“I am my beloved’s and his desire is for me” and “his delight is in me” (Song of Song 7:10; Zeph.3:17). “Encourage one another and build one another up…” (1Thess.5:11).
Lord Jesus, failure to pray for and nourish a marriage is like failing to drink water, get sleep, breath air, or keep a herd of rabid boars out of our homes—not a pretty outcome. No other relationship simultaneously taps into our heavenly longings, reveals the depth of our brokenness, is a target of satanic evil, and makes the Gospel more necessary and precious. So we come to you today, interceding for marriages—friend’s and ours.
Jesus, forgive us for thinking there is only one person in the history of the cosmos we were “supposed” to marry, if we were going to find true happiness. What a ridiculous burden to place on ourselves or someone else. The only Spouse that can fill our void, harness our passions, take on our brokenness, and completely satisfy us is you. In fact, every other spouse is a pointer, not the point—pointing to you, Jesus. To know you is to be more married than we will ever be to a “mere” human spouse. Make that real, liberating—even exhilarating.
Our prayer is simple and essential. 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. Whether we are marvelously or miserably married—single, single again, or single and never getting married again, you are all we need, Jesus, and you have fully given yourself for us and to us. So Very Amen