Breakthrough Prayer for the Man You Love
Prayer for the man you love that moves you from fixing to surrender. Lay the burden down, trust God with his heart, and watch Him work.
Six years ago, I decided I would stop trying to change my husband. Not because I was giving up on him or us, but because I realized I was trying to bear a weight I was never meant to carry. I knew God wanted more for him and for us, but I was exhausted trying to make it happen on my own.
Whatever you are praying for—Girl, I have been there, and my heart is with you.
I Wanted More for Him
Although my intentions were good, my longing for more for my husband, Marcus, came out entirely sideways. I nagged. I incessantly suggested ways he could improve certain behaviors. I took on a sort of Messiah complex where I tried to fix him. Maybe you can relate to this “fix it” mentality.
The problem is that when we adopt this mentality over someone else’s problems, our boundaries can sometimes get blurred. What we really need to do is shift our focus from fix and control to surrender and prayer.
It’s Actually Not Your Job
So that is what I did. I set my alarm for five in the morning almost every day to pray and intentionally journaled prayers over different areas of my husband’s life. Areas that I was desperate to see God move. And guess what? That’s when something remarkable happened; I felt noticeably lighter as I prayed for Marcus in these specific areas. And I wasn’t that great at it. To help me remember what my job was and what God’s was, I jotted it down on a piece of paper. If you struggle like I did, maybe this will help you too–
Slowly but surely, by learning what my job was and wasn’t, I was learning to surrender him to the Lord. From fists tightly clenched to palms wide open, I stopped trying to play a role that simply wasn’t mine to own. And, oh girl, what a sigh of relief that is.
Consistent Prayer Changes Everything
I remember one of the first times God allowed me to see the fruits of my labor. On this day, Marcus was spiraling from anxiety over an issue at work, which then turned into anger. Instead of doing my usual “fix it” thing (where I march into his office thinking I have some secret power to transform him), I went to our bedroom and got on my knees to pray.
As I was pouring out my heart to the Lord, Marcus walked in. “I just felt a wave of peace come over me,” he said. “Were you just praying for me?” My heart nearly stopped y’all. I could hardly believe it—God was working in real time! “Yes, I was praying for you,” I answered. He gently smiled back, “Thank you. Honestly, I feel it.”
Weeks of praying turned into months. When Marcus and I had disagreements, I moved from overreacting and fixing to taking a deep breath and praying instead. Over time, I saw my husband get breakthroughs in his anger and anxiety. God was working.
Learning to Surrender
Marcus already had a relationship with the Lord, but it wasn’t really a priority in his life. So, I was utterly taken aback when I walked downstairs early one morning to grab my coffee. As I turned the banister, I saw the dimly lit lamp already on in our living room. And beside it, my husband sitting in the chair reading his Bible. God was answering my prayers right before my eyes.
The more we learn to pray, the more we learn to surrender, trust, and have confidence in God’s sovereignty over our circumstances. 1 John 5:14 reads, “And this is the confidence we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
You are one prayer away from a God-sized breakthrough.
Reflection:
What can you pray about for your husband today? Plan to set aside time this week to spend at least 15 minutes in prayer for your significant other, spending time on at least 3-4 different areas of his life. Make note of what you’ve prayed for and watch God work!
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out the book Pray for Him by Amanda Hayhurst! We love how Amanda leads you through 30 days of powerful prayer for nearly every area of your partner’s life and helps you slowly release the weight you were never meant to carry.
Amanda Hayhurst is an author and a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. She has a passion for encouraging others and considers herself a ‘hype woman’ for other women. She has been married to her husband, Marcus, for fourteen years, and she gives God all the glory. They cherish every moment spent with their two young boys and adult bonus daughter. Follow her on Instagram @amandahayhurstwrites.
A 52-Week Devotional for the Deeper, Richer Marriage You Desire
An intimate, loving marriage is so much closer than you think
Imagine if, at the end of the year, despite your busy schedules and all the demands on your time and attention, you and your husband were more in sync, more connected, and more in love than ever before. Sounds amazing, right?
That kind of marriage is what is waiting for you as you read through the fifty-two weekly devotions in Loving Your Husband Well. Each entry includes a specific theme, related Scripture, a powerful devotion, thoughts for further reflection, practical ideas, and a prayer, all designed to help you love, cherish, and serve the man who shares life’s journey with you.
