Reflecting Christ in Marriage
Enjoying the beautiful design
The Garden of Eden was gorgeous and marriage was perfect – and then sin entered the world. We might think the opening verses of Genesis would be the last time we see the true beauty of marriage but thousands of years later in the New Testament (and many places in between), God’s Word continues to gives us rich gems to help us build strong, fulfilling marriages and understand their purpose.
Marriage Enrichment
Learn about the Marriage Enrichment weekends offered by Adult Discipleship to help you build and strengthen your marriage. There are a variety of enrichment weekends:
Growing at Home
Spending time at home in the Word of God will also be a blessing to your faith and marriage. Here are some free resources developed by Adult Discipleship to encourage you and help you grow.
Building a Great Marriage – Part 1
Building a Great Marriage – Part 2
Forward in Christ article:
Building a strong, God pleasing marriage
Prayer for marriage
Lord God, you are the creator and giver of all good gifts. We thank you for the gift of marriage and the joy it brings to husbands and wives. Thank you for the gifts of companionship and intimacy, given that we might delight in these blessings from your hand. Thank you for those who live their marriages in a way that reflects your love and provides encouragement to others to see the beautiful design of your plan.
But Lord, there are also many who are hurting and struggling in their marriages. Relationships are filled with resentment, a feeling of loneliness and a lack of fulfillment. Forgiveness is smothered by blame and self-centeredness, while others long for healing with a spouse who is unwilling. Alcoholism, abuse and countless other sins divide partners and destroy souls. Father, reach in with your healing hand to change hearts. These are souls that you love, children that you have redeemed through the blood of Your Son, and marriages that you alone can restore. Comfort those who turn to you for help, and strengthen those who seek You in your Word. Remind us that we can trust you when we feel like we can trust no one, we can love and forgive only when we receive those gifts from you first. Grant wisdom and hope when it seems helpless and overwhelming. Be with those who are heart-broken and empty. Drive us to your Word where we find you, and let your grace bring us all that we need. In Jesus name, Amen.
Prayer for marriage
Heavenly Father, You are our joy and greatest delight. Help us to always treasure the precious relationship we share. Remind us of its cost, Lord – the priceless blood of Your Son – and keep us humble and thankful for Your grace. But let that beautiful message also draw us to you and motivate us in all we do. Let Your salvation be our true source of joy and strength as we live for you. Encourage us to be loving even when we don’t want to. Give us a longing for Your Word that we can be found daily seeking You in Scripture. Don’t let us become complacent or forgetful but put the desire in our hearts to be at Your feet learning and growing in the knowledge of grace and wisdom. Teach us Father; open our eyes to the insights and riches of your Word, to understand how to be a spouse that honors You. Our hearts are yours Jesus, not because we give them to you but because You have purchased them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Heavenly Father,
It is not good to be alone and a Christian marriage is an exceptional gift! Thank you for the companionship of my wife and the many joys we share in our marriage…
[thank him for your blessings]
Yet we still have struggles, Lord. We fail one another, causing hurt and frustration; we sin against you as we sin against one another. Comfort us with the promises of your gospel, remind us that your forgiveness is full and free. Grant us a rich measure of your Word that heals the pain and strengthens us to bear the hardships of this life…
[tell him what weighs on your heart]
Use your Word and Sacraments to build our faith and make our marriage a reflection of your love to the world. As a husband, help me to model your selfless, sacrificial love. Deepen our understanding of you that we may be
motivated by your grace to love one another richly and grow in our marriage…
[pray about areas that need work]
Lord, you are the rock of our faith and our strong fortress. Surround us with your strength that we may live for your glory. Amen.
(taken from “Prayers to Bless Your Wife“)
Heavenly Father,
Your perfect and holy plan for Christian marriage is a wonderful gift and blessing. Thank you for the many good things you have given our marriage…
[thank him for your blessings]
But life in this sinful world is hard. None of us live the way we should and we often hurt the people we love the most. Forgive our sins and in the freedom of grace move us to forgive one another. Help me to put at rest the pain from these sins…
[tell him what weighs on your heart]
You sent the Holy Spirit as the Counselor who would guide and strengthen us through the Word. Give us a full measure of your Spirit that we may love you first and then love one another. Teach us about you so, with renewed faith, we may understand one another better and reflect your love to the world. Be the center of our lives and marriage and help us grow…
[pray about areas that need work]
Thank you Lord for always listening and loving us. Your grace and forgiveness bring us life and breath every day. Amen.
(taken from “Prayers to Bless Your Husband“)
Women’s Ministry, as a part of Adult Discipleship, has created a pair of brochures for married couples who want to pray for one another.
“Prayers to Bless Your Wife” highlights your wife’s greatest needs and guides you in praying for her, including her emotional needs and spiritual growth.
“Prayers to Bless Your Husband” draws attention to the unique needs that men face and offers suggestions to pray for him. Pray that his faith would grow and that God would strengthen him in the face of temptation.
SUPPORT THESE MINISTRIES
WELS Women’s Ministry provides resources for individuals and congregations nationwide. Consider supporting these ministries with your prayers and gifts.
CONTACT US
Contact WELS Women’s Ministry for more information.