In 2017, a small group leader mentioned praying and fasting for her husband during a transitional time. Since her husband was a pastor, she prayed through the letters to Timothy. I immediately felt the desire to pray and fast for Stan. I chose to focus on all the Bible verses about men and set aside the 30th of each month for this purpose. I was astonished how much more respect and love I felt for Stan while meditating on these verses each month. These are not in depth studies, but rather convictions penned after first read and reflection.
February 28. Genesis 1:26-31. ‘Then God said,”Let Us make man in Our image, in Our likeness, and let them rule…over all the earth…God blessed them…God saw all that He made and it was very good.'” My husband is made in God’s image. He reflects His likeness. This should guide my tone of conversation with him. God designed my husband to rule, provide, and manage. I am not a burden to him nor do I have to fill in the gaps, “carry my own weight.” It is his pleasure to take care of and shelter me.
March 30. Genesis 2:18-25. “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him…’ God made a women from the rib…be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh…they were naked and they felt no shame.” First, never do I want my husband to feel alone or lonely in our marriage. Instead, may he feel well and suitably helped. Secondly, woman is the only creation made from Adam’s body. Is part of sexual intimacy a longing to return to this Eden scene? A longing to be whole? One being is taken/created from the other and longs to be connected again as one flesh. Unashamedly naked. May I never deny my husband or myself this pleasure, this necessary and restorative connection.
April 30. Genesis 8:20-9:17. ‘Then God said…’I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you…'” God accepts my husband’s offerings. They are a pleasing aroma even though God knows “every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood.” v 8:21 God blesses my husband and his sons. Our sons. They are entrusted with everything on the earth and will have to account for it. They are also accountable for the life of their fellow man. God’s covenant is to not cut off life through floods again. The rainbow. May I never dismiss, reject, or criticize my husband’s offerings. God accepts them and him. Thank you, Lord, that my husband ministers to his fellow man. He honors Your covenant. What my husband offers comes from his heart. It comes from him and he offers it freely. God blesses his offerings through our Monday night Bible studies, through conversations with coworkers and friends, through fathering our sons. God brings people to my husband. They seek him out for spiritual conversation. Forgive me, for focusing on little things that bother me instead of the whole person. You do not judge by outward appearances but by the heart. Thank you for my husband’s heart that he offers freely. Thank you for the covenant of spiritual mentoring You gave him.
May 30. Deuteronomy 8:3. “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord…as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord disciplines you.” This makes me think of life as a journey in the desert until we reach our promised land-heaven. Though we are not currently in a physical desert of hardship, we are in a spiritual desert. My husband is leading us through this spiritual desert. Everything he collects is God’s manna from heaven. He is completely dependent on God to provide each day in every way. How can I help him keep this perspective? v.3 mentions that God led the people in the desert to humble them, to teach them that man does not live on bread alone, and to discipline as man disciplines his sons. Lord, I pray my husband remembers You every morning just as the Israelites did when they collected manna. As You humble and test him to see what’s in his heart, remind me that I need not. You are testing him and making him Your man. Keep Your word on his mind. Give him a hunger for it. Keep him mindful of Your supernatural provision and respectful molding through discipline. He is in good hands-Yours.
June 30. 1 Samuel 13:14 and 15:29. “…the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed Him leader of His people.” “God is not a man that He should change His mind.” This passage refers to David and I thought, how can David be considered a man after God’s own heart? He committed adultery. How can I pray this for my husband? The key seems to be in the word after. David wasn’t perfect as an after image might suggest, but he constantly chased after God’s heart. He actively pursued a relationship with God. Got answers.com helped with some points: David had absolute faith in God, loved God’s law, was thankful and thanked God for everything, truly repented after sinning, and demonstrated faith and commitment to God. I can certainly pray this for my husband!
July 30. Job 14:1-6. “Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble…” Man is born of woman, of few days, and full of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away. He doesn’t endure, is impure, and is limited in days and means. Fortunately, my husband doesn’t seem to feel futile in his life. He enjoys his work, free time, and home life. What a gift from God! But does he feel it in his aging body? Is this where he most feels the fleeting days? Diminishing strength and endurance has frustrated him…is this where I can pray? Is this where he needs encouragement and reassurance not to grieve but rejoice because he is all the closer to heaven and a new life. And he has not diminished to me.
August 30. Job 14:14-17. “If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come. You will call and I will answer you; you will long for the creature your hands have made. Surely then you will count my steps but not keep track of my sins. My offenses will be sealed up in a bag; you will cover over my sin.” What wonderful news for my husband: he will live again after death, renewal will come, God calls him, his wins and offenses are sealed up/covered by Jesus’ blood! What joy to have a growing Christian husband! Thank You, Jesus. And though I’m not God, I will do what I can to renew him, listen to him, and forget/forgive his offenses.
September 30. Psalm 1:1 “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked…” Blessed is Stan because he does not walk in wicked counsel or stand with sinners, or sit with mockers. Stan’s delight is in the Bible. He meditates on it day and night (in the car going to work, dinnertime, bedtime). Stan is like a tree planted by streams of water. He yields fruit in season (work conversations, happy wife, Bible study, volunteering, parenting, friendships). His leaf does not wither (he’s still full of vitality). Whatever Stan does prospers (IT, fathering, husbandry, conversations). Stan is not blown away. He can stand in judgement with the righteous assembly. God watches over Stan. His way does not perish. Amen! You have made this true, Lord. Thank you.
October 30. Psalm 8:4. “What is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?” What a wonderful statement tucked in a larger psalm praising God as majestic, glorious, praiseworthy, creator, powerful. Who You are Lord! Yet you care for and are mindful of Stan. You crown Stan with glory and honor. He gets to rule over Your works. All I feel reading this is humility toward God. Remember how awesome is He. And gratitude for the opportunity to care for and encourage Stan as he does his God given work. Both are true blessings: praising Glorious God and loving sweet Stan.
November 30. Psalm 119:9 “How can a young man keep his way pure?” Answer: by living according to the Word, seeking God with all his heart, not straying from commands, hiding the Word in his heart, and praising the Lord. This was not always true in my husband’s youth, but it became true in time to reap the benefits in middle age. Verse 14 states, “I rejoice in following Your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.” Now instead of dreaming about income, lamborghini’s, and large homes, he lights up when he talks about small group, writing marriage sermons, and Bible study research. Blessed be Your name!
December 30. Psalm 127:5 “Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.” Reading this entire Psalm, man may think he builds his home, guards his city, works for provisions, and raises his children alone. But it is all in vain if God is not acknowledged as the provider of all. Lord protect my husband from the vanity that thinks all our blessings are from his own efforts. Thank you for building our home, protecting us, providing jobs and the ability to do them. Thank you for two wonderful sons and rest at the end of the day. Thank you for turning my husband’s eyes to You.
These are entries from the first year. They continue to this day every 30th of the month. After meditating on all the Biblical references to man, I continued with wife and marriage. Enjoy choosing a topic for your spouse and allowing the Bible to transform your prayers and perspective of them.
Finding His Footsteps 