The just man walketh in his integrity...(Proverbs 20:7)
Every week there are news reports about men who gave in to temptations and compromised what they said they believed. We hear countless reports about dishonest business dealings, hidden infidelity, and hypocritical leaders. It's so easy to focus on these things and ignore those who are being honest, faithful and genuine.
As you continue in this challenge, be determined to look for ways that your husband stands against the culture. Is your spouse a man of integrity? Is he fair in his dealings with people? Does he understand the meaning of justice? Is he honest in business? Un-hypocritical in his faith? Consider all the ways a man can live in integrity, and praise your husband for one of them.
As you have the opportunity, and as it is appropriate, share examples of your husband's honesty and integrity with others.
Isn't it amazing what the power of encouragement can do in others' lives? So many blessings come to those we love, and our own hearts are encouraged in the process.
I would love for you to share your encouragement journey with me! What has God been doing in your heart as you have set out to encourage your husband? In your husband's heart? In your own? Have others noticed a change?
While praying for your husband today, pray that he will not be carnally minded (which is death) but may he be spiritually minded (which is life and peace). Pray that your husband will speak words that build up himself, you, and your family... words that reflect a heart of love. Pray that he will not use filthy language.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
(Romans 8:6)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
(Proverbs 18:21)
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
(Ephesians 4:29)
Whether your husband already has a strong root in doing these things, or is an unsaved sinner running from God, prayers seeking these things with selfless humility will uplift and encourage him to become or continue to be a spiritual leader and guardian of the home as God has designed him to be!
Just a reminder about this 30 Days of Covering Our Husbands in Prayer:
Each day for 30 consecutive days, I will be posting a husband related topic, devotion, motivator, and/or encouragement here on my blog. Please feel free to access this prayer challenge any time you feel ready to start, or even to re-do the challenge to enforce the strength of the Lord in your marriage. You can click here for a printable calendar to view each day when going to prayer for your husband. Each day provides specific biblical prayer topics with bible verse references that seek God to touch the lives of our husbands.
In addition to specific prayer each day, there is a daily two-part challenge for you that will build up your husband through your own spoken (and unspoken) words:
Feel free to join me at any time in this prayer venture over your husband. You can always refer to my blog archives (the beginning post is May 24, 2012) if you're starting day one while my posts are further ahead in the challenge. If you have a blog, you're welcome to take the "30 Days of Covering Our Husbands in Prayer" graphic above and link it back to this topic's starting post (here), to encourage others to meet the Lord in prayer over their husbands too. If you decide to make this a goal for the next month in your life, whether you have a blog of your own or not, please comment or send me a message, I would be honored to pray for you by name as you seek God through the journey... regardless of when you begin it!
See you tomorrow for Day Fifteen!
May your marriage be blessed!
Prayer studies are adapted from ©Revive Our Hearts and ©Diving Deeper Ministries.
Used with permission.
