My Fifty-Sixth Blog Post Ever...The Love Dare: Day 16

Day 16: Begin praying today for your spouse's heart. Pray for three specific areas where you desire for God to work in your spouse's life and in your marriage.

Prayer.

One of the most intimate acts we can ever do...with God...and with our spouse. That's why it's an act I often neglect.

Oh...I'm good at the pray without ceasing part...prayers throughout the day. "Praise Jesus for this hamburger!" "God help me get a good parking spot!" "Bless my little girl as she walks to her friend's house!" "Thanks for running water, Jesus...You rock!" "Oh Lord...help me make it up this hill!"

It's my intimate prayer time that gets put on the back burner. My time where I can just look at the Face of Jesus and tell Him how much I love Him. My time where I can just be still and receive the adoration of my Prince.

This lack of intimacy with my ultimate Prince can lead to lack of intimacy with my earthly prince. It took years for me to be able to look Matt in the eye while we were making love and not cry. Too intimate. Too real of a connection. When one thinks they are unlovable, sometimes it's hard to realize that they actually are lovable...and that someone really does love them.

So, on day 16, I prayed.

God...thank you so much for my husband, Matt. There is nobody I could love more than I love him. I can't even believe you would let me share my life with someone like him. God, I ask that you would give Matt a secure identity in You. Help him only to see himself the way You see him. Help his identity be firmly rooted in your word and let him fully know the strength that he has in You. Let him identify himself as Yours and Yours alone...and let that identity flow to every aspect of his life. Please raise Matt up to be the leader You want him to be of our family. Let him lead with graceful strength and merciful wisdom. Let him be an example to Brooke of how a man in love with the Lord conducts himself. Finally, please give Matt great wisdom in the direction of our finances. Give him complete peace in knowing that whatever happens in life, we are secure in You and You will meet all of our needs. I love you Lord...and thank you again for the priceless gift you've given to me in Matt. He is the most tangible expression I have of Your love for me.

Amen.