I know my husband loves me, because he bought me boots!

Do you ever wonder why Ephesians 5:25 tells Husbands to "love" their wives, instead of "provide for your wives"?  I did, and then I understood that God provides through the husband.  God also allowed me to see that a wife needs stability and wants to know that her husband truly cares for her.  

When I read the verse, I wanted to know the meaning behind the word LOVE.  It's a word that is used so loosely these days and even though it's an absolute...it's also an abstract.  We build up with love by affirming in love, but we also tear down when we "speak the truth in love".  

ἀγαπάω - agapaō (Key) Pronunciation ag-ap-ah'-o  The Greek translation of LOVE in the verse is "to have a preference for, wish well to, regard the welfare of"

As women, we often feel that if we don't fold that last load of laundry or cook the perfect meal or be all things for all people, the world is going to come to an end.  Guess what...WRONG ANSWER!!!  That's why God told husbands to love their wives because all too often, we neglect to love ourselves.  Something as simple as taking care of our needs and a few wants.  

I had the darnedest revelation today, while walking in the snow.  My husband LOVES me!  I've known it for some time now (we've been married for 19 years) and no, it hasn't been perfect.  But today, while walking in the snow, over the ice, in the boots he bought me...it was very clear how much this man LOVES ME.  He wishes me well and has regard for my welfare.  He doesn't want any harm to come to me and he's careful to see that I feel secure in our home.  The boots are not heels or red bottoms, but they have a good grip and they're warm and comfortable.  Now, I could've had the sexy boots with the high heel and pointed toe...but I could also bust my butt trying to walk in snow and ice.  Yes, my husband loves me because he bought me boots and it means the world to me!  He's looking out for me, just like God.  

Heavenly Father, thank you for making Your love evident to me, in such a practical way.  I know that my husband's love for me is a manifestation of Your love for me.  I am grateful for the provision, protection and peace You provide through my husband.  Help me to see me through Your eyes.  Help me to see him through your eyes, so that I always appreciate the blessing I have in this man.  In Jesus name, amen!

PRAYING FOR MY SPOUSE TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF OUR RESOURCES

"What if we as couples were to live as if we truly recognized that God owns everything (Psalm 24:1), and our job is simply to manage and invest His resources for His purposes? How would that change our mind-set toward our bills, what we buy, where we eat, and what we do? How would we use our time differently? And how much joy and freedom would we experience if we remembered that our legacy in life and our reward in eternity depend not on our bank accounts but on the lives God touches through us?" Evan, T. (2016). Chapter 10, Resources. In 1042110467, 797252129 T. Evans (Author), Kingdom marriage: Connecting god's purpose with your pleasure (p. 123). Coral stream, IL, IL: Tyndale House.

Me and my husband are in a Couple's Sunday school class and we're currently reading "Kingdom Marriage" by Tony Evans. The quote above comes from the book. While posing the questions to myself are easy because I know the reason behind my answers, posing them to my spouse and having a discussion may not be so smooth. Why, you ask...because humans are selfish and stingy! Yep, I said it.

The very fact that Mr. Evans had to remind us that we really don't own anything and everything we have belongs to God, proves that point.  Our flesh nature is to hold onto things and not share.  To claim ownership and consequently, become slave to the things we "own" (house, car, credit card, etc.).  

The great "love" chapter in the bible (1 Corinthians 13) talks about what love is and what love means.  The New International Version (NIV) uses the word 'love', but the King James Version (KJV) uses 'charity'.  It's been said that you can't love and not give.  Giving shows love!

Dear Lord, I lift up my spouses heart and head to Your will concerning our resources.  We know that You are the source of all our resources.  We know that You are our true provider and everything that we have is because You have provided.  Great is Thy Faithfulness unto us!  I lift up every concern that my spouse may have about our resources.  Where they see lack, I ask that You give him/her peace in Your word that says, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Psalm 37:25).  Thank you for giving him/her a cheerful heart, so that he/she can give according to the riches You have bestowed on us.  In Jesus name, amen!

PRAYING FOR A PURPOSE DRIVEN MATE

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.  Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.  Delight thyself also in the Lord:  and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  (Psalm 37:1-5)

When your spouse is following God's purpose for his/her life, the lord can and will open doors to abundant blessings.  The natural thought would have one thinking of monetary blessings, but following God's purpose yields an abundance that we won't have room to receive.  The things that are priceless, like the fruit of the spirit.  The scripture goes on to say, of those that operate in God's purpose, that they "shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." There's a saying that if you do something you love, you will never work a day in your life.  When your spouse seeks to do what God wants him/her to do; it takes away a lot of the stress and strife sometimes connected to a paycheck.  

Lord, we pray that You will reveal Your purpose for our spouse so that he/she will bring glory to Your kingdom.  We thank You for the gifts that have been imparted to our spouse.  We thank You for leading, guiding and directing the path of our spouse and we also declare that he/she will follow, trust and obey Your will for them.  If there is any doubt or uncertainty about what You would have them do or where You would have them go, we pray that You make it clear and plain to them.  Thank You God, for knowing what's best for our mate.  Amen!

 

PRAYING FOR GODLY RELATIONSHIPS

Sometimes in our life, we all have pain, we all have sorrow.  But, if we are wise, we know that there's always tomorrow...LEAN ON ME!!

In these unprecedented times of uncertainty, it is more and more important that we have godly relationships to help us maintain.  We need those people in our lives that we can be vulnerable with and to whom we can vent.  The people that will not only hold you when you're going through, but will also hold you accountable when you're trying to run away.  It's important to pray that your spouse has those same relationships!  Not just good, healthy relationships, but godly relationships. 

