The Gift of Praying for Newlyweds

After the pure joy of their wedding and honeymoon, newlyweds face a host of changes and challenges, settling into married life. Not only will they be adjusting to their new roles of husband and wife, they’ll need to adjust to new family relationships and numerous bumps in the road. Many will face the challenges of starting new jobs, moving, or continuing their education.

How can we best help the newlywed couples we know and love as they navigate the early years of marriage? Newlyweds appreciate the wedding gifts we give them on their big day, but our prayers are priceless gifts we can continue to give them as they become established in marriage. Our “enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). If he can destroy a marriage, he gets to devour two for the price of one.

But prayer is a prime weapon against his attacks.

Newlywed Prayer Points

So how should we pray for the newlyweds we know? Here are some ideas to help focus our prayers:

• Pray they will love God above all and love each other the way God intends. Pray that they will keep their eyes on Him and their arms around one another.
• Ask God to protect them from Satan and from his schemes to erode their marriage.
• Pray for unity and unwavering commitment to each other and to their marriage.
• Ask God to help them model their love after His very own. Pray their love and forgiveness will flow without limit and that kindness will be their guide.
• Pray that God will give each of them the desire and wisdom not only to maintain a strong personal prayer life but also to pray together as a couple.
• Pray they will operate as a team, openly and honestly discussing issues before them and then agreeing how to proceed.
• Pray they will not allow other family members to come between them.
• Ask God to guide them to a church where they will be nourished, encouraged, and challenged, a place where they can use their gifts to serve.
• Pray they will honor God with their finances—first through tithing and giving, then through wise decisions regarding budgets and credit.
• Ask God to bless them beyond their dreams and grant them memories to treasure for life.
• Ask God to be their strong support through each day and through every stage of their lives.
• Pray they will make a commitment never to go to bed angry but to forgive one another and live in peace.
• Ask God to give them vision to make a difference in their world, serving loved ones and strangers alike. Pray they will be lights that shine for Jesus.
• Ask God to give them a long life together, praying they will grow ever stronger and deeper in their love for Him and for one another.

May our prayers make a difference that will last a lifetime!

CHERYL BARKER is a freelance writer and the author of Mother of the Bride: Refreshment and Wisdom for the Mother of the Bride. Her website is cherylbarker.net.