“I am my beloved’s and his desire is for me” and “he greatly delights in me” (Song of Song 7:10; Zeph.3:17). “Encourage one another and build one another up—more and more and more as we get closer to Jesus’ return.” (1Thess.5:11; Heb.10:25).
Lord Jesus, failure to care for and nourish our marriage is like failing to drink water, get sleep, breath air, and keep a herd of rabid raccoons out of our homes. Marriage has a unique way of simultaneously tapping into our heavenly longings, revealing the depth of our brokenness, giving us joy we never thought possible, being a target for the devil’s schemes, and making the Gospel essential and precious.
I realized all this afresh last night celebrating my amazing bride’s 30-something birthday after being married to her for 54 years. You have given us so much grace and we crave more, Jesus. I am a blessed and needy man.
So we come to you today, with gratitude and prayer for marriages—those of our friend’s and ours as well. To start with, forgive us for thinking there was only one human being in the history of the cosmos and romance we were “supposed” to marry in order to find true happiness. In fact the only Spouse that can fill our void, harness our passions, take on our brokenness, and completely satisfy us is you, Jesus.
To know you is to be more married than we will ever be to a “mere” human spouse. Make this real, humbling, liberating, and gladdening. Once again, inundate our hearts and marriages with the only love that is better than life, the only love that will never let go of us, the only love that is enough—your lavish, compelling love for us, Jesus. Hallelujah, thank you, and So Very Amen
