The Power of a Praying Wife 12/17- UPDATED *** #139 - His Relationships

[breezy1077]

Tuesday September 30, 2008 - His Future

This is also a struggle for my DH....he is usually going from one job to another with no clear direction of where he is supposed to be or what he is supposed to do. This has been very stressful for me so I am continually in prayer about him having clear direction for his life.

Today's excerpt:

"None of us can live without a vision for our future. If we don't have one, we flounder aimlessly. Without it, life seems pointless and we die a little every day. "Where there is no vision, the people perish" Proverbs 29:18."

"Having a vision doesn't necessarily mean knowing the specifics about what is going to happen next. It has to do with sensing the general direction you're moving in and having hope that something good is on the horizon. It's knowing that you do have a future and a purpose, and that it is bright."

"Not every man has that certainty. When he doesn't, you can almost see life draining from him. Even the ones who do, don't necessarily have it all the time. Even the most spiritual man can get overtired, burned out, beaten down, distanced from God, confused about who he is and why he is here, and lose his vision for the future. He can misplace his sense of purpose and become overwhelmed and hopeless because of it. If he loses sight of his dreams and forgets the truth about himself and his situation, he can end up believing destructive lies about his future. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6."

Today I pray for my husband to have a clear direction for his future, that the Lord would impress upon him the will for His life and that my husband would be ready to hear and receive it. That the Lord would open the appropriate doors and close any others that are not of His doing.

Well, we are living this one - as some of you may know. I prayed recently to be hit over the head regarding "direction" - and God answered!

I'll update y'all soon about the outcome on my other thread.

I like this one Cristy

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Thank you for this.

 

[live4christp1]

Wednesday October 1, 2008 - The Power

The first two chapters of this book are longer than the rest but they are packed full of good info and they are powerful. I can testify that I have seen my marriage transformed by God's power, by seeking Him and this book has been a mighty tool of encouragment and direction to me.

Today's excerpt:

"You have the means to establish a hedge of protection around your marriage because Jesus said, "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" Matthew 18:18. You have authority in the name of Jesus to stop evil and permit good. You can submit to God in prayer whatever controls your husband - alcoholism, workaholism, laziness, depression, infirmity, abusiveness, anxiety, fear, or failure - and pray for him to be released from it."

"A wife's prayers for her husband have a far greater effect on him than anyone else's, even his mother's. (Sorry, Mom.) A mother's prayers for her child are certainly fervent. But when a man marries, he leaves his father and mother and becomes one with his wife Matthew 19:5. They are a team, one unit, unified in spirit. The strength of a man and wife joined together in God's sight is far greater than the sum of strengths of each of the two individuals. That's because the Holy Spirit unites them and gives added power to their prayers."

"That's why there is so much at stake if we don't pray. Can you imagine praying for the right side of your body and not the left? If the right side is not sustained and protected and it falls, it's going to bring down the left side with it. The same is true of you and your husband. If you pray for yourself and not him, you will never find the blessings and fulfillment you want. What happens to him happens to you and you can't get around it."

There is so much more I wish I could post, this is a great chapter!

Today I pray that the Lord would renew my ferverancy to cover my husband and my marriage in prayer. To give me the wisdom to know what areas need attention and to stay focused on Him and His will and not my own desires.

 

[live4christp1]

Tomorrow's Topic - His Wife

Get ready, this one can be a roller coaster ride of emotions!

 

[live4christp1]

Thursday October 2, 2008 - His Wife

This chapter is so good, I feel really bad for just posting a small portion. No matter how many times I read it, it still speaks to me and the Lord will use something in it to put His finger on and say "right there, that's were you need to work a little harder". It's very powerful, it's a gift, it can be hard at times, it's something we should give out of love to our husband even if we don't receive the same in return. After going through this book myself, I bought my dear hubby "The Power of a Praying Husband" that was several years ago and he is yet to make it through the whole book. That used to make me angry and hurt but I realize that if it's not God drawing him to read it, then there won't be much fruit there anyway.

Today's excerpt:


"Don't say I didn't warn you. When you pray for your husband, especially in the hopes of changing him, you can surely expect some changes. But the first changes won't be in him. They'll be in you. If this makes you as mad as i made me, you'll say, "Wait a minute! I'm not the one that needs changing here!" But God sees things we don't. He knows where we have room for improvement. He doesn't have to search long to uncover attitudes and habits that are outside His perfect will for us. He requires us to not sin in our hearts because sin separates us from Him and we don't get our prayers answered. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear" Psalm 66:18. God wants our hearts to be right so the answers to ou prayers are not compromised."

