Here is the truth that most people do not like to admit: marriage is hard. It is incredibly hard.

Spending forever with someone who is different from you is not quite a walk in the park. It has its ups and downs, its highs and lows.

There is disagreement, then agreement. There is breaking, then making.

Marriage is incredibly hard but when handled right, it is incredibly beautiful. This is why prayers for marriage matter.

Praying for your marriage is one of the most rewarding things you can do for your relationship.

If you make prayer a priority and not an option, then handling a lot of issues will be much easier.

I know first hand that prayer makes a marriage stronger. When I pray for my marriage, I gain clarity. I find peace. My faith in God is strengthened.

The place of prayer humbles me. It helps me let go and let God. It helps me speak life into my marriage.

Our marriages have an enemy. The enemy who wants to steal kill and destroy wants to devour your marriage.

The most powerful weapon you have is prayer.You can not fight a spiritual battle using physical tactics.

It is funny how easy it is to quarrel with your spouse, rather than ‘quarrel’ with God in the place of prayer.

Or how easy it is to complain to a friend or family member rather than ‘complain’ to God. Or how it is easy to worry about issues rather than pray about them.

What if we turned all the quarrels, complaints and worries into prayers?

I’ll encourage us to pray these prayers because prayers are powerful. Prayers make a difference.

Pray from a place of faith, not fear. If you are single, equally pray them for your would-be marriage.

Begin by asking God to forgive you for every sin then pray passionately.

1. Father, thank you for the spouse you have blessed me with.

“Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.” (James 1: 17, NLT)

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NLT)

2. Father, help me to be forgiving and tolerant towards my husband/wife.

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” (Colossians 3:13, NLT)

3. Father, teach me to love my spouse unconditionally.

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” (I Corinthians 13:4-7)

4. Father, may my spouse fulfill your plan for his/her life.

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.

Before you were born I set you apart

and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5, NLT)

5. May my spouse and I seek you first before any other thing.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33, NLT)

“But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

6. Teach us to depend on your power through every difficult moment we face together.

“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.” (Ephesians 1:19, NLT)

7. Lord help me bridle my tongue and not say hurtful things to my spouse.

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4;6, ESV)

8. Lord help, my spouse and I to not yield to any temptation that may come our way.

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT)

9. Lord, separate my spouse and me from every evil company.

“Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33, ESV)

10. May your peace reign in our home.

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7, NLT)

Do you have any other prayers for marriage? Please share below.