The Top Five Things for Which Godly Husbands Pray

“I love to hear my husband pray,” she said to the pastor. “There is nothing quite as calming and reassuring to me as a wife than to hear my husband bringing our situations and me to the Lord. Yes, I love to feel the arms of my husband hold me as he talks with the Lord. I feel safety and security in his embrace. I just love to hear my husband pray.”

Some ladies tremble when they know the message is going to be from Proverbs 31 and the virtuous woman. Somehow many ladies just don’t feel like they measure up to what the writer describes. Likewise many men shrink away from the messages on the importance of being a spiritual leader. The thought of being responsible as the spiritual leader of the home and family frightens many men.

Men, be encouraged. You don’t have to be a giant. You don’t have to ride a white charger and be the knight in shining armor. Just be a man who opens his heart wide to the Lord and asks Him for wisdom. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God” (James 1:5). Ask God to give you special understanding as you pray in the presence of your wife for these five things.

1. May I demonstrate thankfulness for my dear wife. “Whosoever finds a wife, finds a good thing” (Proverbs 18:22).  The wife is not the “thing” found in this verse. The marriage relationship that the wife brings is the good thing. Never let the day pass by without your wife knowing that you appreciate her for the person she is, for the blessings she brings, for the relationship you cherish.

2. May I learn to honor her as You have commanded me to do. “Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). When you truly honor your wife, you will be careful of her feelings, thoughtful in your actions, careful with your words, and respectful of her worth and value to your home and you as well.

3. May I love her as Christ loves the Church and gave Himself for it. “ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). When a husband loves his wife after the same manner of love that Christ has for the church, several things will be true. First, that kind of love will be expressed with his words. Many men find it difficult to put into words what their hearts may be feeling. That is no excuse, however, to live without telling her of such love. He shouldn’t assume that she knows. Tell her. Second, that kind of love will be expressed with his actions. For some, it may be easier to say “I love you” than to show “I love you.” Christ is the perfect model. He told us of His love (John 13:34), and He showed us that He loves us (John 15:13). While most of us husbands will never have the opportunity of being so heroic that we would lay down our life for our wife, we can do something equally heroic. We can live for her in such a way that demonstrates consistent and genuine love. Tell her. Show her. Be Christ-like.

4. May I live in such a way as to present her as a beautiful wife and not as a bitter wife. “That He might sanctify, and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such things; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:26-27). Paul describes a wonderful work that the Lord is doing in the life of His church. The Lord’s dear people are given a special place in His life. He views His people with special delight and values them dearly. Likewise, a Godly husband cherishes his wife. He sets her apart or sanctifies her. The way he treats her, encourages her, and grows with her makes it easier for her rather than more difficult for her. The marriage, though not perfect, is beautiful. The husband and wife become best friends. Beauty rather than bitterness is the blessing that comes in such marriages.

5. May I grow the fruit of the Spirit and show it in my life and marriage. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-22 NKJV).  Wouldn’t it be a great blessing in your home and family to live before your wife and family in such a Godly and faithful way? This fruit of the Spirit will be a blessing in the typical routine days of life. It will be especially powerful when the trials come and the days grow hard. It will be precious when misunderstandings arise and when conflicts must be resolved. It will be a blessing in the sad times, happy times, and even in the overwhelming times.  It will make you a joy to live with and to love. You certainly don’t have to be perfect. No one should expect this. But your wife should be able to expect that you will be one in whom the fruit of the Spirit grows and shows.

These are the things that I pray will be true in my personal life and marriage. I surely would invite every Godly husband to join me and make this the consistent prayer of our hearts. I know the Lord will be pleased, and I suspect that your wife will be as well.