Years ago, I heard about a woman that was one of the strongest prayer-warriors I had ever met. If you spent the night with their family, it was not uncommon to find her down in the living room in the middle of the night on her knees for someone. If their family heard that someone was struggling, sick, in the hospital, hurting, or whatever, they would stop whatever they were doing right then and there and start praying for that person. If you asked this woman to pray about something, you would know beyond any shadow of doubt that she would truly pray about it. I was inspired to say the least, and began praying that YHWH would help me be that kind of a prayer-warrior.

It is so easy to say “I’ll be praying for you”, and something completely different to actually pray. I wanted to have a reputation of actually praying for people when they asked and/or I said I would. And I didn’t just want to mumble a half-hearted “YHWH, please be with so-and-so” kind of prayer. I wanted to pray – really pray – for them.

I wanted most of all to be my future husband’s prayer-warrior. There weren’t too many ways I could bless my husband over the years, but I knew I could always bless him through prayer. No matter where he was, who he was, or whether or not we had ever met, YHWH knew where he was and everything about him. At first, when I began praying for him, it felt a little awkward because I didn’t know his name, struggles, or anything about him, so how was I supposed to pray for him?

The more I thought and prayed about it, the more I realized that if I was to get married someday, then my husband was indeed in the world somewhere, with struggles, questions, fears, pain, decisions to make, etc. I may not have known his name, but I knew he was human, I knew he was a man (or at least would be one eventually if he wasn’t already!), he was a son, he would be a husband, and YHWH willing someday he would be a father. And since I couldn’t marry a non-believer, I knew he was either already a believer or would be by the time we got married.

So, I began to study Scripture to see what YHWH’s desire and plan was for people in these categories, and I started praying that He would mold and shape my husband into the man, son, friend, husband, believer and father He wanted him to be.

One of the things that has helped me the most in praying for my husband, has been using my struggles, questions, etc as reminders to pray for him in those areas. For example, when I was tired and having a hard time getting through the work I needed to do, I would pray that YHWH would give my husband the strength and energy to do the things he needed to do. If I was facing a decision in my life, then I would pray that YHWH would give my husband wisdom in that area and help him to also know His will. If I was sick, I would pray for his health. When I was in pain (physically, emotionally, etc) I would pray for his pain. When I was discouraged, I would pray that YHWH would encourage him.

There were some days when YHWH would lay a specific thing on my heart to pray for him about, but many days, I would simply use the “method” above to know how to pray for him.

This last summer, I was starting to get into a rut in my prayer life, and needing a change. As I prayed about it, I felt led to journal 31 days of prayer for my husband, 31 days for our relationship, and then 31 days for our marriage. I have printed out other people’s lists and prayed them quite a few times in the past, but this was the first time I had actually kept a journal of it. Instead of using other people’s lists, this time I made my own by making a list of as many qualities and traits as I could think of that were important to me (or areas I saw as being a potential problem or struggle), and then I looked up some verses that dealt with that specific topic. I didn’t keep a specific order – just prayed for whatever was on my heart each morning (or by scanning my list until one stood out to me). I would write the day and title on the top of the page (along with the date), and then I would copy the verses that pertained to that day’s topic (generally just a couple), and then I would journal a prayer.

Those were some special 93 days, and days that prepared me in a special way for what only YHWH knew was right around the corner – marriage! Throughout the 93 days, I was able to bring my dreams, fears, desires and expectations to YHWH … pray about them, and then leave it in His hands. When I was writing these prayers out, the thought that my husband would be reading them in just a couple short months never crossed my mind (at least not seriously!). What a special gift to be able to give my husband! But even more important than being able to someday give your written prayers to your husband, is the gift of your prayers in the first place. He may not know that you are praying for him, but YHWH does, and He can answer your prayers anyways (and by so doing, bless your husband wherever and whoever he is!).

There is power in prayer. It changes things. I want to challenge you to start using that power to bless and help your husband – even if you don’t yet know his name!

Sharon Rose

Sharon lives at home with her parents and seven of her fifteen siblings. She enjoys music, reading, writing, visiting, babysitting her nieces and nephews, and traveling. You can visit her website at: Blooming-Rose, or write to her at: sharonrose@blooming-rose.com