things from Your perspective. Expose all of our sins to Your light so that neither of us can have a secret life. Reveal everything in either of us that needs to be seen. Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If Outside Influences Pollute Your Sexual Relationship

Boaz Ministries

Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you.Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust. Proverbs 4: 23-27 The Message


Lord, I surrender my husband (wife) to You completely. Do whatever it takes to get him (her) to see the truth about all that he (she) does. Put Your love in his (her) heart for me, and keep his (her) eyes, heart and mind from finding others attractive. Expose every lie masquerading as truth to him (her). Help him (her) to put off all conduct that is not in alignment with Your will and reject all corruption that comes from "deceitful lusts" (Ephesians 4:22). Don't let him (her) be taken down a path that leads to death and hell (Proverbs 5:3-5). Deliver him (her) and we will say, "This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes" (Mark 12:11). Amen!

A Tremor in the Force...

Dad and me at Ashley & Brian's Engagement Party, 2009

My father died last Wednesday night on the west coast, while I was sleeping on the east coast. He had been declining in health since his heart surgery in 2013 - and more rapidly since his fall at home on December 8, 2014.  After two weeks of aggressive tests, the medical team informed us that nothing more could be done, and he would be comfortable and feel no pain. We prayed for the peace to accept the inevitable. I prayed especially for my mother, his wife of 59 years.

I feel the tremor in waves like the aftershocks of an earthquake. This is very different. This is unknown territory, and at times it looks like a desert - dry and desolate - void of the cool and calm that was my Dad. This is - how will I navigate this craziness without the reassurance of Dad's sonic boom-like presence? This is - I will hold it together for my mother, but who will hold it together for me? This is - time for the big guns of faith and everything I've always said I believe. And I do believe and trust God.

As someone told me the other day - We'll be all right. Dad gave us enough juice to make it the rest of the journey. And God is with me and my family to steady us when it feels like the ground is caving in. He's done it before, He'll do it again.

Don Winston Greathouse 11/12/34 - 1/7/15

Hallelu! 

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If Forgiveness Doesn't Come Easy

Boaz Ministries

If there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Philippians 2:1-2

Lord, I lift my husband (wife) to You in prayer and ask You to help him (her) let go of any unforgiveness he (she) harbors. Help him (her) to forgive me for anything I have done - or not done - that was displeasing to him (her). I pray that You, "the God of patience and comfort," will grant to my husband (wife) the ability to be "like-minded" toward me so that we together may glorify You with a single-minded voice of unity (Romans 15:5-6). Give him (her) a heart of mercy toward me so that he (she) can truly let go of anything I have said or done that has hurt him (her). Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If Forgiveness Doesn't Come Easy

Boaz Ministries

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16

Lord, I know there are places in me that harbor unforgiveness that I am not even aware of. Please reveal those to me so I can confess them to You. For "You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You" (Psalm 86:5). I ask You to forgive me for any unforgiveness I have toward anyone, especially my spouse. I know that You, Lord, are the only one who knows the whole story, so I refuse to be the judge of all that happens in my husband(wife). You are the one "who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the [heart]" (1 Corinthians 4:5). Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If Forgiveness Doesn't Come Easy

Boaz Ministries

 
Be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5

THANK YOU, Lord, that I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me, and therefore I have the strength to forgive my spouse for anything that has hurt or disappointed me. Thank you that You are the God of forgiveness. Thank You that You have released me from any stronghold of unforgiveness. Take away any feelings in me that cause me to think I need to pay back hurt for hurt. I "strive to have a conscience without offense" toward You or my spouse (Acts 24:16). Where I need to be forgiven, help me to apologize and receive forgiveness from my spouse. Amen!

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If Forgiveness Doesn't Come Easy

Boaz Ministries

Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25

Lord, I pray You would help my spouse and me to always be completely forgiving of one another. Please give each of us a heart to forgive freely - whether the other asks for it or not. Help us both to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18), so that we will become forgiving the way You are. Help us to forgive so that we will be forgiven (Luke 6:37). Help us to love one another the way You love us, so that letting go of offenses will be easy. Help us to be merciful to one another, because we have Your goodness and mercy following us as You promised in Your Word (Psalm 23:6). Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If Anger, Rudeness, or Abuse Poisons Your Relationship

Boaz Ministries

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret, it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; those those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. Psalm 37:8-9

Lord, help me and my spouse to understand that anger never produces spiritual fruit (James 1:20). I pray that all anger in us will be evaporated by the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray now that You, the God of all hope, will fill us with faith and hope by the power of Your Spirit (Romans 15:13). I pray You would lift up Your countenance upon us and give us Your peace (Numbers 6:26). I pray that You would direct our hearts "into the love of God and into the patience of Christ" (2Thessalonians 3:5). Help us to flee anger and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness (1Timoth 6:11). Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If Anger, Rudeness, or Abuse Poisons Your Relationship

Boaz Ministries

Above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

Lord, where I have directed anger toward my wife (husband) or held anger inside of me, I confess that as sin and ask You to forgive me and take all anger away. Heal any wounds I have inflicted on her (him) with my words. Help me to speak good words and healing to my wife (husband), for I know that pleases You (Proverbs 15:23). Where I have shown anger toward any other family member, I confess it to You as a sin. Bring Your restoration to every situation where it is needed. Thank You that You will take away all anger in me and keep me in perfect peace, because my mind is fixed on You (Isaiah 26:3). Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If Anger, Rudeness, or Abuse Poisons Your Relationship

Boaz Ministries

Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20

Lord, help my wife (husband) and me to always "pursue the things which make for peace: and the things by which we may edify one another (Romans 14:19). Enable us to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit -- "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" -- and not a harvest of the flesh (Galatians 5:22-23). Take all anger from us and teach us to love each other from pure hearts and a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:5-6). We know that it is You who "looks deep inside people and searches through their thoughts" (Proverbs 20:27). Search the inner depths of our hearts and expose anything that is not of You so we can be free of it. Amen.