My friends’ marriage is on the rocks. For months, as they received counseling, I thought they were going to make it. But now I’m full of doubt.
Things have turned so sour in their relationship that last night as I prayed, I had little hope. I wondered, Why pray if there’s no chance (or so it appears) they will reconcile?
When I admitted to God that I’d grown weary of talking to Him about this couple (as I know my own friends have experienced when praying about my personal struggles at times!), the Holy Spirit prompted me to turn to His Word. In doing so, I was reminded to . . .
• Continue to lift them up in prayer, “asking God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them” (1 Timothy 2:1; see 1 Samuel 12:23).
• Remember that Jesus “is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf” (Hebrews 7:25).
• Trust that God “will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name” (1 Samuel 12:22). That will include the struggling married couple I know who have publicly professed faith in Jesus.
• Believe that what Jesus taught His disciples remains true today: “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible” (Matthew 17:19-20).
• Exhort friends to “make sure now that you worship the LORD with all your heart, and don’t turn your back on him” (1 Samuel 12:20).
We have a God who understands that we grow weary, and He invites us to cast our burdens on Him. He alone can give us rest and the strength to carry on in prayer and good deeds (Matthew 11:28).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 28:16-20
More:
Read James 5:16 and consider what “wonderful results” God has produced in response to your prayers.
Next:
Unsure how to pray for someone? Ask God to show you. What can help you to persevere in prayer this week?
angelinatan25 on October 3, 2014 at 7:14 am
Roxxane,
My suggestion is that whilst waiting for significant results of GOD’S Workings on this troubled couple whos professes faith in JESUS,
1) get them to pray daily as a couple to GOD
ABOVE and thanking HIM of HIS
PROTECTION and BLESSINGS……. for the
day.
Then “confess” sincerely before GOD what
each of them had sinned against HIM during
the day, and asking for HIS FORGIVENESS.
2) Also, to “confess” to and/or ask for
forgiveness
from each other, whether “sins” to each other
is done in awareness or otherwise; regardless
of whether there is any such hurts to one
another unknowingly or intentionally.
3) Having complete the confessions before GOD,
allow the couple to read together GOD’S
DESIRE FOR CHRISTIAN COUPLE’S LIVING
OR STATUS REQUIREMENTS.
THEN, SUGGEST THAT THEY sit down and
reveal their woes of
burdens, worries, problems without any
reservation as a couple hoping for the best for
the remaking of their existing marriage.
Try out this method, I AM CONFIDENT IT’S GOING TO WORK, EVEN BETTER LIVES THEREFAFTER IN LINE/ WITH GOD’S HELP.
Gary Shultz on October 3, 2014 at 8:01 am
Prayer sounds so easy, we have been guided to it as small children; however we have seen and experienced the struggle of continuing in prayer. Thanks for reminding us to press on because our God is faithful and able.
Mike Wittmer on October 4, 2014 at 8:23 am
Amen! Jesus commands us to wear our Father out with our petitions, so we might as well tell Him exactly what we’re feeling, including our exasperation at His slow response.
angelinatan25 on October 6, 2014 at 6:37 am
AMEN.
ALWAYS CLING TO HIM FOR DEAR LIFE, KNOWING HE WOULD TURNS THINGS RIGHT FOR THOSE WHO LOVE AND WALK WITH HIM.