Taken from the book Prayers for Troubled Times, by Jeannie St. John Taylor, AMG Publishers.

Dear God,

    We’re so thankful you are the author of marriage. It was your idea that a man and his wife would be united as one. You made the perfect plan, but you knew we would be far from perfect. And that can make marriage challenging.

    There are many couples in church and the world who think divorce is the answer to marriage problems. Show them the truth – divorce causes heartache. It is a sin. It is painful. It does not just affect the couple involved, but all those around them, especially the children. Lord, we pray for your hand of restoration to overshadow our nation. Change hearts, priorities, work schedules and lives. Bring healing and forgiveness to the institution of marriage. 

  

     We pray for our pastors and church leaders to take a new stand, a stronger stand, for marriage. Give them boldness to speak out and contradict the lies we have believed regarding divorce.

     Turn the hearts of those with healthy, godly marriages toward couples who are struggling. Give them the desire, the time and the skills to come alongside and mentor those people. Start with the church, Lord. Let the world see what a beautiful gift marriage can be when Jesus Christ is the center.

     Teach us to take our eyes off ourselves and place them first on you and then on our spouses. We look to your Word as the standard, and we remember that you have bound us together in holy matrimony. Teach us to be holy. In the name on of the Holy One, we pray, amen.

Supporting verse:

“Wives submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” Col. 3:18.19