Praying For Our Husbands: 31 Day Plan

Before getting married, I didn't think I needed too much from a  man. Honesty. Loyalty. Somebody who knows what he wants. I was pretty low maintenance, actually. Easy to please.

Then I got married and wanted a whole lot more. 'Cause when you get married and you see all the holes in the material that need patching, well, you wonder why you didn't see that before. I read in a book that this happens because if we saw all the holes before marriage, we'd never get married at all.

So, it should come as no surprise that there are a lot of things I need from a husband that mine just plain lacks. You see, my husband, bless his big ol' heart, has... issues. Lest you belittle my situation because your husband's "issues" are so much bigger -- or lest I slander or disrespect my guy -- I will not go into detail about his issues. (So you can stop reading now if you just wanted the dirt!) But... my point is, the man needs help.  

Lots of help.

(Are you hearing me, people?!)

It dawned on me that I should do something to help him grow out of these "issues," since helping is my wifely role (see Genesis 2:18). So of course I have tried every thing I know how to do... constructive criticism, destructive criticism, instruction, silent treatment, punishment, fashion advice, laughing at him, screaming, silverware advice, whining, crying, career advice, throwing potatoes, and -- apparently none of these were what God meant by "help."

What a conundrum!

Fortunately, a woman who is older than me, wiser, and has been married longer knew just what I needed to do. She gave me a comprehensive list of Scriptures to pray specifically for my husband (see below, author unknown). Yes, pray for him. Those prayers turned out to be a great form of "helping" for me, because I got to be honest with someone (God) about how I felt. Vent, if you will. I ended up complaining less. I ended up not needing to gossip about him because God is a good enough listener, and he's pretty much the only one with the power to do something about "issues" anyway. Plus, when God came down, he lived with a bunch of teenage boys. Think about that for a minute... he probably can relate pretty well when it comes to living with "issues."

So I spent a month praying for Shane each day. Just five or ten minutes a day. Through the process, I was reminded that no man can ever meet all my needs for security, love, protection, provision, friendship... not even a husband. A husband can be a humble part of that, but God himself still wants my heart and my trust for himself alone.

Lately I haven't been praying for Shane very often, and the "issues" have been... shall we say, magnified. You know what I'm talking about. This can only mean two things. He really does need my prayers... and I need to pray for him so I can maintain a healthy breathing pattern. Give it up to God and breathe. I simply don't have the wherewithal to live with such a {uniquely magnificent} creature when I am not praying for him.

God's Word is powerful. God's spoken word created the world. Using God's Word we have divine power to demolish strongholds. Praying straight from Scripture for our husbands can help them out in a big way. It can also change our perspective of them, grow our love for them, remind us to lean on God, and afford us some peace of mind.

Some of these Scriptures were obviously for myself and not Shane, so I prayed them that way. Day nine, for example, says, "May he always look at the plank in his own eye before seeing others' sawdust." You can probably deduce from what I have already said that I am the one who needs to look at the plank. And if you are reading this, maybe you do too. :)

I need to do this again. Anyone want to join me?

Praying For Our Husbands: 31 Day Plan

Day 1

That he might become a holy man, a man of prayer, mature in the Lord, growing in his knowledge of the Lord.

I Thessalonians 5:23; Colossians 4:12; Ephesians 1:18-19, 3:16-19, 6:18.


Day 2

That he might grow in all eleven descriptions of a man who will not be shaken as listed in Psalm 15.


Day 3

That he might be a man of contentment as seen in Proverbs 15:16, Philippians 4:11, I Timothy 6:6-8, Hebrews 13:5.


Day 4

That he might learn to take every thought captive, to not be conformed to the world's thinking and to think scripturally.

Romans 12:2; II Corinthians 10:5.


Day 5

That he might daily seek God with all his heart, walking in the Spirit moment by moment, growing in his dependence upon Him.

Psalm 119:1-2; Proverbs 3:5-6.


Day 6

That he would forever be captivated by my love.

Proverbs 5:18-19.


Day 7

That he would be a man of courage.

Deuteronomy 31:6; II Chronicles 19:11.


Day 8

That the Lord might give him wisdom to lead his family physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

Ephesians 1:17-19.


Day 9

May he always look at the plank in his own eye before seeing others' sawdust.

Matthew 7:3.


Day 10

That he might become a called man, not driven, with well-thought-through and prayed-through goals in life.

I Corinthians 9:24-27.


Day 11

That he might be a man of prayer, guarding his heart and mind, putting into practice what he has heard, seen and learned.

Philippians 4:4-9.


Day 12

That he might stand firm against the schemes of the devil and resist Satan in all circumstances.

Ephesians 6:10-18; James 4:7.


Day 13

That he might grow in spiritual maturity by putting away childish things, cultivating, understanding, striving after the Christ ideal, partaking of the deeper truths of the gospel, and overcoming temptation.

I Corinthians 13:11, 14:20; Ephesians 4:13; Hebrews 5:14; I John 2:14.


Day 14

That he might make me holy, cleansing me by the washing with water through the word.

Ephesians 5:26.


Day 15

That he would learn to not depend on his circumstance for happiness, but on God alone.

Hebrews 3:17-19.


Day 16

That he would be a man who enters into spiritual warfare.

Ephesians 6:11-12; I Thessalonians 5:8.


Day 17

That he might have new strength in the midst of his busy schedule, and that the Lord might infuse him with His strength.

Isaiah 40:31; Ephesians 3:14-19.


Day 18

That he might have a burden to see lost people come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Matthew 28:12-20.


Day 19

That he would be kept from strange women and evil men, and that his friends would be men and women who walk with God.

Proverbs 13:20.


Day 20

That his self-image might be a reflection of the Lord's thoughts toward him.

Ephesians 1:17-19; Romans 12:3; Psalm 139.


Day 21

That he might be a man responsible for family spiritual growth.

Proverbs 4:1-14.


Day 22

That he might not be deceived into unbelief, sin or bitterness.

Matthew 13:8-10.


Day 23

That he might learn to love as God has commanded.

I Corinthians 13:4-7; Romans 12:8-10; Ephesians 5:25.


Day 24

That the fruit of the Spirit might be exhibited more and more in his life.

Galatians 5:22-23; John 15:8.


Day 25

That he might grow in humility and in being a shepherd.

I Peter 5:2-6.


Day 26

That he might grow daily in character.

II Peter 1:5-8.


Day 27

That he might keep a clear conscience.

I Peter 3:16-18.


Day 28

That the Lord might protect him, guarding his course.

Proverbs 2:8.


Day 29

That he might learn to manage his time well.

Ephesians 5:15.


Day 30

That the Lord would put a song in his heart.

Psalm 33:3, 40:3; Job 35:10.


Day 31

That he may have a holy fear of God.

Psalm 34:11, 111:10; Proverbs 9:10.