"This whole requirement is especially hard when you feel your husband has sinned against you with unkindness, lack of respect, indifference, irresponsibility, inidelity, abandonment, cruelty, or abuse. But God considers the sins of unforgiveness, anger, hatred, self-pity, lovelessness, and revenge to be just as bad as any others. Confess them and ask God to set you free from anything that is not of Him. One of the greatest gifts you can give your husband is your own wholeness. The most effective tool in transforming him may be your own transformation."

Today I pray that You Lord would show me the areas that I need to change. Reveal to me anything in my heart that is not of You. Help me to be quick to confess when You convict me. Help me to be the clay that is to be transformed. Cleanse my heart and renew my mind. Give me the desire to pray for my husband daily as You direct.

 

[live4christp1]

Friday October 3, 2008 - His Work

My DH is a hard worker and eager to provide for our family. He has struggled though with finding a work that he enjoys doing. He doesn't feel fulfilled or that he is doing what he is supposed to do. He changes jobs frequently.

Today's excerpt:

"God recognizes that a man's work is a source of fulfillment to him. He says there is nothing better than for a man to "enjoy the good of all his labor - it is the gift of God" Ecclesiastes 3:13. The fact that many men are not fulfilled in their work has less to do with what their work is than with whether or not they have a sense of purpose. A man who doesn't have that can eventually come to a place where he has worked hard and long for so little reward that he no longers sees a future for himself - at least not one worth living. If there's also the specter of age creeping up on him, he may hear words in his head like, "You're not aluable to anyone." "You're replaceable." "You can't do what you you used to." "You'r too old to learn new things." "You don't have it." "You have no purpose." This is a dangerous place for a man to be."

"If your husband is a hard worker, make sure he has times of rest and enjoyment-to do things that entertain him and give him a reprieve from the weight of a lifetime of supporting a family. Men need periods of refreshing. If they don't have them, they are prone to burnout and temptation of all kinds. Your prayers can help your husband understand that the true meaning of life doesn't come from work, it comes from following God. Let's pray for our husbands to find that perfect balance."

Today I pray that my husband would be lead to find the one place that the Lord has prepared for him. That he would find reward in his work and be happy with what he is doing. That he wouldn't feel that his work is useless or in vain. Help him to find a good balance between work and down time.

 

[breezy1077]

Thanks Cristy!

 

[live4christp1]

Monday October 6, 2008 - His Temptations

Today's will be short as I have had a ton of things to do today and still trying to catch up.

Today's excerpt:

"Temptation is everywhere today and we're fools if we think we or our husbands can't be lured by it in some form or another. The Bible says, "The eyes of man ae never satisfied" Proberbs 27:20. If that's true, temptation is always a possibility and we must be ever watchful. Certain people are tempted by alcohol and drugs: others have a lust for money and power. Still others find food addictions, pornogrophy, or se-ual immorality to be irresistible lures. The enemy of our souls knows where our flesh is the weakest and he will put temptations in our paths at our most vulnerable points. The question is not whether there will be temptations, it's how we will handle them when they arise. I recommend praying through them. While prayer may not be able to stop a man from doing something he is determined to do, it can diminish the voices of temptation and strengthen his resolve. It can pave the way for him to make right choices."

"The best time to start praying about this is before anything happens."

I hope someone else can post some comments or prayers about today's excerpt. I'll try to do better tomorrow.

Tomorrow's topic - His Mind

 

[live4christp1]

Tuesday October 7, 2008 - His Mind

Our mind is a very big battlefield. It's where thoughts of doubt, etc. begin. Today's chapter is very good, a topic for my DH as well as myself. The info therein is very good, however, today I am going to post the prayer at the end of the chapter.

Today's excerpt:

"Lord, I pray for Your protection on my husband's mind. Shield him from the lies of the enemy. Help him to clearly discern between Your voice and any other, and show him how to take every thought captive as You have instructed us to do. May he thirst for Your Word and hunger for Your truth so that he can recognize wrong thinking. Give him strength to resist lying thoughts. Remind him that he has the mind of Christ. Where the enemy's lies have already invaded his thoughts, I push them back by inviting the power of the Holy Spirit to cleanse his mind. Lord, You have given me authority "over all the power of the enemy" Luke 10:19. By that authority given to me in Jesus Christ, I command all lying spirits away from my husband's mind. I proclaim that God has given (husband's name) a sound mind. He will not be tormented with impure, evil, negative, or sinful thoughts, but be transformed by the renewing of his mind, that he may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God Romans 12:2. Enable him to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" Ephesians 6:10. Help him to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let his requests be made known to You; and may Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard his heart and mind through Christ Jesus Philippians 4:6,7. And finally whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, having virtue, or anything praiseworthy, let him think on these things Philippians 4:8."

 

[live4christp1]

Tomorrow's Topic - His Fears

 

[live4christp1]

Wednesday October 8, 2008 - His Fear

Today's topic really stumped me, I'm not really sure what to even list. If I had to guess I'd say it was the fear of failure.

