The following is a wife's description of her beloved...My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
(Song of Solomon 5:10-16)
Criticism leaves scars, but encouragement can bring healing. Remember that today as you continue to focus on this 30-day prayer and encouragement challenge.
Almost nothing is as devastating to a man as the belief that his wife finds him unattractive, or worse yet, repulsive, because of criticism that comes from her lips... even if it's not really the case.
Sadly, many women unwisely criticize their husbands' bodies. At times the reasoning is to "help" them see what they "should be", or perhaps for "health reasons". That's not our job ladies. Criticism tears down. Our position is to build up.
Have you ever considered how wonderfully God designed men and women? No matter how a man looks by the standards of the world, a loving God designed them all, and they are all "beautiful" in His sight. Encourage your husband today by praising his uniqueness.
As you look over your husband's body, from the tip of his toes to his bald or bushy head, thank God that your husband is "wonderfully made"... then admire your husband verbally.
Does he have strong arms? A hairy chest? Firm hands? Big feet? A rugged chin? Wide shoulders? Compassionate eyes? A broad smile? Tell him in love and admiration.
While praying for your husband today, pray that the Lord sharpen his awareness of spiritual things, so that he will be effective in his role as the spiritual head of your home. Pray that your husband will be patient and a man of peace. Pray that he will not give in to anger, but will allow the Holy Spirit to control his responses.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
(Ephesians 5:23)
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
(Romans 14:19)
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
(Psalm 34:14)
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 Twenty!
May your marriage be blessed!
Prayer studies are adapted from ©Revive Our Hearts and ©Diving Deeper Ministries.
Used with permission.
