The Week Two Challenge is to pray scripture over your husband.
(But keep up the Week One Challenge too!)
About the new scripture challenge: I know our different marriages are probably in many different places, in terms of spiritual connectivity. Some husbands might see this as "preachy," condemning, or threatening. If you are sure that praying scripture over your husband (out loud) would elicit a negative response, by all means, keep your prayers in the quiet of your personal time with God.
If you are unsure, then I challenge you to ask him, "Can I pray this scripture over you today?"
And if you are certain this blessing would indeed be received as a blessing, mention to him that you want to pray scripture over him this week, then ask him each day when you might pray for him. Morning, before he leaves for work? Evening, before bed? Maybe even over a mid-day phone call?
Below you will find 7 passages of scripture (one for each day?) that God laid on our hearts (mine and Stephanie's), but please use whichever scriptures you want to! (And share them with the rest of us!) God's Word does NOT return void! We simply asked the Spirit to bring to our minds a few passages that our husbands would receive as a blessing and an encouragement.
1) Isaiah 54: 10-17 (Firm Foundation)
2) Psalm 20 (A Prayer of God's Beloved Warrior)
3) Ephesians 1 (Purpose and Promise in Christ)
4) Psalm 27 (David's Prayer of Confidence)
5) Ephesians 3: 14 - 21 (Paul's Prayer for the Ephesians)
6) Joshua 1: 5-9 (The Battlefield of Work)
7) Isaiah 55 (Invitation to Jesus)
About keeping up last week's challenge: I am always tempted to think, "I have really done a good job encouraging Adam. His 'love tank' has got to be overflowing, and I am clearly a professional by now, so I'm a going to let up a little... not try so hard." Sometimes I even think, "What more can I say that hasn't been said?"
So, I am challenging us all - especially me - keep it up! We were never intended to live without God's Word. Likewise, I don't think our husbands were ever intended to live without our encouragement, without us bringing them the love and truth of Christ. And if they can "get by" with out it, do we ultimately want them just "getting by"?
That said, if you feel like I sometimes do, that I am out of new, fresh, original things to say… here are some suggestions just off the top of my head (and would love to hear from ya'll on this too!)-
1) Keep saying the same things over and over. This "technique" would be totally lost on me, but it is absolutely powerful in Adam's life. He cannot hear the same things too many times.
2) Be thankful and grateful. If you feel like you are running out of new ways to encourage him as a husband, father or provider, then narrow your focus in on the daily, smaller, specific ways in which he lives out these roles.
But instead of simply saying, "Thank you for taking the trash out," for example, try expounding on WHY you are grateful for this…
- how it makes you feel (loved?)
- what it does for you (frees you from a weekly hassle?)
- why it means so much (my grandfather always did this chore, and he was my hero, in general?)
- where it really hits you (meaning... besides the surface chore he has done, how does his service meet a deeper desire in your heart... such as your need to be supported?)
3) Last but not least, and this is going to sound crazy, but read for ideas in books or google ideas that are out there on the web. No shame. I tried it earlier this week while I was looking for a fresh way to say the same "old" thing in an exciting new way. I found, on a Christian woman's blog, a sweet love letter she had written her husband. I didn't copy it - I promise! I just used it for inspiration! :)
One final note: Please remember that I am, truly, praying for each of you by name. Some of you have had problems posting. Some have mentioned you have read the blog, without commenting. I am praying for ALL of you! I am praying for God's protection and power for us all.
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