I pray for my husband but not nearly as much as I should. I pray generically for him to have grace and strength in life, and I pray for some certain situations or struggles that I know of. But it never seems quite adequate.
Sometimes I just don’t know how to pray for my husband as I should. While it is a comfort that, when “we do not know what to pray for as we ought. . . the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26), I don’t want to always leave it at these wordless prayers!
So, I decided long ago to read 2 Timothy and turn Paul’s encouragement and exhortations into prayers for my husband. This passage is especially apt for him, because he is also a pastor. If you are a ministry wife, I would encourage you to pray these words for your husband (and tell him you are doing so!). Even if you are not a ministry wife, I am sure that any pastor or husband would be encouraged to know someone was praying in this way for him!
Here is a list of things to pray for your husband/pastor from 2 Timothy:
1. I pray that you would fan into flame your gifts with courage, love, and self control (1:6-7).
2. I pray that you would not be ashamed of the Gospel, but rather suffer for it by God’s power, the same power that saved you (1:8-12).
3. I pray that you would be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2:1).
4. I pray that you would pass the Gospel on to faithful men who will then teach others (2:2).
5. I pray that you would share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2:3).
6. I pray that you would have a single-minded desire to please God (2:4).
7. I pray that you would obey God’s rules in order to succeed (2:5).
8. I pray that you would work hard, holding to the promise of blessing (2:6).
9. I pray that you (especially in times of suffering) would think and meditate on these things (#5-8), knowing that God will give you understanding (2:7).
10. I pray that you would remember the Gospel, namely Jesus Christ, the One who is risen from the dead (2:8).
11. I pray that you would be moved to endurance by the truths of the Gospel (2:10-13).
12. I pray that you would zealously pursue God’s approval by correctly handling Scripture (2:15).
13. I pray that you would avoid irreverent babble (2:16).
14. I pray that you would flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace (2:22).
15. I pray that you would avoid foolish and ignorant controversies; rather than being quarrelsome, I pray that you would be kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently endure evil, and gently correct opponents, for some might repent (2:23-24).
16. I pray that you will understand that there will be times of difficulty with sinful people who have an external appearance of godliness yet deny the Gospel; I pray that you would avoid these people (3:1-9)
17. I pray that, despite persecution, you would continue in what you’ve learned in Scripture, knowing that it is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. I pray that you would be competent and equipped for every good work (3:10-17).
18. I pray that you would preach the word, in season and out of season. I pray that you would reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching–especially in a time when people won’t endure sound teaching but rather find teachers who suit their own fancy and wander from truth to myths (4:1-4).
19. I pray that you would always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry (4:5).
20. I pray that you would be encouraged by Paul’s example of one who has fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith, and received a crown of righteousness (4:6-8).
21. I pray that the Lord be with your spirit. I pray that grace be with you (4:22).
~Amen~
Holly Huffstutler serves with her husband David, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Rockford, IL. She blogs with him here where this post first appeared. Holly is a homemaker, raising and schooling her four children.
Image by reenablack from Pixabay
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