marriage |ˈmerij| noun 1 the legally or formally recognized union of two people as partners in a personal relationship: They had a wonderful marriage.

Field and I have been married for 5 (going on 6) wonderful years. He is truly my best friend and the love of my life. I knew very soon after I met him that I wanted to marry him because of the kind of man he was. Married life certainly has its share of ups and downs, but I have found that both the mountaintop and valley moments can be one in the same if you are grounded in faith and prayer.

Field and I attribute the success of our marriage to our unwavering faith in God. We are not shy or ashamed to tell anyone that without God, we would not be where we are today. Our individual prayer lives began well before we met one another. Before meeting Field, I had almost given up on the idea of meeting someone and decided I would prepare myself to be the best wife I could be by reading marriage books and simply spending time with Jesus. It was those moments that prepared me to be the wife and mother I am today.

Now that we are married, I cannot express how important it is to find a spouse who believes in the power of prayer and in praying God’s Word over your family. Each day, Field and I spend time reading the Bible and praying on our own—but we always come together to pray over our family, business and marriage before either one of us walks out the door.

We have made prayer a priority not only in our marriage but in our family. I want to lead my children in a legacy of prayer and faith in God. Field and I believe it is our job to disciple our kids, and the best way we know how to do that is to model it for them. We pray together as a family each morning when they wake up and every night before bed. They each have devotionals and children’s Bibles of their own that they like to read. I want them to grow up knowing the truth of God’s Word and I think it is so important to read the Bible and pray together as a family!

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Our children are watching us so closely (even when we wish they weren’t!). I want them to be able to learn from the way Field and I choose to love and respect one another. When you are married, you are the primary prayer covering for your spouse. Even when you have an argument or disagree on something, make a point to speak blessing over your partner rather than tearing them down with your words. Our words have power—to bring life or death. When you are married, it means you are one! If you are speaking curses over your spouse, you are technically speaking the same words over yourself!

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” Proverbs 18:21

Field and I have made an agreement to pray over every argument, frustration and major decision in our lives. We choose to cover one another in prayer and blessing by speaking the Word of God over our marriage, and I know that is why we continue to grow closer in our relationship.

I want to encourage you, whether you are married or single, to begin praying blessing over your spouse. I’ve written out a prayer that I pray for Field below—take it or use it to create one of your own! Your words have power! Use them to build others up with life and blessing!!  

A Marriage Prayer

God, thank You for my husband. Thank You for our relationship. Thank You for his life. Thank You for his love for me. Thank You for every detail about him that makes him unique. I pray our relationship continues to grow. I pray we will become closer and closer in the years to come. Thank You for the time we get to spend together as a family. I pray we never stop helping each other grow. I pray that we would intentionally love each other and encourage each other daily. Remind us of what is of most value and importance as You direct our steps. I pray against conflict and tension in our marriage. I pray against negativity and hurtful words. I pray nothing would ever come between us. Please protect our marriage. I pray that I would learn how to listen intently to my husband’s heart and to see the feelings behind his words and the intentions behind his actions. I desire to know his heart on a deeper level. Help me to see my husband as You see him. Give us eyes only for each other and grow us in humility and intimacy with each other and with You. Help us to understand Your word and help us grow together in love and service to each other and to You. Help us be intentional in spending time together and reveal things that would cause distance in our relationship. Protect us from things that will divide us as we maintain closeness in our marriage with You at the center. Enable us to forgive each other as You have forgiven us. Help us to not hold onto bitterness, keep records of wrong, or allow the enemy any foothold in our relationship. May our delight be in you as we remain deeply rooted in Your word and in Your presence. May our marriage and our family be like a tree planted by streams of living water, which yield fruit in all seasons and whose leaves do not wither. Give me the grace to help my husband more, to affirm him more, and to support him more in his role as my husband. I ask that You would show me how to pray for my husband daily. I pray we see how You love us through the way we love each other. Give us greater intimacy, joy and laughter than we have ever experienced before. Help us to have a greater appreciation of one another and our differences. Help me to understand his dreams and to see things from his perspective. And mold me into the best wife, helpmate, companion, friend, and constant support for my husband, in Jesus’ name, AMEN!

XO-
Sabrina  

Photography by: Nicollette Mollet