10 Ways to Pray for Your Wife
Your wife is a gift. She blesses you with love, companionship, help, and plenty of fun. As the spiritual leader of your family, you are responsible for guiding her (and any children you may have) in God’s path. Proverbs 18:22 says, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.”
A major part of your role as husband and spiritual leader is covering your wife in prayer. Through prayer, you have an avenue directly to God; you can approach Him at any time on her behalf. Here are 10 ways you can pray for your wife, starting today.
1. Pray for her self-care.
One of the most difficult things for a woman to do is to take time to care for herself, but her well-being is essential to your marriage and family. Take an active role in helping your wife create time to nurture herself, but also pray that she will be able to accept your gift of time, without anxiety or guilt. She’ll have an opportunity to grow into the best version of herself, and you’ll all be better for it.
The Bible instructs husbands to “love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself” (Ephesians 5:28 ESV). Do you value your time to yourself–to exercise, to unwind, or to do things you enjoy? Help your wife to create the same time for herself, and watch her blossom.
2. Pray for balance in her life and work.
Wives–and mothers, particularly–find it difficult to compartmentalize areas of their lives, thus becoming very vulnerable to a lack of balance that will be disruptive to your relationship if it isn’t addressed. Pray that she will be able to prioritize her responsibilities in the best possible way, and that she will be able to clearly discern which tasks and activities are keeping her off balance. She might need a little encouragement to say “no” to the things that throw her off track, so pray that God will help her to be able to confidently turn down those offers.
3. Pray for her relationship with God.
Your wife’s strong relationship with God will keep her centered and will benefit both of you (plus your children, if you have them). At every opportunity, combine your prayers with action and help make a way for your wife to spend time with God every day. She has many responsibilities to fulfill, and this quiet prayer time will help to alleviate her overwhelm.
4. Pray over your sexual relationship.
Ask God to bless this intimate and private part of your life together. Your oneness as husband and wife is a sacred place to slow down and savor one another, drawing closer to God in the process. He has given you to one another and created the gift of sex just for you, so if your sexual relationship isn’t where you want it to be, lift it up to Him. And if it’s already in an amazing place, pray for His further blessing.
5. Pray for her ability to teach your children.
Your wife’s closeness with your children places her in the perfect position to teach them about Jesus and help them grow in God’s word. Like all responsibilities, this must be fulfilled intentionally, and the hectic nature of life can easily override her desire to focus on daily Bible study. Pray that she will find special ways to share the Word with your children on a daily basis, and pray also that your children will receive her blessing to them and grow in the Lord.
6. Pray that she will not become overwhelmed.
It is incredibly easy for work, marriage, children, and the daily responsibilities that come with running a home to completely overwhelm your wife. When overwhelm occurs, it is immobilizing and can be devastating to relationships, health, and life in general if left unchecked. Pray that your wife will be able to take one moment at a time, one day at a time. Help in any way you can to shoulder some of her burden if she’s in over her head, and pray that God will provide both of you with the tools you need to live as stress-free as possible.
7. Pray over her friendships.
Healthy relationships with kindred spirits like friends, church family, and close relatives add richness and joy to your wife’s life. Pray that she may form and maintain rich friendships that will benefit and enrich her. Support her desire to spend time with her friends, for there she has a chance to nurture herself and grow in spirit.
Pray also for her to be alert and discerning of the people she allows into your life. Ask God to help her to be a good judge of character as she meets new people, and also for her wisdom to let go of relationships that may have been harmful for her to maintain.
8. Pray for her health and protection.
Your wife’s health and safety are precious, so guard them daily through prayer and vigilance. Pray that God will protect her and preserve her health, and ask that He will also work through you to watch out for her.
9. Pray that she may be joyful.
Finding joy in life’s chaos can seem almost impossible, particularly in times of high stress. We can quickly become bogged down by negativity. It’s imperative that your wife (and you, too!) is able to face life with the joy that comes from Christ. Pray that she will be able to fully experience God’s joy on a daily basis, and work together with her to stay focused on life’s blessings and gifts.
10. Pray that the desires of her heart will be fulfilled.
Your wife has dreams that she holds close to her heart, and God-given gifts that she longs to put to good use. Perhaps she has tucked them away for a season, or maybe she is living them now. Pray that God will help her to utilize her gifts, and that He will make a way for her dreams to be fulfilled.
A Final Thought
The Bible says, “[H]usbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). Take careful stock of your attitudes and actions as you focus more closely on praying for your wife; it’s up to each of you as individuals to live the best life possible in God’s path.