Today's excerpt:

"There are many things in this world to be afraid of; only a fool would say otherwise. But when fear seizes us, tormenting and ruling our lives, we have become captive to it. Men are often susceptible to that because without even realizing it, they get attacked by the "what if's." "What if I can't make enough money?" "What if something happens to my wife and children?" "What if I get a terrible disease?" "What if my business fails?" "What if I can't be a good father?" "What if I become disabled and can't work to support my family?" "What if I'm overpowererd or threatened?" "What if no one respects me?" "What if I'm in an accident?" "What if I die?" Fear can take hold of a man Psalm 48:6 and cause his life to be wasted Psalm 78:33. If he is "seized with great fear" Luke 8:37, it can keep him from all Gad has for him."

Today I pray that my husband would be free from a Spirit of fear that he would be able to rest in knowing God is in control.

 

[live4christp1]

Tomorrow's Topic - His Purpose

 

[live4christp1]

October 9, 2008 - His Purpose

This is a heart cry of mine for DH that he would find his purpose....the one thing that he is meant to do and feel fulfilled by doing it.

Today's excerpt:

"Everyone has a purpose. It's the reason we exist. It's our life's mission, objective, or plan. Generally, we're here to glorify God and do His will. How that specifically translates in our lives is unique to each of us. Your husband needs to know the reason he exists. He needs to be sure his life is not just an accident, but that he's here by design. He must be certain he was created for a great purpose. When he discovers that purpose, and is doing what he was created to do, becoming what he was created to be, he will find fulfillment. This can only contribute to your happiness as well."

"If I've learned anything being married two and one half decades, it's that a wife can't put presssure on her husband to be somethin, but she can pray for him to become it. She can pray that he be molded according to God's plan and not anyone else's. Then, who he becomes will be determined by whether he hears God's call on his life or not. For God has "called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began" 2 Timothy 1:9. Your husband is "predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will" Ephesians 1:11 &12. But you still need to pray that he hears God's call, so that who he is and what he does lines up with Gods' purpose for his life."

Today I pray that my husband would be lead by God to what he exists for. That he would be molded and shaped and used for God's will and that he finds fulfillment there.

 

[live4christp1]

Today's weapons of warfare:

1 Corinthians 7:17 - As God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk.

Psalm 20:4 - May He grant you according to your heart's desire, and fulfill all your purpose.

 

[live4christp1]

Tomorrow's Topic - His Choices

 

[smfritz03]

Thank you for posting these. I'm going to have to go out and get this book immediately!

 

[live4christp1]

Thank you for posting these. I'm going to have to go out and get this book immediately!

Your Welcome! Hope you will continue to stop by. Feel free to post, share, etc.

Cristy

 

[live4christp1]

Friday October 10, 2008 - His Choices

My DH goes between two extremes in this catagory, either he doesn't want to make any decisions at all or he makes spur of the moment decisions without thinking them through (those usually turn out pretty bad). Once a friend from church wanted him to go to work for him full time......I didn't feel peace about it and expressed such to DH......he decided to do it any way.....ended up really bad and ruined the friendship.

Today's Excerpt: (prayer from end of chapter)

"Lord, fill my husbadn with the fear of the Lord and give him wisdom for every decision he makes. May he reverence You and Your ways and seek to know Your truth. Give him discernment to make decisions based on Your revelation. Help him to make godly choices and keep him from doing anything foolish. Take foolishness out of his heart and enable him to quickly recognize error and avoid it. Open his eyes to clearly see the consequences of any anticipated behavior."

"I pray that he will listen to godly counselors and not be a man who is unteachable. Give him strength to reject the counsel of the ungodly and hear Your counsel above all others. I declare that although "there are many plans ina aman's heart, nevertheless the Lord's counsel - that will stand" Proverbs 19:21. Instruct him even as he is sleeping Psalm 16:7, and in the morning, I pray he will do what's right rather than follow the leading of his own flesh. I know the widsom of this world is foolishness with You, Lord 1 Corinthians 3:19. May he not buy into it, but keep his eyes on You and have ears to hear Your voice."

Today I pray that the leading and prompting of the Lord would be clear in my husband's life. That he would have discernment and widsom. Help him to make good decisions based upon taking it first to the Lord. Enable him to make decisions and not be afraid of that burden.

 

[Smileybug]

I'm reading this book now. I love it. This book has opened my eyes to so many things.

But if I may go ff topic for just a minute...I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have found a thread where it is okay to talk about God. THANK YOU!!

 

[breezy1077]

I'm reading this book now. I love it. This book has opened my eyes to so many things.

But if I may go ff topic for just a minute...I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have found a thread where it is okay to talk about God. THANK YOU!!

I agree. Why isn't there a clique thread? A place for those of us that have stories, questions, etc.?