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the godly relationships in my life and in my spouse's life.  When the world has tossed us to and fro, we're grateful for those that avail themselves to us for prayer, comfort and counsel.  We thank you for the prayer warriors that intercede on our behalf, for the disciples that challenge us in our deeds, for those that offer godly counsel and covering.  Help us to always seek the relationships You have purposed for our lives, that will glorify Your and Your kingdom.  In Jesus name, Amen!

PRAYING FOR A WHOLE SPOUSE!!

"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."  1 Peter 3:7 (KJV)

A lot of women want to point out the last part of the above scripture, citing that the husband's prayers will be hindered when/if he's not giving honour to the wife.  But why is the wife worthy of honour?  The scripture also says that the husband and wife are "heirs TOGETHER of the grace of life", so in order to be an heir, the wife also has some requirements.  Verse 6 says that "Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord..." I know I probably lost a lot of you right there!  If we go back to the start of the chapter...to verse 1 of 1 Peter, chapter 3; it's spelled out.  When wives submit to their husbands, with a pure heart and out of reverence (first to God), then to the husband; the bible says that the husband may "be won over without words by the behavior of their wives".  All the wife has to do, is seek God, pray, keep her peace and let God do the rest.

And while you're at it ladies, pray that your husband grows spiritually.  Not that he becomes a preacher or starts hosting bible study every week (and there's nothing wrong with that either), but you want his spiritual growth to be authentic and genuine.  You want his spiritual growth to be based on application of God's word in his life and a real relationship with God.  This spiritual growth may be hindered, if your husband's emotional growth is stunted.  

A lot of men, especially African American men, are emotionally immature.  I'm not saying that in a judgmental way, but moreso because men were boys that were taught to stifle their emotions or let them rage.  Most men were never taught to process or even better explore their emotions.  As a result, their emotions are cocooned until a trauma rips them from incubation prematurely, struggling to recover.  When they show up again, it's usually in a relationship with a woman who is expecting more than he has the capacity to give.  This is why praying for your husband's emotional growth is important.  You want his emotional growth to begin with healing the hurt and trauma of the past.  You want his emotional growth to be healthy and thrive, so that you can grow emotionally together and enjoy one another physically.  

Lord, we lift up our husbands to You and ask that You draw them nearer.  We pray that they desire a closer walk with thee.  Help us to be sensitive to the hurt in their past that is manipulating their interactions with us now.  We pray for a renewing of their minds with regard to their physical health and that they present their bodies as a living sacrifice to You.  In Jesus name, Amen!

PRAYING FOR REPAIR!!

In every relationship there are at least two people.  That means there will always be two sides to everything.  Before you constantly point the finger at the other person and determine that he/she is the one that's wrong, you must examine yourself, your role in every issue and most importantly, your brokenness.  If you truly want to mend the broken pieces, start with you and your part!  Today's prayer, though six (6) years old, is right on time.  FIX IT JESUS!!!

A MOMENT OF PRAYER - written by The Honorable Kimberly Cocroft, October 28, 2014

Good morning, Father! Thank you for this opportunity and privilege of prayer and for allowing us to see another day!

This morning, we come before you lifting fractured and broken relationships. Some of us went into situations with the best of intentions and, for whatever reason, things fell apart. We said the wrong thing, we did the wrong thing, we talked too much, we didn't talk enough, we were selfish, we took people for granted, we weren't honest, we were disrespectful, we weren't ready to be or do what we said we could be or do - there is so much that went haywire. And now, many of us are left hurting, resentful, confused, disappointed, disenchanted, disengaged and unable to press past the pain. But your Word says that you heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds. Your Word declares that you are the Repairer of the Breach.

So today, God, we call on you to be the mender of shattered things. Work on us as we work on our relationships. Give us the courage and compassion to fix what we've messed up. Give us the humility to make things right, even if we've done nothing wrong. Give us the strength to move forward with a spirit of restoration and understanding. Make all things and situations new, in the name of The Lord.

Please continue to keep us and our babies safe from all hurt, harm and danger. We thank you for hearing this prayer and count all of these things as done in your Son's name - Amen! God is good! And don't forget - take the time to show love to someone on today. Life is short and time is precious!

#corporateprayer

#prayerchangesthingsandpeople

#gobackandmakethingsright

PRAYING GOD'S WILL FOR MY SPOUSE

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

When things are not going my way, I wish that I could say, I recite this verse.  I wish that I could say my first response is to sing, "whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say; it is well..", but the reality is--that's not true.  My initial reaction is resistance.  I wonder 'why me', 'why this', 'why now'.  I have not yet attained the maturity level required to offer the prayer of "Thy will",  because frankly, I don't want to submit my will to God's will.

The word WILL in context means "of what God wishes to be done by us".  It is His determination for us, His thoughts towards us.  Now imagine that in your prayers.  God's determination (versus our determination) in everything we commit to prayer...especially our spouse!  Mmm hmm...It's hard to pray the retaliation prayer, when you start off with God's will as the qualifier for the prayer.  Don't act like you don't know about the retaliation pray. 😊

Lord, I want Your will to be manifested in my spouse's life.  I pray that every desire and wish You have for my spouse be manifested in their life.  When my spouse is unsure of their purpose; I pray and agree with Your wishes for their life.  I agree that my spouse will delight in You.  I agree that my spouse will commit their way to You; trust in You and You shall bring all things to pass according to Your will.  I agree that you will bring forth righteousness in their life.  Thank you for the manifestation of love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.  I agree with health, prosperity, wisdom and wealth for my spouse because I want Your will for them.  If my spouse is operating in Your will, my spouse will be blessed, I will be blessed, our family will be blessed.  It is so.  Amen!