JENNIFER FLANDERSFamily Matters

Wedding season is definitely upon us. The graduation announcements in my mailbox have trickled down to nothing, only to be replaced by a deluge of bridal shower invitations and save-the-dates and marriage announcements.

It seems that every week, another of my friends’ children are announcing an engagement — or one of my own! Our Joseph recently popped the question to his girl, and the two are now busily setting dates and making plans. I even have a hefty stack of invitations ready to drop in the mail myself, for a wedding shower I’m hosting for a neighbor.

With all those nuptials going on, I thought this would be fitting time to publish a special prayer for marriage. This prayer follows an acrostic pattern. The first letters of each request spell out BRIDE & GROOM.

Prayer has played a huge part in keeping my relationship to my own husband happy and secure, and I know it can do the same for yours. Whether you are newly married or have been with your spouse for decades, we pray your marriage will likewise be long and joyous.

Prayer for a Strong and Happy Marriage

Lord, we ask You to bless this couple & make them…

B = Beautiful — Inside & out

“…clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.” — 1 Peter 3:4

R = Respectful & loving toward one another

“…each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” — Ephesians 5:33

I = Industrious & hardworking

“…stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” — 1 Corinthians 15:58

D = Devoted to one another fully

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” —Romans 12:10

E = Encouraging both in word & in deed

“…encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11

& we pray, O God, that You would help them to be…

G = Gentle & patient toward one another

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”— Ephesians 4:2

R = Righteous & steadfast in their integrity

“The righteous person behaves in integrity; blessed are his children after him.” – Proverbs 20:7

O = One — physically, spiritually, & emotionally

“…’For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate.” — Matthew 19:6

O = Obedient to Your Word

“…Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.”- Ecclesiastes 12:13

M = Mature in their understanding

“…stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.” — 1 Corinthians 14:20

Jennifer Flanders is a firm believer in the power of prayer. For more scripture-based prayer guides (and a free, fancy version of this one), visit http://lovinglifeathome.com/my-printables/.