Sitting at a red light as a teenager, a friend’s brother had a feeling something wasn’t quite right. He looked down and realized he’d forgotten to put on his seatbelt. So he buckled it and took off as the light turned green. Before reaching the next intersection, his car was crushed by an out-of-control drunk driver. His leg was shattered, but his life was spared. That little decision to buckle his seatbelt moments earlier protected him.
In marriage, prayer is like a seatbelt—vital protection. I have been married to Susan for over 35 years, and every year has been filled with prayer. Through the high and low moments, prayer has given our marriage peace, strength, and staying power. Every marriage looks different, but they all need protection. Consider how prayer can provide it for yours. Here are 7 marriage protection prayers.
1. Protection From Lust
Lust is thinking about others sexually in an inappropriate way. A wandering eye cracks the door to wrong behavior. We must keep our eyes and hearts pure if we want a thriving marriage. This is a great thing to pray over our children, but it’s a must for marriages. Pray that you would be connected with your spouse, would desire him or her alone, and would stay committed to serving each other.
2. Protection From Bad Influences
Some friends can hurt more than help. I think about the biblical story of Job, when, after losing his home, children, health, and livelihood, Job’s friends advise him poorly. Even armed with good intentions, those friends’ advice could have led Job away from God. Watch over who is influencing you and your spouse. If you notice a negative change in your behavior toward each other, consider who may be motivating this change. One of the best protections over bad influences is developing solid, trustworthy friendships with other couples. Pray God provides them.
3. Protection From Greed
In her book Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage, author Jodie Berndt writes about making money work for you in your marriage. She says the best way to make life about more than making money is seeing it as “a tool, a test, and a testimony.” As a tool, money can be used to help others. It will test your priorities and can be used to leave behind testimony to what mattered most to you. Discuss with your spouse how you can use money to help others, not just yourselves. Commit to using money for more than just entertainment. This guards against greed, hoarding, and using money for selfish reasons. Pray that you’ll be aligned in your vision for your money.
4. Protection From Comparison
There will always be someone smarter, richer, funnier, or wiser than you. The same goes for our marriages. Other couples may seem to have it all together or be more connected, more loving, or stronger. Resist the urge to compare your relationship with others. When you do, letdown, resentment, and disappointment usually follow. We all have our own story, and yours is special because nobody else gets it but you and your spouse. Don’t try to mold your marriage after someone else’s. Trust that God is at work in your relationship. Pray that God shows you the great things about your bond with your husband or wife to keep you from comparison.
5. Protection From Anger
Anger isn’t inherently bad, but if expressing it belittles or harms your spouse, the resulting friction can damage your relationship. We need to pray for protection against our urge to lash out at the ones we love most, even during our angriest moments. It’s easy to do this unknowingly when we vent to others. Berndt urges readers never to complain about their spouses to others, adding, “Ask God to reveal any underlying issues or unmet longings, places where you might need his redemptive power to bring healing and restoration.” When we belittle our spouses in anger, we can cut them deeply. Prevent causing unnecessary pain by managing your anger.
6. Protection From Pride and Arrogance
Pride and arrogance lead to selfishness. In marriage, it creates a “me against you” dynamic. Pray for the humility to see each event in your marriage through your spouse’s eyes. When we get prideful and arrogant, we shut down all opposing viewpoints. When you can see your spouse’s perspective, and not just your own, you grow in your capacity to adjust to each other.
7. Protection From Laziness
Being active rather than passive prevents our marriages from getting lazy. So, don’t wait for your spouse to make the plans. Suggest a place to go for date night. Plan a getaway. Pick some activities to do together. If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas, pray for inspiration. Pray that God will reveal activities that will uplift your spouse.
In which area do you feel like your marriage needs the most protection? Share in a comment.
